The cushioning function of large arteries encompasses distension during systole and recoil
during diastole which transforms pulsatile flow into a steady flow in the microcirculation …

Matrix and tissue rigidity guides many cellular processes, including the differentiation of
stem cells and the migration of cells in health and disease. Cells actively and transiently test …

A key molecular link between cells and the extracellular matrix is the binding between
fibronectin and integrins α5β1 and αvβ3. However, the roles of these different integrins in …

The controlled adhesion of cells to each other and to the extracellular matrix is crucial for
tissue development and maintenance. Numerous assays have been developed to quantify …

From the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton, a network of molecular links connects cells
to their environment. Molecules in this network transmit and detect mechanical forces, which …

We developed molecular tension probes (TPs) that report traction forces of adherent cells
with high spatial resolution, can in principle be linked to virtually any surface, and obviate …

Living cells are exquisitely responsive to mechanical cues, yet how cells produce and detect
mechanical force remains poorly understood due to a lack of methods that visualize cell …

Background TGF-β1 controls many pathophysiological processes including tissue
homeostasis, fibrosis, and cancer progression. Together with its latency-associated peptide …

The diameter of resistance arteries has a profound effect on the distribution of microvascular
blood flow and the control of systemic blood pressure. Here, we review mechanisms that …

Over the last 30 years, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has made several significant
contributions to the field of biology and medicine. In this review, we draw our attention to the …