Modeling Cell Migration Mechanics

A Benzodiazepine-Derived Molecule That Interferes with the Bio-Mechanical Properties of Glioblastoma-Astrocytoma Cells Altering Their Proliferation and Migration

Glioblastoma multiforme (grade IV glioma) is characterized by a high invasive potential, making surgical intervention extremely challenging and patient survival very limited. Current pharmacological approaches show, at best, slight improvements in the therapy against this type of tumor. Microtubules are often the target of antitumoral drugs, and specific drugs affecting their dynamics by acting on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) without producing their depolymerization could affect both glioma cell migration/invasion and cell proliferation. Here, we analyzed on a cellular model of glioblastoma multiforme, the effect of a molecule (1-(4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl)-3,5-dihydro-7,8-ethylenedioxy-4h2,3-benzodiazepin-4-one, hereafter named 1g) which was shown to act as a cytostatic drug in other cell types by affecting microtubule dynamics. We found that the molecule acts also as a migration suppressor by inducing a loss of cell polarity. We characterized the mechanics of U87MG cell aggregates exposed to 1g by different biophysical techniques. We considered both 3D aggregates and 2D cell cultures, testing substrates of different stiffness. We established that this molecule produces a decrease of cell spheroid contractility and it impairs 3D cell invasion. At the same time, in the case of isolated cells, 1g selectively produces an almost instantaneous loss of cell polarity blocking migration and it also produces a disorganization of the mitotic spindle when cells reach mitosis, leading to frequent mitotic slippage events followed by cell death. We can state that the studied molecule produces similar effects to other molecules that are known to affect the dynamics of microtubules, but probably indirectly via microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) and following different biochemical pathways. Consistently, we report evidence that, regarding its effect on cell morphology, this molecule shows a specificity for some cell types such as glioma cells. Interestingly, being a molecule derived from a benzodiazepine, the 1g chemical structure could allow this molecule to easily cross the blood-brain barrier. Thanks to its chemical/physical properties, the studied molecule could be a promising new drug for the specific treatment of GBM.

Glassy Adhesion Dynamics Govern Transitions Between Sub-Diffusive and Super-Diffusive Cell Migration on Viscoelastic Substrates

Cell migration is pivotal in cancer metastasis, where cells navigate the extracellular matrix (ECM) and invade distant tissues. While the ECM is viscoelastic-exhibiting time-dependent stress relaxation-its influence on cell migration remains poorly understood. Here, we employ an integrated experimental and modeling approach to investigate filopodial cancer cell migration on viscoelastic substrates and uncover a striking transition from sub-diffusive to super-diffusive behavior driven by the substrate's viscous relaxation timescale. Conventional motor-clutch based migration models fail to capture these anomalous migration modes, as they overlook the complex adhesion dynamics shaped by broad distribution of adhesion lifetimes. To address this, we develop a glassy motor-clutch model that incorporates the rugged energy landscape of adhesion clusters, where multiple metastable states yield long-tailed adhesion timescales. Our model reveals that migration dynamics are governed by the interplay between cellular and substrate timescales: slow-relaxing substrates prolong trapping, leading to sub-diffusion, while fast-relaxing substrates promote larger steps limiting trapping, leading to super-diffusion. Additionally, we uncover the role of actin polymerization and contractility in modulating adhesion dynamics and driving anomalous migration. These findings establish a mechanistic framework linking substrate viscoelasticity to cell motility, with implications for metastasis and cancer progression.

CAR T cell infiltration and cytotoxic killing within the core of 3D breast cancer spheroids under the control of antigen sensing in microwell arrays

The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in blood cancers has intensified efforts to develop CAR T therapies for solid cancers. In the solid tumor microenvironment, CAR T cell trafficking and suppression of cytotoxic killing represent limiting factors for therapeutic efficacy. Here, we present a microwell platform to study CAR T cell interactions with 3D breast tumor spheroids and determine predictors of anti-tumor CAR T cell function. To precisely control antigen sensing, we utilized a switchable adaptor CAR system that covalently attaches to co-administered antibody adaptors and mediates antigen recognition. Following the addition of an anti-HER2 adaptor antibody, primary human CAR T cells exhibited higher infiltration, clustering, and secretion of effector cytokines. By tracking CAR T cell killing in individual spheroids, we showed the suppressive effects of spheroid size and identified the initial CAR T cell to spheroid area ratio as a predictor of cytotoxicity. We demonstrate that larger spheroids exhibit higher hypoxia levels and are infiltrated by CAR T cells with a suppressed activation state, characterized by reduced expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and granzyme B. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed lower CAR T cell numbers and cytotoxicity in the spheroid core compared to the periphery. Finally, increasing CAR T cell seeding density resulted in higher CAR T cell infiltration and cancer cell elimination in the spheroid core. Our findings provide new quantitative insight into CAR T cell function within 3D cancer spheroids. Given its miniaturized nature and live imaging capabilities, our microfabricated system holds promise for screening cellular immunotherapies.

CAR T cell infiltration and cytotoxic killing within the core of 3D breast cancer spheroids under control of antigen sensing in microwell arrays

The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in blood cancers has intensified efforts to develop CAR T therapies for solid cancers. In the solid tumor microenvironment, CAR T cell trafficking and suppression of cytotoxic killing represent limiting factors for therapeutic efficacy. Here, we present a microwell platform to study CAR T cell interactions with 3D tumor spheroids and determine predictors of anti-tumor CAR T cell function. To precisely control antigen sensing by CAR T cells, we utilized a switchable adaptor CAR system, that instead of directly binding to an antigen of interest, covalently attaches to co-administered antibody adaptors that mediate tumor antigen recognition. Following addition of an anti-HER2 adaptor antibody, primary human CAR T cells exhibited higher infiltration and clustering compared to the no adaptor control. By tracking CAR T cell killing at the individual spheroid level, we showed the suppressive effects of spheroid size and identified the initial CAR T cell : spheroid area ratio as a predictor of cytotoxicity. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed lower CAR T cell numbers and cytotoxicity in the spheroid core compared to the periphery. Finally, increasing CAR T cell seeding density, resulted in higher CAR T cell infiltration and cancer cell elimination in the spheroid core. Our findings provide new quantitative insights into CAR T cell-mediated killing of HER2+ breast tumor cells. Given the miniaturized nature and live imaging capabilities, our microfabricated system holds promise for discovering cell-cell interaction mechanisms that orchestrate antitumor CAR T cell functions and screening cellular immunotherapies in 3D tumor models.

CSTB accelerates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via the ERK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant contributor to global cancer-related deaths, leading to high mortality rates. However, the pathogenesis of HCC remains unclear. In this research, by the bioinformatics data analysis, we found that elevated CSTB expression correlated with advanced disease and predicted diminished overall survival (OS) in HCC patients. We subsequently verified the oncogenic role of CSTB as well as the potential underlying mechanisms in HCC through a series of in vitro experiments, such as CCK-8 assays, cloning assays, flow cytometry, Transwell assays, and western blotting. Our findings illustrated that the silencing of CSTB effectively suppressed cellular proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase and impaired HCC cell invasion and migration by stimulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, we analyzed the pathways enriched in HCC using RNA sequencing and found that the ERK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was related to increased CSTB expression in HCC. Finally, we confirmed the tumorigenic role of CSTB via in vivo experiments. Thus, our findings revealed that silencing CSTB inhibited the HCC progression via the ERK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, highlighting new perspectives for investigating the mechanisms of HCC.

Molecular Crosstalk between the Immunological Mechanism of the Tumor Microenvironment and Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a significant non-communicable disease affecting both emergent nations and developed countries. Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck represent the eight major familiar cancer types worldwide, accounting for more than 350,000 established cases every year. Oral cancer is one of the most exigent tumors to control and treat. The survival rate of oral cancer is poor due to local invasion along with recurrent lymph node metastasis. The tumor microenvironment contains a different population of cells, such as fibroblasts associated with cancer, immune-infiltrating cells, and other extracellular matrix non-components. Metastasis in a primary site is mainly due to multifaceted progression known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). For the period of EMT, epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal cell functional and structural characteristics, which lead to cell migration enhancement and promotion of the dissemination of tumor cells. The present review links the tumor microenvironment and the role of EMT in inflammation, transcriptional factors, receptor involvement, microRNA, and other signaling events. It would, in turn, help to better understand the mechanism behind the tumor microenvironment and EMT during oral cancer.

Mechanical Stress Signaling in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Triggers p38 MAPK- and JNK-Dependent Cytoskeleton Remodeling and Promotes Cell Migration via Rac1/cdc42/Myosin II

Advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer is highly resistant to existing therapies, and new treatments are urgently needed to improve patient outcomes. Current studies focus on alternative treatment approaches that target the abnormal microenvironment of pancreatic tumors and the resulting elevated mechanical stress in the tumor interior. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms by which mechanical stress regulates pancreatic cancer metastatic potential remain elusive. Herein, we used a proteomic assay to profile mechanical stress-induced signaling cascades that drive the motility of pancreatic cancer cells. Proteomic analysis, together with selective protein inhibition and siRNA treatments, revealed that mechanical stress enhances cell migration through activation of the p38 MAPK/HSP27 and JNK/c-Jun signaling axes, and activation of the actin cytoskeleton remodelers: Rac1, cdc42, and myosin II. In addition, mechanical stress upregulated transcription factors associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stimulated the formation of stress fibers and filopodia. p38 MAPK and JNK inhibition resulted in lower cell proliferation and more effectively blocked cell migration under mechanical stress compared with control conditions. The enhanced tumor cell motility under mechanical stress was potently reduced by cdc42 and Rac1 silencing with no effects on proliferation. Our results highlight the importance of targeting aberrant signaling in cancer cells that have adapted to mechanical stress in the tumor microenvironment, as a novel approach to effectively limit pancreatic cancer cell migration.

IMPLICATIONS

Our findings highlight that mechanical stress activated the p38 MAPK and JNK signaling axis and stimulated pancreatic cancer cell migration via upregulation of the actin cytoskeleton remodelers cdc42 and Rac1.

Modeling and simulation of cell migration on the basis of force equilibrium

To study cell behavior, we developed a cell model to simulate cell movements and the interacting forces among cells and between cells and obstacles. The developed model simulates several cells simultaneously and examines correlations among characteristic parameters between cells and substrates during migration. We modified Odde's model to develop fundamental model, applied Gillespie's stochastic algorithm to design time during in the migration simulation, and employed Keren's membrane theory to analyze the equilibrium at the leading edges. Thus, the proposed model can analyze stresses due to substrate, the intracellular body, and the external interaction between cells and obstacles. Simulation results indicate that cell-cell interaction depends on the equilibrium between the forces at the leading edge of the membrane, namely the cell-substrate interaction force, cell-cell interaction forces, and the cell membrane force. These results also indicate that the migration direction is dependent on the resultant forces. The membrane force and substrate force directions are "low correlation," and the polymerization rate exhibits "little correlative" with the migration direction. We propose a modified cell migration model for simulating allocation and interaction among multiple cells. This model helps indicate the weightings of characteristic parameters that affect the cell migration direction and velocity.

A persistent invasive phenotype in post-hypoxic tumor cells is revealed by fate mapping and computational modeling

Hypoxia is a critical factor in solid tumors that has been associated with cancer progression and aggressiveness. We recently developed a hypoxia fate mapping system to trace post-hypoxic cells within a tumor for the first time. This approach uses an oxygen-dependent fluorescent switch and allowed us to measure key biological features such as oxygen distribution, cell proliferation, and migration. We developed a computational model to investigate the motility and phenotypic persistence of hypoxic and post-hypoxic cells during tumor progression. The cellular behavior was defined by phenotypic persistence time, cell movement bias, and the fraction of cells that respond to an enhanced migratory stimulus. This work combined advanced cell tracking and imaging techniques with mathematical modeling, to reveal that a persistent invasive migratory phenotype that develops under hypoxia is required for cellular escape into the surrounding tissue, promoting the formation of invasive structures (“plumes”) that expand toward the oxygenated tumor regions.

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A fluorescent fate mapping system allows tracking of hypoxic and post-hypoxic cells

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Computational modeling predicts the formation of post-hypoxic invasive plumes

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Simulations show post-hypoxic cells must maintain persistant migration to form plumes

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Tracking cells exposed to intratumoral hypoxia confirms persistent migration

RAB5A promotes the formation of filopodia in pancreatic cancer cells via the activation of cdc42 and β1-integrin

Filopodia are slender actin-rich plasma membrane protrusions that function to drive cell migration and invasion. Despite the observation of defective filopodia formation in many malignant tumors, the regulation mechanism remained unknown to date. In the present study, for the first time, we demonstrate that RAB5A, a Rab GTPase family protein, is a potent regulator of filopodia formation in pancreatic cancer cells. High expression of RAB5A was associated with filopodia formation and migration in pancreatic cancer cells. Overexpression of RAB5A promoted filopodia formation and migration in CF Pac-1 cells. In contrast, down-regulation of RAB5A expression in SW1990 cells with a high endogenous RAB5A expression level impeded the formation of filopodia. Further analysis indicated that RAB5A was required for cdc42 activation in CF Pac-1 and SW1990 cells. Moreover, to investigate the underlying mechanism by which the activation of cdc42 mediates RAB5A-induced filopodia formation, the active state of β1-integrin was examined in cells with different expression levels of RAB5A. We observed that RAB5A regulated the accumulation of the active β1-integrin. We demonstrated that down-regulation of the expression of β1-integrin strongly suppressed filopodia formation and cdc42 activation mediated by RAB5A. These results indicate the important role of RAB5A in the regulation of filopodia formation in pancreatic cancer cells, which is dependent on the activation of cdc42 and β1-integrin.

Unified control of amoeboid pseudopod extension in multiple organisms by branched F-actin in the front and parallel F-actin/myosin in the cortex

The trajectory of moving eukaryotic cells depends on the kinetics and direction of extending pseudopods. The direction of pseudopods has been well studied to unravel mechanisms for chemotaxis, wound healing and inflammation. However, the kinetics of pseudopod extension-when and why do pseudopods start and stop- is equally important, but is largely unknown. Here the START and STOP of about 4000 pseudopods was determined in four different species, at four conditions and in nine mutants (fast amoeboids Dictyostelium and neutrophils, slow mesenchymal stem cells, and fungus B.d. chytrid with pseudopod and a flagellum). The START of a first pseudopod is a random event with a probability that is species-specific (23%/s for neutrophils). In all species and conditions, the START of a second pseudopod is strongly inhibited by the extending first pseudopod, which depends on parallel filamentous actin/myosin in the cell cortex. Pseudopods extend at a constant rate by polymerization of branched F-actin at the pseudopod tip, which requires the Scar complex. The STOP of pseudopod extension is induced by multiple inhibitory processes that evolve during pseudopod extension and mainly depend on the increasing size of the pseudopod. Surprisingly, no differences in pseudopod kinetics are detectable between polarized, unpolarized or chemotactic cells, and also not between different species except for small differences in numerical values. This suggests that the analysis has uncovered the fundament of cell movement with distinct roles for stimulatory branched F-actin in the protrusion and inhibitory parallel F-actin in the contractile cortex.

CBX6 Promotes HCC Metastasis Via Transcription Factors Snail/Zeb1-Mediated EMT Mechanism

PURPOSE

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common malignant tumor worldwide with high morbidity and mortality rates. We aimed to examine the expression of chromobox 6 (CBX6) in HCC and analyze its correlation with clinicopathological features of HCC patients. Moreover, the role of CBX6 in the HCC cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis and the potential mechanism underlying HCC metastasis were also investigated.

METHODS

We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot to evaluate the expression levels of CBX6 in HCC cell lines. Furthermore, the expression of CBX6 in HCC and the adjacent non-tumor tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Cell proliferation was evaluated using MTT assay, cell migration and invasion were measured using wound healing and transwell assays. Finally, we detected the expression of target proteins in HCC cell lines transfected with CBX6 overexpression plasmid or CBX6 shRNA plasmid by Western blot.

RESULTS

We found that the expression of CBX6 was increased in 280 cases of HCC tissues compared that in adjacent non-tumor tissues. HCC patients with high CBX6 expression had a higher tendency to have high growth rate, strong invasion ability, high clinical stage and poor tumor differentiation. Functional study demonstrated that the upregulation of CBX6 promotes proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells while silencing CBX6 in HCC cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, CBX6 could accelerate the EMT process in HCC cells by upregulating the expression of snail and zeb1.

CONCLUSION

CBX6 played an important role in the process of tumorigenesis and progression in HCC and enhanced the invasion and metastasis ability of HCC cells through regulating transcription factors snail/zeb1-mediated EMT mechanism, which indicated that the protein could serve as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma: Challenges and opportunities

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy representing 90% of all forms of oral cancer worldwide. Although great efforts have been made in the past decades, the 5-year survival rate of OSCC patients is no more than 60% due to tumor metastasis and subsequent recurrence. The metastasis from the primary site is due to a complex process known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). During the EMT, epithelial cells gradually acquire the structural and functional characteristics of mesenchymal cells, leading to the upregulation of cell migration and the promotion of tumor cell dissemination. Therefore, EMT attracted broad attention due to its close relationship with cancer invasion and metastasis. Therefore, in the present review, an extensive description of the current research on OSCC and the role of EMT in this cancer type is provided, including diverse EMT markers, regulatory networks and crucial EMT-inducing transcription factors in OSCC. Moreover, a brief summary was made regarding the current application of EMT-correlated indexes in the prognostic analysis of OSCC patients, and the potential therapeutic approaches against OSCC and difficulties in the development of an effective anti-EMT treatment are discussed. Our aim is to provide novel insights to develop new strategies to combat OSCC by targeting EMT.

Predicting Confined 1D Cell Migration from Parameters Calibrated to a 2D Motor-Clutch Model

Biological tissues contain micrometer-scale gaps and pores, including those found within extracellular matrix fiber networks, between tightly packed cells, and between blood vessels or nerve bundles and their associated basement membranes. These spaces restrict cell motion to a single-spatial dimension (1D), a feature that is not captured in traditional in vitro cell migration assays performed on flat, unconfined two-dimensional (2D) substrates. Mechanical confinement can variably influence cell migration behaviors, and it is presently unclear whether the mechanisms used for migration in 2D unconfined environments are relevant in 1D confined environments. Here, we assessed whether a cell migration simulator and associated parameters previously measured for cells on 2D unconfined compliant hydrogels could predict 1D confined cell migration in microfluidic channels. We manufactured microfluidic devices with narrow channels (60-μm2 rectangular cross-sectional area) and tracked human glioma cells that spontaneously migrated within channels. Cell velocities (vexp = 0.51 ± 0.02 μm min-1) were comparable to brain tumor expansion rates measured in the clinic. Using motor-clutch model parameters estimated from cells on unconfined 2D planar hydrogel substrates, simulations predicted similar migration velocities (vsim = 0.37 ± 0.04 μm min-1) and also predicted the effects of drugs targeting the motor-clutch system or cytoskeletal assembly. These results are consistent with glioma cells utilizing a motor-clutch system to migrate in confined environments.

Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1 Enzyme Inhibition by Grape Skin Extracts Affects Membrane Fluidity in Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines

The polyphenolic compounds present in grape extracts have chemopreventive and anticancer properties. Here, we studied the ability of two grape skin extracts (GSEs), Autumn Royal and Egnatia, to influence the cell motility and membrane fluidity regulated by the enzyme Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) which increases with the cancer aggressiveness. Caco2 and SW480 human colon cancer cell lines were treated with increasing concentrations of GSEs to evaluate cell proliferation and motility. SCD1 levels were evaluated in both treated cell lines, by membrane lipidomic analysis conducted by gas chromatography. The expression levels of SCD1 and other factors involved in the reorganization of the cytoskeleton and focal adhesions were assessed by Real-time PCR, Western Blotting, and Immunofluorescence staining. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses were performed to determine the phenolic composition in the GSEs, finding them more expressed in Autumn Royal than in Egnatia. Both treatments reduced the levels of SCD1, phospho-Rac1/Cdc42/Rac1/Cdc42 ratio, Cofilin, Vimentin, and phospho-Paxillin especially in Caco2 compared to SW480, showing a different behavior of the two cell lines to these natural compounds. Our findings show that GSEs block the cell migration and membrane fluidity through a new mechanism of action involving structural cellular components.

CTHRC1 and PD‑1/PD‑L1 expression predicts tumor recurrence in prostate cancer

Collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) is a gene that has been associated with tumor progression in human prostate cancer (PC). The tumor immune microenvironment has been linked with disease outcome in PC. In the present study, the correlation between CTHRC1 with PC recurrence and the tumor immunological microenvironment was investigated. Using the data supplied by the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), the expression of CTHRC1, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) were analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining of CTHRC1, PD-1 and PD-L1 was performed using a tissue microarray construction of prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) specimens. In PRAD, an association was reported between the CTHRC1 expression and the disease free survival (DFS) rate (P=0.022). Overexpression of CTHRC1 was correlated with increased levels of PD-1 (R=0.272, P=0.021) and PD-L1 (R=0.298, P=0.016), elevated levels of infiltrating B cells (P=9.51e⁻¹¹), CD4⁺ cells (P=1.51e⁻¹¹), macrophages (P=8.25e⁻⁵), neutrophils (P=2.17e⁻⁹) and dendritic cells (P=3.13e⁻¹³). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CTHRC1 was correlated with the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9, mucin 1 and solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 2B1 genes, which exert an influence in PRAD. The occurrence of this condition is most likely to be associated with regulation of the tumor microenvironment. Taken together, we demonstrated that the prognosis and immunity of PC are closely linked to CTHRC1 upregulation. Furthermore, these results suggest that the immune function of PC may be suppressed by CTHRC1-targeting therapy.

DYT1 Dystonia Patient-Derived Fibroblasts Have Increased Deformability and Susceptibility to Damage by Mechanical Forces

DYT1 dystonia is a neurological movement disorder that is caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the DYT1/TOR1A gene, which encodes torsinA, a conserved luminal ATPases-associated with various cellular activities (AAA+) protein. TorsinA is required for the assembly of functional linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes, and consequently the mechanical integration of the nucleus and the cytoskeleton. Despite the potential implications of altered mechanobiology in dystonia pathogenesis, the role of torsinA in regulating cellular mechanical phenotype, or mechanotype, in DYT1 dystonia remains unknown. Here, we define the deformability of mouse fibroblasts lacking functional torsinA as well as human fibroblasts isolated from DYT1 dystonia patients. We find that the deletion of torsinA or the expression of torsinA containing the DYT1 dystonia-causing ΔE302/303 (ΔE) mutation results in more deformable cells. We observe a similar increased deformability of mouse fibroblasts that lack lamina-associated polypeptide 1 (LAP1), which interacts with and stimulates the ATPase activity of torsinA in vitro, as well as with the absence of the LINC complex proteins, Sad1/UNC-84 1 (SUN1) and SUN2, lamin A/C, or lamin B1. Consistent with these findings, we also determine that DYT1 dystonia patient-derived fibroblasts are more compliant than fibroblasts isolated from unafflicted individuals. DYT1 dystonia patient-derived fibroblasts also exhibit increased nuclear strain and decreased viability following mechanical stretch. Taken together, our results establish the foundation for future mechanistic studies of the role of cellular mechanotype and LINC-dependent nuclear-cytoskeletal coupling in regulating cell survival following exposure to mechanical stresses.