Mechanical cues reprogram normal cell lines into stem-like cells

Scientists at the University at Buffalo and other institutions have turned cells normally used as model cells, known as immortalized cells, into stem or, as they call it, "stem-like" cells, using nothing more than mechanical stress. 

They have done it without employing the potentially hazardous techniques previously used to obtain similar results.

The researchers use the term "stem-like" cells to describe cells in tissue culture that have many of the biochemical markers of stem cells. Determining whether or not they can differentiate will be the focus of future research.

The finding is described in a paper published recently online before print in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers discovered that by changing the mechanical stresses on neuronal and other cell types in tissue culture allowed them to be reprogrammed into "stem-like" cells.

"Normal cell types in tissue culture are spread out and have differentiated internal structures, but changing cell mechanics caused the cells to turn into clusters of spherical cells that had many of the biochemical markers of cells," says Frederick Sachs, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the UB Department of Physiology and Biophysics and senior author.