Biophysical Society Bulletin | October 2024

Publications

Know the Editor Daphne Weihs

Editor’s Pick

Technion–Israel Institute of Technology Editor, Cell Biophysics Biophysical Journal

Daphne Weihs

What are you currently working on that excites you? I am currently working on causative connections between mechanobiology and cancer or wounds and on the interesting connections between cancer and wounds. I have understood over the last few years that cancer is the opposite of wounds in many ways. In cancer, the main aim is to reduce cell pro liferation, reduce migration and invasion, and minimize the cancer-cell community overall; cancer-cell invasion can cause metastasis, which remains the cause for 90% of cancer- associated deaths. In contrast, in wounds, the main aim is to rapidly close small gaps in cell layers before these progress into wounds and present themselves clinically, which requires increased proliferation and migration, as well as formation of new, stable, and functional cell layers and extracellular matrix. I find this a fascinating puzzle, learning from one system and applying to others. What has been your biggest “aha” moment in science? My biggest “aha” moment was when I realized that it is the completely unexpected results that are typically the most exciting and promising. Typically, before starting experiments, a concept or theory should be in place of what is expected to happen; yet, the experimental results could completely disprove it. After verifying that the results are consistent, reproducible, and not a result of an experimental error or artifact, the real excitement begins, as a new explanation is now required. One may have stumbled onto something much more exciting than was initially planned for. I have, therefore, learned to follow “breadcrumbs” and think outside the box, instead of staying fixed on the initially planned path.

Biophysical Journal Dendritic cell force-migration coupling on aligned fiber networks Christian Hernandez-Padilla, Ben Joosten, Aime Franco, Alessandra Cambi, Koen van den Dries, and Amrinder S. Nain “A key challenge in the field of mechanobiology has been modeling and investigating cell migration in three-dimensional environments that mimic native extracellular matrix (ECM). Hernandez-Padilla and co-workers address this challenge in the latest issue of Biophysical Journal by introducing suspended nanofiber networks to study dendrit ic cell migration, a process critical to immune system function. These fiber networks enable precise control over fiber spacing and diame ter, as well as force measurement. Results reveal a subpopulation of highly motile immature dendritic cells that migrate independent of fiber alignment, a new force-migration coupling through filamentous protrusions, and differential responses to fiber diameters and inflam matory stimuli. Immature dendritic cells concentrate protrusive activ ity at the cell front while exerting forces primarily laterally and behind the cell body, allowing for random migration even on aligned fibers. The system enables quantification of how topographical features drive dendritic cell behavior and potentially impact their immune surveil lance capabilities. By bridging the gap between simplified 2D studies and complex 3D environments, the system presented in this paper finally enables more nuanced investigations into cell-ECM interactions and their role in health and disease.” Version of Record Published July 10, 2024 DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2024.07.011

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The Biophysical Society’s members represent 65 different countries around the world.

October 2024

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