Influence of lateral compression on epithelium and role of lamin A in this process

In this study, the goal was to identify how lateral compression alters gene expression in the epithelium, and given that nuclear lamina -mediated nuclear mechanics contribute in mechanotransduction, we sought to decipher the role of A-type lamins in this process. We used Madine Darby canine kidney type II (MDCKII) cells as wild-type (WT) cells and established a derivative pre-lamin A knockout (referred here as LMNA KO) cell line.

Cells were grown for 3-4 days until an intact monolayer was formed (but which had not reached maturity). We applied our in house developed Brick Strex cell stretching deviceand cultured cells in this device on a pre-stretched and pre-strained PDMS with 25 % tensile strain, inducing a 20 % lateral compressive strain upon gradual release of the pre-strain. After a 2 h recovery, total cell lysates were made and mRNA was extracted for mRNA-seq.