Exclusive Review Papers: Cellular and Nuclear Biomechanics in Cytoskeleton-Driven Migration and Invasion

Dear Colleagues,

This collection of state-of-the-art scientific review papers explores the intricate interplay between cellular and nuclear biomechanics in the context of cytoskeleton-driven migration and invasion, processes fundamental to development, wounding, immune response, and cancer metastasis. The reviews collectively highlight how the cytoskeleton—comprising actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments—generates forces that orchestrate cell movement through dynamic remodeling and force transmission. These cytoskeletal structures not only drive cell shape changes and traction generation but also engage in mechanosensitive signaling pathways that coordinate cellular responses to external cues.

A central focus of the collection is the mechanical integration between the cytoskeleton and the nucleus, particularly through the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex. These connections enable mechanical forces to be transmitted directly to the nucleus, influencing nuclear deformation, chromatin organization, and gene expression. The reviews will explore how nuclear stiffness, chromatin compaction, and nuclear lamina composition affect the ability of cells to navigate through confined 3D environments, such as during cancer cell invasion, immune cell trafficking, wound healing, and tissue remodeling. Additionally, the collection will address cutting-edge methodologies for probing cellular and nuclear mechanics, including traction force microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and microfluidic confinement assays. Computational modeling also plays a significant role in advancing understanding of how the biomechanical properties of cells and adjacent stroma modulate migration strategies.

By synthesizing recent advances across molecular, biophysical, and engineering disciplines, these reviews aim to provide a comprehensive view of how cytoskeletal dynamics, nuclear mechanics and other cellular components coordinate to regulate cell migration and invasion. The insights gained hold significant promise for identifying novel therapeutic targets to inhibit pathological cell movement, particularly in cancer metastasis and fibrotic diseases, while informing the design of engineered tissues and biomaterials for regenerative medicine.

Dr. Francisco Rivero
Dr. Iakowos Karakesisoglou
Collection Editors

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