Cytoplasmic calcium signaling dynamics stimulated by laser induced mechanical impulse

Abstract

Mechanical stimulation plays an important role in a regulation of cellular functions. However, cellular dynamics induced by various mechanical stimuli are not fully understood. In order to understand cellular responses depending on loading parameters of mechanical stimuli, impulsive force induced by a focused femtosecond laser pulse in water was applied. In this paper, cytosolic Ca2+ signaling stimulated by the femtosecond laser impulse are presented. We discuss signaling pathway of the cytosolic Ca2+ increase induced by the impulse and modifications of the Ca2+ signaling from viewpoints of loading parameters of the impulse and cellular physiological states. As a result, we conclude that laser induced impulse is a promising tool to investigate single cellular responses to mechanical stimuli.