Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40059484›Full record

ArticleSmall methods2025

The TissueTractor: A Device for Applying Large Strains to Tissues and Cells for Simultaneous High-Resolution Live Cell Microscopy.

Jing Yang, Emily Hearty, Yingli Wang, Deepthi S Vijayraghavan, Timothy Walter, Sommer Anjum, Carsten Stuckenholz, Ya-Wen Cheng, Sahana Balasubramanian, Yicheng Dong and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Small methods, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Shape, Strain, and Stability: Epithelia Under High Strain.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Jing YangDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6784-9012
Emily HeartyDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
Yingli WangDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
Deepthi S VijayraghavanDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
Timothy WalterDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
Sommer AnjumDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3327-9867
Carsten StuckenholzDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8732-4435
Ya-Wen ChengDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
Sahana BalasubramanianDepartment of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
Yicheng DongDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
Adam V KwiatkowskiDepartment of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3997-7057
Lance A DavidsonDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2956-0437

Funding

Training in Biomechanics in Regenerative MedicineT32EB003392 · NIBIB · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI WOO, SAVIO L-Y. · 2005 to 2020
$4.0M
The Biomechanics of morphogenesis in the frogR01HD044750 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CHARLOTTESVILLE · PI DAVIDSON, LANCE A. · 2005 to 2020
$3.8M
Alpha-catenin function in cardiomyocyte adhesion and cytoskeletal organizationR01HL127711 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI KWIATKOWSKI, ADAM VINCENT · 2016 to 2024
$3.5M
Biomechanics of MorphogenesisR37HD044750 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI LANCE A. DAVIDSON · 2022 to 2026
$2.1M
Interaction between blood flow and ALK1 signaling in AVM developmentR01HL136566 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI ROMAN, BETH L · 2017 to 2020
$1.7M
American Heart Association Predoctoral FellowshipNational Science Foundation EEC #1156899NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL127711NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL136566NIBIB NIH HHS T32 EB003392NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD044750NICHD NIH HHS R37 HD044750NIH Biomechanics in Regenerative Medicine Training Grant BiRMNIH HHS R01HD044750NIH HHS R01HL127711NIH HHS R01HL136566NIH HHS R37HD044750Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh BerenfieldSwanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh Graduate Fellowship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mechanical strain substantially influences tissue shape and function in various contexts from embryonic development to disease progression. Disruptions in these processes can result in congenital abnormalities and short-circuit mechanotransduction pathways. Manipulating strain in live tissues is crucial for understanding its impact on cellular and subcellular activities, unraveling the interplay between mechanics and cells. Existing tools, such as optogenetic modulation of strain, are limited to small strains over limited distances and durations. Here, a high-strain stretcher system, the TissueTractor, is introduced to enable simultaneous high-resolution spatiotemporal imaging of live cells and tissues under strain applications varying from 0% to over 100%. We use the system with organotypic explants from Xenopus laevis embryos, where applied tension reveals cellular strain heterogeneity and remodeling of intracellular keratin filaments. To highlight the device's adaptability, the TissueTractor is also used to study two other mechanically sensitive cell types with distinct physiological roles: human umbilical vein endothelial cells and mouse neonatal cardiomyocytes, revealing cell morphological changes under significant strain. The results underscore the potential of the TissueTractor for investigating mechanical cues that regulate tissue dynamics and morphogenesis.

Indexed as

MicroscopyAnimalsHumansHuman Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsMechanotransduction, CellularMiceMyocytes, CardiacStress, MechanicalXenopus laeviscytoskeletal remodelinghigh‐resolution microscopylive‐cell imagingmechanosensorsmechanotransductiontissue stretchers

Identifiers

PMID40059484
PMCPMC12353401

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.