Cells of the innate immune system, notably macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells,
perform essential antimicrobial and homeostatic functions. These functions rely on the …

Vimentin is a protein that has been linked to a large variety of pathophysiological conditions,
including cataracts, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV and cancer. Vimentin has also …

Solid tumours are often first diagnosed by palpation, suggesting that the tumour is more rigid
than its surrounding environment. Paradoxically, individual cancer cells appear to be softer …

The cells and tissues that make up our body manage contradictory mechanical demands. It
is crucial for their survival to be able to withstand large mechanical loads, but it is equally …

Cell migration results from stepwise mechanical and chemical interactions between cells
and their extracellular environment. Mechanistic principles that determine single-cell and …

Cancer progression is caused by genetic changes and associated with various alterations in
cell properties, which also affect a tumor's mechanical state. While an increased stiffness …

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Recent developments in cancer
immunotherapy have shown exciting therapeutic promise for metastatic patients. While most …

Advances in methods that determine cell mechanical phenotype, or mechanotype, have
demonstrated the utility of biophysical markers in clinical and research applications ranging …

The cell cortex is a key structure for the regulation of cell shape and tissue organization. To
reach a better understanding of the mechanics and dynamics of the cortex, we study here …

The deformability of a cell is the direct result of a complex interplay between the different
constituent elements at the subcellular level, coupling a wide range of mechanical …