Buscemi, LaraRamonet, DavidKlingberg, FrancoFormey, AurelieSmith-Clerc, JosianeMeister, Jean-JacquesHinz, Boris2012-02-222012-02-222012-02-22201110.1016/j.cub.2011.11.037https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/78006WOS:000298440100018Background: TGF-beta 1 controls many pathophysiological processes including tissue homeostasis, fibrosis, and cancer progression. Together with its latency-associated peptide (LAP), TGF-beta 1 binds to the latent TGF-beta 1-binding protein-1 (LTBP-1), which is part of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Transmission of cell force via integrins is one major mechanism to activate latent TGF-beta 1 from ECM stores. Latent TGF-beta 1 mechanical activation is more efficient with higher cell forces and ECM stiffening. However, little is known about the molecular events involved in this mechanical activation mechanism.Growth-Factor-BetaAtomic-Force MicroscopyTgf-BetaExtracellular-MatrixTransforming Growth-Factor-Beta-1Systemic-SclerosisActivationBindingCellsProteinstext::journal::journal article::research article