Cell Form and Function: Interpreting and Controlling the Shape of Adherent Cells

Cell shape and morphology can provide a complex readout of cell state or phenotype. Some changes in shape can change cell state through mechanotransduction and nuclear shape changes. Morphological analysis may be useful to screen cancer cell populations and stem cells. Patterned substrates and hydrogels can be used to modulate cell function by controlling cell shape. Beautiful images of animal cells cultured on surfaces are ubiquitous in biological research, but these shapes also carry valuable information about the cells and the organism that they came from. Cell morphology is an emergent property of the cellular phenotype as well as of the physiological and signaling state of the cell. Many functional changes in cells cause stereotypical changes in cellular morphology, and some changes in shape can also cause characteristic changes in cellular phenotype. Thus, controlling cell shape through substrate engineering may emerge as another mechanism to modulate cell function for human health. This review summarizes current understanding of the morphology–phenotype connection, and surveys progress in the effort to interpret and control cell morphology. Beautiful images of animal cells cultured on surfaces are ubiquitous in biological research, but these shapes also carry valuable information about the cells and the organism that they came from. Cell morphology is an emergent property of the cellular phenotype as well as of the physiological and signaling state of the cell. Many functional changes in cells cause stereotypical changes in cellular morphology, and some changes in shape can also cause characteristic changes in cellular phenotype. Thus, controlling cell shape through substrate engineering may emerge as another mechanism to modulate cell function for human health. This review summarizes current understanding of the morphology–phenotype connection, and surveys progress in the effort to interpret and control cell morphology.