Prof Thomas Iskratsch
Professor of Cardiovascular Mechanobiology and Bioengineering
Industry Lead of The Centre for Bioengineering
School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Mechanobiology, Organ-on-a-chip, Cardiovascular Engineering, Micro- and Nano-patterning, Cell Mechanics & Cell Engineering, Cytoskeleton
Interests
The role of mechanical signals in the cardiovascular systemThe cellular microenvironment is defined by both chemical and physical/mechanical parameters. Recent data inidicated that mechanical signals, such as extracellular matrix rigidity contribute to guide cell migration, growth or differentiation during development or in disease.
Our research aims at understanding how mechanical forces regulate cell behavior especially in the cardiovascular system, including the formation and maintenance of the contractile myofibrils in cardiomyocytes during heart development or in cardiac disease, or the determination of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypes (contractile or synthetic). To answer these questions we use techniques, such as nanopillar arrays, micro and nano-patterning, magnetic tweezers or molecular Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) protein activity and tension sensors.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Bioengineering2024
Biocooperative Regenerative Materials by Harnessing Blood‐Clotting and Peptide Self‐AssemblyPadilla‐Lopategui S, Ligorio C, Bu W, Yin C, Laurenza D, Redondo C, Owen R, Sun H, Rose FRAJ, Iskratsch T and Mata A
Advanced Materials, Wiley
14-11-2024
Mechano-epigenetic regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype in atherosclerosisSwiatlowska P, Iskratsch T and Shanahan C
Atherosclerosis, Elsevier vol. 395
01-08-2024
Tunable electrospun scaffolds of polyacrylonitrile loaded with carbon nanotubes: from synthesis to biological applicationsFromager B, Cambedouzou J, Marhuenda E, Iskratsch T, Pinault M, Bakalara N and Cornu D
Chembiochem, Wiley vol. 25 (7)
12-03-2024
Hypertensive Pressure Mechanosensing Alone Triggers Lipid Droplet Accumulation and Transdifferentiation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Foam Cells (Adv. Sci. 9/2024)Swiatlowska P, Tipping W, Marhuenda E, Severi P, Fomin V, Yang Z, Xiao Q, Graham D, Shanahan C and Iskratsch T
Advanced Science, Wiley vol. 11 (9)
01-03-2024
Sox9 Accelerates Vascular Aging by Regulating Extracellular Matrix Composition and StiffnessFaleeva M, Ahmad S, Theofilatos K, Lynham S, Watson G, Whitehead M, Marhuenda E, Iskratsch T, Cox S and Shanahan CM
Circulation Research, Wolters Kluwer vol. 134 (3), 307-324.
05-01-2024
Selective placement of functionalised DNA origami via thermal scanning probe lithography patterningZheng T, O’Neill C, Marshall JF, Iskratsch T and Palma M
Materials Advances, Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) vol. 5 (23), 9376-9382.
01-01-2024
2023
Hypertensive Pressure Mechanosensing Alone Triggers Lipid Droplet Accumulation and Transdifferentiation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Foam CellsSwiatlowska P, Tipping W, Marhuenda E, Severi P, Fomin V, Yang Z, Xiao Q, Graham D, Shanahan C and Iskratsch T
Advanced Science, Wiley vol. 11 (9)
25-12-2023
Lem2 is essential for cardiac development by maintaining nuclear integrityRoss JA, Arcos-Villacis N, Battey E, Boogerd C, Orellana CA, Marhuenda E, Swiatlowska P, Hodzic D, Prin F, Mohun T, Catibog N, Tapia O, Gerace L, Iskratsch T, Shah AM and Stroud MJ
Cardiovascular Research, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 119 (11), 2074-2088.
17-04-2023
Cardiovascular Mechano-Epigenetics: Force-Dependent Regulation of Histone Modifications and Gene RegulationSwiatlowska P and Iskratsch T
Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, Springer Nature vol. 38 (2), 215-222.
18-01-2023
Myonuclear alterations associated with exercise are independent of age in humansBattey E, Ross JA, Hoang A, Wilson DGS, Han Y, Levy Y, Pollock RD, Kalakoutis M, Pugh JN, Close GL, Ellison‐Hughes GM, Lazarus NR, Iskratsch T, Harridge SDR, Ochala J and Stroud MJ
The Journal of Physiology, Wiley
04-01-2023
2022
Photoelectrochemical imaging of single cardiomyocytes and monitoring of their action potentials through contact force manipulation of organoidsJacques R, Zhou B, Marhuenda E, Gorecki J, Das A, Iskratsch T and Krause S
Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Elsevier
21-12-2022
Regulation of Cardiomyocyte Adhesion and
Mechanosignalling Through Distinct Nanoscale Behaviour of
Integrin Ligands Mimicking Healthy or Fibrotic ECMIskratsch T, Hawkes W, Marhuenda E, Reynolds P, O'Neill C, PANDEY P, Wilson D, FREELEY M, HUANG D, Junquiang H, Gondarenko S, Hone J, Gadegaard N and Palma M
Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, The Royal Society
21-11-2022
The role of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex in muscle cell mechanotransductionIskratsch T, Wilson D and Tinker A
Communications Biology, Nature Research
27-09-2022
Pressure and stiffness sensing together regulate vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switching.Swiatlowska P, Sit B, Feng Z, Marhuenda E, Xanthis I, Zingaro S, Ward M, Zhou X, Xiao Q, Shanahan C, Jones GE, Yu C-H and Iskratsch T
Science Advances vol. 8 (15)
01-04-2022
Factoring in the force: A novel role for eIF6.Wilson DGS and Iskratsch T
The Journal of Cell Biology vol. 221 (2)
21-01-2022
2021
Cardiovascular mechanobiology—a Special Issue to look at the state of the art and the newest insights into the role of mechanical forces in cardiovascular development, physiology and diseaseSwiatlowska P and Iskratsch T
Biophysical Reviews, Springer (Part of Springer Nature) vol. 13 (5), 575-577.
11-09-2021
Tools for studying and modulating (cardiac muscle) cell mechanics and mechanosensing across the scalesSwiatlowska P and Iskratsch T
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Nature vol. 13 (5), 611-623.
05-09-2021
Announcing the call for the Special Issue on “Cardiovascular mechanobiology—a special issue to look at the state of the art and the newest insights into the role of mechanical forces in cardiovascular development, physiology, and disease”Swiatlowska P and Iskratsch T
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Nature vol. 13 (3), 307-308.
03-05-2021
Glioma stem cells invasive phenotype at optimal stiffness is driven by MGAT5 dependent mechanosensingMarhuenda E, Fabre C, Zhang C, Martin-Fernandez M, Iskratsch T, Saleh A, Bauchet L, Cambedouzou J, Hugnot JP, Duffau H, Dennis JW, Cornu D and Bakalara N
Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research vol. 40 (1)
24-04-2021
2020
Cell scientist to watch – Thomas IskratschJournal of Cell Science, The Company of Biologists vol. 133 (15)
01-08-2020
2019
Contractile myosin rings and cofilin-mediated actin disassembly orchestrate ECM nanotopography sensingDi Cio S, Iskratsch T, Connelly JT and Gautrot JE
Biomaterials, Elsevier vol. 232
16-12-2019
Tumour angiogenesis is differentially regulated by endothelial cell Focal Adhesion Kinase tyrosine-397 and -861 phosphorylationPedrosa A-R, BODRUG N, Gomez-Escudero J, Carter EP, Reynolds LE, Georgiou PN, Fernandez I, Lees DM, Kostourou V, Alexopoulou AN, Batista S, Tavora B, Serrels B, Parsons M, Iskratsch T and Hodivala-Dilke K
Cancer Research, American Association For Cancer Research
12-06-2019
Costameres, dense plaques and podosomes: the cell matrix adhesions in cardiovascular mechanosensingSit B, Gutmann D and Iskratsch T
Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility, Springer Nature vol. 40 (2), 197-209.
01-06-2019
Probing the nanoscale organisation and multivalency of cell surface receptors: DNA origami nanoarrays for cellular studies with single-molecule controlHawkes W, Huang D, Reynolds P, Hammond L, Ward M, Gadegaard N, Marshall JF, Iskratch T and Palma M
Faraday Discussions, Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc)
18-03-2019
Mix and (mis-)match – The mechanosensing machinery in the changing environment of the developing, healthy adult and diseased heartWard M and Iskratsch T
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta (Bba) - Molecular Cell Research, Elsevier vol. 1867 (3)
08-02-2019
2018
Calponin-3 is critical for coordinated contractility of actin stress fibersCiuba K, Hawkes W, Tojkander S, Kogan K, Engel U, ISKRATSCH T and Lappalainen P
Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group
05-12-2018
Cardiomyocytes Sense Matrix Rigidity through a Combination of Muscle and Non-muscle Myosin Contractions.Pandey P, Hawkes W, Hu J, Megone WV, Gautrot J, Anilkumar N, Zhang M, Hirvonen L, Cox S, Ehler E, Hone J, Sheetz M and Iskratsch T
Dev Cell vol. 44 (3), 326-336.e3.
05-02-2018
Similar Effects of Humoral or Mechanical Stress on Cell-Cell Contacts in Cultured CardiomyocytesKoldyka O, Pandey P, Iskratsch T and Ehler E
Biophysical Journal. vol. 114 (3)
01-02-2018
2017
Polymer fiber-based models of connective tissue repair and healingLee NM, Erisken C, Iskratsch T, Sheetz M, Levine WN and Lu HH
Biomaterials vol. 112, 303-312.
01-01-2017
Alterations in cardiac cytoarchitecture due to cellular stress in dilated cardiomyopathyPluess M, Koldyka O, Iskratsch T, Bennett P, Dwyer J, Pandey P, dos Remedios C and Ehler E
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY. vol. 109, 10-11.
01-01-2017
2016
Actin polymerization-dependent activation of Cas-L promotes immunological synapse stability.Santos LC, Blair DA, Kumari S, Cammer M, Iskratsch T, Herbin O, Alexandropoulos K, Dustin ML and Sheetz MP
Immunol Cell Biol vol. 94 (10), 981-993.
30-06-2016
α-Actinin links extracellular matrix rigidity-sensing contractile units with periodic cell-edge retractions.Meacci G, Wolfenson H, Liu S, Stachowiak MR, Iskratsch T, Mathur A, Ghassemi S, Gauthier N, Tabdanov E, Lohner J, Gondarenko A, Chander AC, Roca-Cusachs P, O'Shaughnessy B, Hone J and Sheetz MP
Mol Biol Cell vol. 27 (22), 3471-3479.
27-04-2016
Cellular Stress Affects the Nucleoskeleton in Dilated CardiomyopathyPluess M, Iskratsch T, Bennett P, Dwyer J, Pandey P, dos Remedios C and Ehler E
Biophysical Journal. vol. 110 (3), 366a-367a.
01-02-2016
2015
Tropomyosin controls sarcomere-like contractions for rigidity sensing and suppressing growth on soft matrices.Wolfenson H, Meacci G, Liu S, Stachowiak MR, Iskratsch T, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P, O'Shaughnessy B, Hone J and Sheetz MP
Nat Cell Biol vol. 18 (1), 33-42.
30-11-2015
Micropatterning of TCR and LFA-1 ligands reveals complementary effects on cytoskeleton mechanics in T cells.Tabdanov E, Gondarenko S, Kumari S, Liapis A, Dustin ML, Sheetz MP, Kam LC and Iskratsch T
Integr Biol (Camb) vol. 7 (10), 1272-1284.
03-07-2015
Changes in cardiac cytoarchitecture in human dilated cardiomyopathyEhler E, Pluess M, Randall T, Dwyer J, Iskratsch T, Dos Remedios C and Bennett P
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL. vol. 36, 834-834.
01-01-2015
2014
Early Events in Cell Spreading as a Model for Quantitative Analysis of Biomechanical EventsWolfenson H, Iskratsch T and Sheetz MP
Biophysical Journal, Elsevier vol. 107 (11), 2508-2514.
01-12-2014
Appreciating force and shape—the rise of mechanotransduction in cell biology.Iskratsch T, Wolfenson H and Sheetz MP
Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology vol. 15 (12), 825-833.
30-10-2014
The formin FHOD1 in cardiomyocytes.Dwyer J, Pluess M, Iskratsch T, Dos Remedios CG and Ehler E
Anat Rec (Hoboken) vol. 297 (9), 1560-1570.
14-08-2014
N-WASP-directed actin polymerization activates Cas phosphorylation and lamellipodium spreadingZhang X, Moore SW, Iskratsch T and Sheetz MP
Journal of Cell Science, The Company of Biologists vol. 127 (7), 1394-1405.
01-01-2014
FHOD1 at Early Integrin Adhesions Drives Cell SpreadingIskratsch T, Yu C-H, Mathur A, Liu S, Stévenin V, Dwyer J, Hone J, Ehler E and Sheetz M
Biophysical Journal. vol. 106 (2)
01-01-2014
Rigidity sensing by tropomyosin-regulated nanometer steps in local contractionsWolfenson H, Meacci G, Liu S, Stachowiak MR, Iskratsch T, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P, O'Shaughnessy B, Hone J and Sheetz MP
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL. vol. 25
01-01-2014
2013
FHOD1 Is Needed for Directed Forces and Adhesion Maturation during Cell Spreading and MigrationIskratsch T, Yu C-H, Mathur A, Liu S, Stévenin V, Dwyer J, Hone J, Ehler E and Sheetz M
Developmental Cell, Elsevier vol. 27 (5), 545-559.
01-12-2013
Sarcomere-Like Units Contract Cell EdgesMeacci G, Stachowiak M, Liu S, Iskratsch T, Mathur A, Wolfenson H, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P, Tabdanov E, Gauthier N, Gondarenko A, O'Shaughnessy B, Hone J and Sheetz M
Biophysical Journal. vol. 104 (2), 477a-478a.
01-01-2013
2012
Endoplasmic spreading requires coalescence of vimentin intermediate filaments at force-bearing adhesionsLynch CD, Lazar AM, Iskratsch T, Zhang X and Sheetz MP
Molecular Biology of The Cell, American Society For Cell Biology (Ascb) vol. 24 (1), 21-30.
31-10-2012
Two distinct phosphorylation events govern the function of muscle FHOD3Iskratsch T, Reijntjes S, Dwyer J, Toselli P, Dégano IR, Dominguez I and Ehler E
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, Springer Nature vol. 70 (5), 893-908.
04-10-2012
Finding the weakest link – exploring integrin-mediated mechanical molecular pathwaysRoca-Cusachs P, Iskratsch T and Sheetz MP
Journal of Cell Science, The Company of Biologists vol. 125 (13), 3025-3038.
01-01-2012
Early cell spreading depends on actin polymerisation from integrin clusters by FHOD1.Iskratsch T, Yu C-H, Mathur A, Hone J and Sheetz M
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL. vol. 23
01-01-2012
2011
Actin in striated muscle: recent insights into assembly and maintenanceDwyer J, Iskratsch T and Ehler E
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Nature vol. 4 (1), 17-25.
20-12-2011
Formin-g muscle cytoarchitecture.Iskratsch T and Ehler E
Bioarchitecture, Taylor & Francis vol. 1 (2), 66-68.
01-03-2011
Sequential action of formin family proteins during fibroblast adhesion and spreadingIskratsch T and Sheetz M
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL. vol. 22
01-01-2011
2010
Formin follows function: a muscle-specific isoform of FHOD3 is regulated by CK2 phosphorylation and promotes myofibril maintenanceIskratsch T, Lange S, Dwyer J, Kho AL, Remedios CD and Ehler E
The Journal of General Physiology, Rockefeller University Press vol. 137 (1), i1-i1.
27-12-2010
Formin follows function: a muscle-specific isoform of FHOD3 is regulated by CK2 phosphorylation and promotes myofibril maintenanceIskratsch T, Lange S, Dwyer J, Kho AL, dos Remedios C and Ehler E
Journal of Cell Biology, Rockefeller University Press vol. 191 (6), 1159-1172.
13-12-2010
2009
Aberrant development of neuromuscular junctions in glycosylation-defective Largemyd miceHerbst R, Iskratsch T, Unger E and Bittner RE
Neuromuscular Disorders, Elsevier vol. 19 (5), 366-378.
05-04-2009
Mammalian cells contain a second nucleocytoplasmic hexosaminidaseGutternigg M, Rendić D, Voglauer R, Iskratsch T and Wilson IBH
Biochemical Journal, Portland Press vol. 419 (1), 83-90.
13-03-2009
2008
Specificity analysis of lectins and antibodies using remodeled glycoproteinsIskratsch T, Braun A, Paschinger K and Wilson IBH
Analytical Biochemistry, Elsevier vol. 386 (2), 133-146.
14-12-2008
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for BioengineeringThe role of novel mechanosensitive complex in cardiomyocyte pathophysiologyThomas Iskratsch and Andrew Tinker
£254,588 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-10-2024 - 30-09-2027
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technology (COaCT)Hazel Screen, Martin Knight, Thomas Iskratsch, Caroline Roney, Yi Sui, David Lee, Julia Shelton, Zion Tse, John Connelly, Adrian Biddle and Lucy Norling
£7,066,811 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Grant Summary
01-07-2024 - 30-09-2032
Talin dependent mechanical imprinting as driver for cardiac disease progressionThomas Iskratsch
£231,663 BHF British Heart Foundation
22-01-2024 - 21-01-2027
Thermochemical patterning to generate Bionanoarrays: Studentship Rachel SmythThomas Iskratsch
£9,000 Heidelberg Instruments Nano AG
18-01-2024 - 17-01-2027
Virtual Atria with Personalised Electrophysiology for Atrial Fibrillation Therapy PlanningCaroline Roney and Thomas Iskratsch
£25,000 Acutus Medical UK Ltd
01-10-2022 - 30-09-2025
Development of functional 3D eccrine sweat gland modelThomas Iskratsch and John Connelly
£79,541 Unilever UK Ltd
04-10-2021 - 03-10-2024
3D Photoelectrochemical Imaging in Porous Light-Addressable StructuresSteffi Krause, Joe Briscoe and Thomas Iskratsch
£202,248 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
01-02-2021 - 30-04-2023
The regulation of mechanosensing in healthy and atherosclerotic VSMCThomas Iskratsch
£238,021 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-12-2020 - 30-11-2023
Investigating the cardiomyocyte rigidity sensing mechanism with micro patterned surfaces and nanopilThomas Iskratsch
£490,545 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-02-2019 - 31-03-2023
Intermediate basic science research fellowship - GRANT TRANSFERThomas Iskratsch
£165,478 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-11-2017 - 31-12-2018