Mechanical Memory Primes Cells for Confined Migration via NFATC2 Signaling

Cells retain a memory of past mechanical environments, influencing their future behavior. This project investigates how mechanical memory affects cell morphology and migration, especially under confinement, using human cell lines (MDA-MB-231, HT1080, HFF-1) exposed to soft (1 kPa), stiff (34 kPa), and rigid (glass) substrates for 7 days. Through transcriptomic profiling (RNA-seq), we identify NFATC2 as a key regulator of this memory effect.