Fig. 11. Schematic representation of patterns of podosome groups adherent on rigid (A) or flexible (B) substrates. The zone of inhibition (zi) preventing the formation of new podosomes in a close vicinity of an existing podosome increases with the substrate flexibility. The reduction of contractile forces induced by the attachment to flexible substrate (B') compared with rigid substrate (A') should cause a cell-substrate immature adhesive interface at the podosome level and then reduce its lifespan and regulate minimum distance (d) between podosomes.