1
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Holuigue H, Nacci L, Di Chiaro P, Chighizola M, Locatelli I, Schulte C, Alfano M, Diaferia GR, Podestà A. Native extracellular matrix probes to target patient- and tissue-specific cell-microenvironment interactions by force spectroscopy. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:15382-15395. [PMID: 37700706 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr01568h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is successfully used for the quantitative investigation of the cellular mechanosensing of the microenvironment. To this purpose, several force spectroscopy approaches aim at measuring the adhesive forces between two living cells and also between a cell and an appropriate reproduction of the extracellular matrix (ECM), typically exploiting tips suitably functionalised with single components (e.g. collagen, fibronectin) of the ECM. However, these probes only poorly reproduce the complexity of the native cellular microenvironment and consequently of the biological interactions. We developed a novel approach to produce AFM probes that faithfully retain the structural and biochemical complexity of the ECM; this was achieved by attaching to an AFM cantilever a micrometric slice of native decellularised ECM, which was cut by laser microdissection. We demonstrate that these probes preserve the morphological, mechanical, and chemical heterogeneity of the ECM. Native ECM probes can be used in force spectroscopy experiments aimed at targeting cell-microenvironment interactions. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of dissecting mechanotransductive cell-ECM interactions in the 10 pN range. As proof-of-principle, we tested a rat bladder ECM probe against the AY-27 rat bladder cancer cell line. On the one hand, we obtained reproducible results using different probes derived from the same ECM regions; on the other hand, we detected differences in the adhesion patterns of distinct bladder ECM regions (submucosa, detrusor, and adventitia), in line with the disparities in composition and biophysical properties of these ECM regions. Our results demonstrate that native ECM probes, produced from patient-specific regions of organs and tissues, can be used to investigate cell-microenvironment interactions and early mechanotransductive processes by force spectroscopy. This opens new possibilities in the field of personalised medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Holuigue
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
| | - L Nacci
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - P Di Chiaro
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - M Chighizola
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
| | - I Locatelli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| | - C Schulte
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - M Alfano
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| | - G R Diaferia
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - A Podestà
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
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2
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Viti F, Pramotton FM, Martufi M, Magrassi R, Pedemonte N, Nizzari M, Zanacchi FC, De Michele B, Alampi M, Zambito M, Santamaria G, Bajetto A, Sardar S, Tomati V, Gandullia P, Giampietro C, Florio T, Beltrame F, Vassalli M, Ceccherini I. Patient's dermal fibroblasts as disease markers for visceral myopathy. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 148:213355. [PMID: 36893487 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Visceral myopathy (VSCM) is a rare genetic disease, orphan of pharmacological therapy. VSCM diagnosis is not always straightforward due to symptomatology similarities with mitochondrial or neuronal forms of intestinal pseudo-obstruction. The most prevalent form of VSCM is associates with variants in the gene ACTG2, encoding the protein gamma-2 actin. Overall, VSCM is a mechano-biological disorder, in which different genetic variants lead to similar alterations to the contractile phenotype of enteric smooth muscles, resulting in the emergence of life-threatening symptoms. In this work we analyzed the morpho-mechanical phenotype of human dermal fibroblasts from patients affected with VSCM, demonstrating that they retain a clear signature of the disease when compared with different controls. We evaluated several biophysical traits of fibroblasts, and we show that a measure of cellular traction forces can be used as a non-specific biomarker of the disease. We propose that a simple assay based on traction forces could be designed to provide a valuable support for clinical decision or pre-clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Viti
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy.
| | - Francesca Micaela Pramotton
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; ETH Zurich, The Institute for Mechanical Systems, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Michela Martufi
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy; Dipartimento Medicina Interna, Sezione di Farmacologia, Università di Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 2, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Raffaella Magrassi
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Mario Nizzari
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Benedetta De Michele
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy
| | - Manuela Alampi
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Viale Causa, 13, 16145 Genova, Italy
| | - Martina Zambito
- Dipartimento Medicina Interna, Sezione di Farmacologia, Università di Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 2, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Santamaria
- UOSD Laboratorio di Genetica e Genomica delle Malattie Rare, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Adriana Bajetto
- Dipartimento Medicina Interna, Sezione di Farmacologia, Università di Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 2, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Sabah Sardar
- Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Oakfield avenue, G128LT Glasgow, UK
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Gandullia
- UOC Pediatric Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Costanza Giampietro
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; ETH Zurich, The Institute for Mechanical Systems, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tullio Florio
- Dipartimento Medicina Interna, Sezione di Farmacologia, Università di Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 2, 16132 Genova, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo rosanna benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Francesco Beltrame
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Viale Causa, 13, 16145 Genova, Italy
| | - Massimo Vassalli
- Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Oakfield avenue, G128LT Glasgow, UK
| | - Isabella Ceccherini
- UOSD Laboratorio di Genetica e Genomica delle Malattie Rare, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
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3
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Chighizola M, Dini T, Marcotti S, D'Urso M, Piazzoni C, Borghi F, Previdi A, Ceriani L, Folliero C, Stramer B, Lenardi C, Milani P, Podestà A, Schulte C. The glycocalyx affects the mechanotransductive perception of the topographical microenvironment. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:418. [PMID: 36123687 PMCID: PMC9484177 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01585-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell/microenvironment interface is the starting point of integrin-mediated mechanotransduction, but many details of mechanotransductive signal integration remain elusive due to the complexity of the involved (extra)cellular structures, such as the glycocalyx. We used nano-bio-interfaces reproducing the complex nanotopographical features of the extracellular matrix to analyse the glycocalyx impact on PC12 cell mechanosensing at the nanoscale (e.g., by force spectroscopy with functionalised probes). Our data demonstrates that the glycocalyx configuration affects spatio-temporal nanotopography-sensitive mechanotransductive events at the cell/microenvironment interface. Opposing effects of major glycocalyx removal were observed, when comparing flat and specific nanotopographical conditions. The excessive retrograde actin flow speed and force loading are strongly reduced on certain nanotopographies upon strong reduction of the native glycocalyx, while on the flat substrate we observe the opposite trend. Our results highlight the importance of the glycocalyx configuration in a molecular clutch force loading-dependent cellular mechanism for mechanosensing of microenvironmental nanotopographical features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Chighizola
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Tania Dini
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM), Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Marcotti
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mirko D'Urso
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Claudio Piazzoni
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Borghi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Anita Previdi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Ceriani
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Folliero
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM), Milan, Italy
| | - Brian Stramer
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Cristina Lenardi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Milani
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Carsten Schulte
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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4
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Relationship between Liver Stiffness and Steatosis in Obesity Conditions: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12050733. [PMID: 35625660 PMCID: PMC9139073 DOI: 10.3390/biom12050733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic dysfunction such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The NAFLD spectrum ranges from simple steatosis, to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. The aim of this study is to characterize the grade of steatosis being associated with overnutrition and obesity, both at the level of single hepatocyte and whole liver, and to correlate it with the hepatocyte/liver stiffness and dysfunction. For the in vivo study, 60 subjects were enrolled and grouped based on the stage of liver steatosis/fibrosis according to biochemical analyses, liver ultrasonography (USG) and acoustic radiation force impulse shear wave elastography (ARFI-SWE). For single hepatocyte analyses we employed in vitro models of moderate and severe steatosis on which to assess the single cell biomechanics by Single Cell Force Spectroscopy (SCFS) and Quantitative Phase Microscopy (QPM). Results show that in vivo liver stiffness depends mainly on the extent of fat accumulation and not on fibrosis. These results parallel the in vitro observations showing that hepatocyte stiffness and dysfunction increase with increasing fat accumulation and lipid droplet enlargement. Our findings indicate that the extent of steatosis markedly affects the biomechanical properties of both liver and single hepatocytes thus proving insights about the role of modulation of liver/hepatocyte elasticity as a physical mechanism transducing the obesity-dependent excess of plasmatic lipids towards liver steatosis and dysfunction.
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5
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Procès A, Luciano M, Kalukula Y, Ris L, Gabriele S. Multiscale Mechanobiology in Brain Physiology and Diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:823857. [PMID: 35419366 PMCID: PMC8996382 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.823857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that mechanics play a critical role in regulating brain function at different scales. Downstream integration of mechanical inputs into biochemical signals and genomic pathways causes observable and measurable effects on brain cell fate and can also lead to important pathological consequences. Despite recent advances, the mechanical forces that influence neuronal processes remain largely unexplored, and how endogenous mechanical forces are detected and transduced by brain cells into biochemical and genetic programs have received less attention. In this review, we described the composition of brain tissues and their pronounced microstructural heterogeneity. We discuss the individual role of neuronal and glial cell mechanics in brain homeostasis and diseases. We highlight how changes in the composition and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix can modulate brain cell functions and describe key mechanisms of the mechanosensing process. We then consider the contribution of mechanobiology in the emergence of brain diseases by providing a critical review on traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases, and neuroblastoma. We show that a better understanding of the mechanobiology of brain tissues will require to manipulate the physico-chemical parameters of the cell microenvironment, and to develop three-dimensional models that can recapitulate the complexity and spatial diversity of brain tissues in a reproducible and predictable manner. Collectively, these emerging insights shed new light on the importance of mechanobiology and its implication in brain and nerve diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Procès
- Mechanobiology and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium.,Neurosciences Department, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Marine Luciano
- Mechanobiology and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Yohalie Kalukula
- Mechanobiology and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Laurence Ris
- Neurosciences Department, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Sylvain Gabriele
- Mechanobiology and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
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6
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Zanetti M, Chen SN, Conti M, Taylor MRG, Sbaizero O, Mestroni L, Lazzarino M. Microfabricated cantilevers for parallelized cell-cell adhesion measurements. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL : EBJ 2022; 51:147-156. [PMID: 34304293 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-021-01563-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell adhesion measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers outstanding time and force resolution and allows the investigation of many important phenomena with unmatched precision. However, this technique suffers from serious practical limitations that hinder its effective application to a broader set of situations. Here we propose a different strategy based on the fabrication of large cantilevers and on the culture of the cells directly on them. Cantilevers are fabricated by standard micromachining, with an active area of 300 × 300 µm. A wedged structure is created so that the cantilever surface lies parallel to the substrate when mounted on an AFM system, so that the adhesion measurement probes the whole surface area at the same time. Thanks to the large area, cells can be seeded and grown on the cantilevers the day before the experiment, and let recover to optimal condition for the experiment. We used Human Embryonic Kidney cells, HEK 293A, to demonstrate the measurement of adhesion forces of up to 100 cells in parallel, and obtain a straightforward measurement of the average single cell adhesion energy. Our approach can improve significantly the cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion statistics, reduce the experiment time and allow the investigation of the adhesion properties of cells that do not grow well in solution or on low adherent substrates, or that develop their characteristic features only after several hours or days of culture on a solid and adherent substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Zanetti
- CNR-IOM, Istituto Officina dei Materiali - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 34149, Trieste, Italy
- University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Suet Nee Chen
- Molecular Genetics, Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045-2507, USA
| | - Martina Conti
- CNR-IOM, Istituto Officina dei Materiali - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 34149, Trieste, Italy
- University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Matthew R G Taylor
- Molecular Genetics, Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045-2507, USA
| | | | - Luisa Mestroni
- Molecular Genetics, Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045-2507, USA
| | - Marco Lazzarino
- CNR-IOM, Istituto Officina dei Materiali - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
- Molecular Genetics, Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045-2507, USA.
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7
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Jadavi S, Bianchini P, Cavalleri O, Dante S, Canale C, Diaspro A. Correlative nanoscopy: A multimodal approach to molecular resolution. Microsc Res Tech 2021; 84:2472-2482. [PMID: 33955625 PMCID: PMC8518117 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a nano‐mechanical tool uniquely suited for biological studies at the molecular scale. AFM operation is based on mechanical interaction between the tip and the sample, a mechanism of contrast capable of measuring different information, including surface topography, mechanical, and electrical properties. However, the lack of specificity highlights the need to integrate AFM data with other techniques providing compositional hints. In particular, optical microscopes based on fluorescence as a mechanism of contrast can access the local distribution of specific molecular species. The coupling between AFM and super‐resolved fluorescence microscopy solves the resolution mismatch between AFM and conventional fluorescence optical microscopy. Recent advances showed that also the inherently label‐free imaging capabilities of the AFM are fundamental to complement the fluorescence images. In this review, we have presented a brief historical view on correlative microscopy, and, finally, we have summarized the progress of correlative AFM‐super‐resolution microscopy in biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Jadavi
- DIFILAB, Department of Physics, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.,Nanoscopy, CHT Erzelli, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Bianchini
- Nanoscopy, CHT Erzelli, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Dante
- Materials Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Claudio Canale
- DIFILAB, Department of Physics, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Alberto Diaspro
- DIFILAB, Department of Physics, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.,Nanoscopy, CHT Erzelli, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
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8
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Vassalli
- James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Center for the Cellular Microenvironment, 70 University Avenue, School of Engineering, G12 8LT, Glasgow, UK
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9
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Impact of Experimental Parameters on Cell-Cell Force Spectroscopy Signature. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21041069. [PMID: 33557265 PMCID: PMC7915634 DOI: 10.3390/s21041069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy is an extremely versatile technique, featuring atomic-scale imaging resolution, and also offering the possibility to probe interaction forces down to few pN. Recently, this technique has been specialized to study the interaction between single living cells, one on the substrate, and a second being adhered on the cantilever. Cell–cell force spectroscopy offers a unique tool to investigate in fine detail intra-cellular interactions, and it holds great promise to elucidate elusive phenomena in physiology and pathology. Here we present a systematic study of the effect of the main measurement parameters on cell–cell curves, showing the importance of controlling the experimental conditions. Moreover, a simple theoretical interpretation is proposed, based on the number of contacts formed between the two interacting cells. The results show that single cell–cell force spectroscopy experiments carry a wealth of information that can be exploited to understand the inner dynamics of the interaction of living cells at the molecular level.
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10
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MCM2 and Carbonic Anhydrase 9 Are Novel Potential Targets for Neuroblastoma Pharmacological Treatment. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8110471. [PMID: 33153038 PMCID: PMC7692293 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8110471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
To overcome the lack of effective pharmacological treatments for high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB), the development of novel in vitro and in vivo models that better recapitulate the disease is required. Here, we used an in vitro multiclonal cell model encompassing NB cell differentiation stages, to identify potential novel pharmacological targets. This model allowed us to identify, by low-density RT-PCR arrays, two gene sets, one over-expressed during NB cell differentiation, and the other up-regulated in more malignant cells. Challenging two HR-NB gene expression datasets, we found that these two gene sets are related to high and low survival, respectively. Using mouse NB cisplatin-treated xenografts, we identified two genes within the list associated to the malignant stage (MCM2 and carbonic anhydrase 9), whose expression is positively correlated with tumor growth. Thus, we tested their pharmacological targeting as potential therapeutic strategy. We measured mice survival and tumor growth rate after xenografts of human NB treated with cisplatin in the presence of MCM2/carbonic anhydrase 9 inhibitors (ciprofloxacin and acetazolamide). MCM2 or carbonic anhydrase 9 inhibition significantly increased cisplatin activity, supporting their possible testing for NB therapy.
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11
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Chighizola M, Puricelli L, Bellon L, Podestà A. Large colloidal probes for atomic force microscopy: Fabrication and calibration issues. J Mol Recognit 2020; 34:e2879. [PMID: 33098182 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool to investigate interaction forces at the micro and nanoscale. Cantilever stiffness, dimensions and geometry of the tip can be chosen according to the requirements of the specific application, in terms of spatial resolution and force sensitivity. Colloidal probes (CPs), obtained by attaching a spherical particle to a tipless (TL) cantilever, offer several advantages for accurate force measurements: tunable and well-characterisable radius; higher averaging capabilities (at the expense of spatial resolution) and sensitivity to weak interactions; a well-defined interaction geometry (sphere on flat), which allows accurate and reliable data fitting by means of analytical models. The dynamics of standard AFM probes has been widely investigated, and protocols have been developed for the calibration of the cantilever spring constant. Nevertheless, the dynamics of CPs, and in particular of large CPs, with radius well above 10 μm and mass comparable, or larger, than the cantilever mass, is at present still poorly characterized. Here we describe the fabrication and calibration of (large) CPs. We describe and discuss the peculiar dynamical behaviour of CPs, and present an alternative protocol for the accurate calibration of the spring constant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Chighizola
- C.I.Ma.I.Na. and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Puricelli
- C.I.Ma.I.Na. and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ludovic Bellon
- Laboratoire de Physique, Univ. Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ. Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Lyon, France
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- C.I.Ma.I.Na. and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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12
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Chighizola M, Previdi A, Dini T, Piazzoni C, Lenardi C, Milani P, Schulte C, Podestà A. Adhesion force spectroscopy with nanostructured colloidal probes reveals nanotopography-dependent early mechanotransductive interactions at the cell membrane level. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:14708-14723. [PMID: 32618323 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr01991g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mechanosensing, the ability of cells to perceive and interpret the microenvironmental biophysical cues (such as the nanotopography), impacts strongly cellular behaviour through mechanotransductive processes and signalling. These events are predominantly mediated by integrins, the principal cellular adhesion receptors located at the cell/extracellular matrix (ECM) interface. Because of the typical piconewton force range and nanometre length scale of mechanotransductive interactions, achieving a detailed understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics occurring at the cell/microenvironment interface is challenging; sophisticated interdisciplinary methodologies are required. Moreover, an accurate control over the nanotopographical features of the microenvironment is essential, in order to systematically investigate and precisely assess the influence of the different nanotopographical motifs on the mechanotransductive process. In this framework, we were able to study and quantify the impact of microenvironmental nanotopography on early cellular adhesion events by means of adhesion force spectroscopy based on innovative colloidal probes mimicking the nanotopography of natural ECMs. These probes provided the opportunity to detect nanotopography-specific modulations of the molecular clutch force loading dynamics and integrin clustering at the level of single binding events, in the critical time window of nascent adhesion formation. Following this approach, we found that the nanotopographical features are responsible for an excessive force loading in single adhesion sites after 20-60 s of interaction, causing a drop in the number of adhesion sites. However, by manganese treatment we demonstrated that the availability of activated integrins is a critical regulatory factor for these nanotopography-dependent dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Chighizola
- C.I.Ma.I.Na. and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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13
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Zhou G, Zhang B, Wei L, Zhang H, Galluzzi M, Li J. Spatially Resolved Correlation between Stiffness Increase and Actin Aggregation around Nanofibers Internalized in Living Macrophages. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13143235. [PMID: 32708102 PMCID: PMC7412258 DOI: 10.3390/ma13143235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Plasticity and functional diversity of macrophages play an important role in resisting pathogens invasion, tumor progression and tissue repair. At present, nanodrug formulations are becoming increasingly important to induce and control the functional diversity of macrophages. In this framework, the internalization process of nanodrugs is co-regulated by a complex interplay of biochemistry, cell physiology and cell mechanics. From a biophysical perspective, little is known about cellular mechanics’ modulation induced by the nanodrug carrier’s internalization. In this study, we used the polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)–polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanofibers as a model drug carrier, and we investigated their influence on macrophage mechanics. Interestingly, the nanofibers internalized in macrophages induced a local increase of stiffness detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanomechanical investigation. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed a thickening of actin filaments around nanofibers during the internalization process. Following geometry and mechanical properties by AFM, indentation experiments are virtualized in a finite element model simulation. It turned out that it is necessary to include an additional actin wrapping layer around nanofiber in order to achieve similar reaction force of AFM experiments, consistent with confocal observation. The quantitative investigation of actin reconfiguration around internalized nanofibers can be exploited to develop novel strategies for drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiao Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Nanobiomechanics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.Z.); (B.Z.); (L.W.); (H.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bokai Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Nanobiomechanics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.Z.); (B.Z.); (L.W.); (H.Z.)
| | - Liyu Wei
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Nanobiomechanics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.Z.); (B.Z.); (L.W.); (H.Z.)
| | - Han Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Nanobiomechanics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.Z.); (B.Z.); (L.W.); (H.Z.)
- State Key Laboratory of Traction Power, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Massimiliano Galluzzi
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Nanobiomechanics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.Z.); (B.Z.); (L.W.); (H.Z.)
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (J.L.)
| | - Jiangyu Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Nanobiomechanics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.Z.); (B.Z.); (L.W.); (H.Z.)
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (J.L.)
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14
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Bartolozzi A, Viti F, De Stefano S, Sbrana F, Petecchia L, Gavazzo P, Vassalli M. Development of label-free biophysical markers in osteogenic maturation. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2019; 103:103581. [PMID: 32090910 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.103581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The spatial and temporal changes of morphological and mechanical properties of living cells reflect complex functionally-associated processes. Monitoring these modifications could provide a direct information on the cellular functional state. Here we present an integrated biophysical approach to the quantification of the morphological and mechanical phenotype of single cells along a maturation pathway. Specifically, quantitative phase microscopy and single cell biomechanical testing were applied to the characterization of the maturation of human foetal osteoblasts, demonstrating the ability to identify effective label-free biomarkers along this fundamental biological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bartolozzi
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Genoa, Italy; Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, Università di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Federica Viti
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Silvia De Stefano
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Sbrana
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Genoa, Italy; Schaefer South-East Europe Srl, Rovigo, Italy
| | - Loredana Petecchia
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paola Gavazzo
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Vassalli
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Genoa, Italy
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15
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Baldini F, Bartolozzi A, Ardito M, Voci A, Portincasa P, Vassalli M, Vergani L. Biomechanics of cultured hepatic cells during different steatogenic hits. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2019; 97:296-305. [PMID: 31151002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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16
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Mescola A, Dauvin M, Amoroso A, Duwez AS, Joris B. Single-molecule force spectroscopy to decipher the early signalling step in membrane-bound penicillin receptors embedded into a lipid bilayer. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:12275-12284. [PMID: 31211302 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr02466b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the molecular mechanism by which the signal of the presence of an antibiotic is transduced from outside to inside the bacterial cell is of fundamental interest for the β-lactam antibiotic resistance problem, but remains difficult to accomplish. No approach has ever addressed entire penicillin receptors in a membrane environment. Here we describe a method to investigate the purified Bacillus licheniformis BlaR1 receptor -a membrane-bound penicillin receptor involved in β-lactam resistance- embedded into a lipid bilayer in absence or presence of penicillin. By selecting a mutated receptor blocked in its signal transduction pathway just after its activation by penicillin, we revealed the very first step of receptor signalling by unfolding the receptor from its C-terminal end by AFM-based single-molecule force spectroscopy. We showed that the presence of the antibiotic entails significant conformational changes within the receptor. Our approach opens an avenue to study signal-transduction pathways mediated by membrane-bound proteins in a membrane environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mescola
- Molecular Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Marjorie Dauvin
- Bacterial physiology and genetics - Centre d'Ingénierie des Protéines-Integrative Biological Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Ana Amoroso
- Bacterial physiology and genetics - Centre d'Ingénierie des Protéines-Integrative Biological Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Anne-Sophie Duwez
- Molecular Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Bernard Joris
- Bacterial physiology and genetics - Centre d'Ingénierie des Protéines-Integrative Biological Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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17
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18
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Pellequer JL, Parot P, Navajas D, Kumar S, Svetličić V, Scheuring S, Hu J, Li B, Engler A, Sousa S, Lekka M, Szymoński M, Schillers H, Odorico M, Lafont F, Janel S, Rico F. Fifteen years of Servitude et Grandeur
to the application of a biophysical technique in medicine: The tale of AFMBioMed. J Mol Recognit 2018; 32:e2773. [DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel Navajas
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia and CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias; Universitat de Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley California USA
| | | | - Simon Scheuring
- Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Physiology and Biophysics; Weill Cornell Medicine; New York City New York USA
| | - Jun Hu
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai China
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai China
| | - Bin Li
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai China
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shanghai China
| | - Adam Engler
- Department of Bioengineering; University of California San Diego; La Jolla California USA
| | - Susana Sousa
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
- ISEP-Instituto Superior de Engenharia; Politécnico do Porto; Portugal
| | - Małgorzata Lekka
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences; Kraków Poland
| | - Marek Szymoński
- Center for Nanometer-scale Science and Advanced Materials, NANOSAM, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | | | - Michael Odorico
- Institut de Chimie Séparative de Marcoule (ICSM), CEA, CNRS, ENSCM, Univ Montpellier, Marcoule; Montpellier France
| | - Frank Lafont
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, CNRS UMR 8204, INSERM U1019, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Univ Lille; Lille France
| | - Sebastien Janel
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, CNRS UMR 8204, INSERM U1019, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Univ Lille; Lille France
| | - Felix Rico
- LAI, U1067, Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM; Marseille France
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19
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Li M, Dang D, Xi N, Wang Y, Liu L. Nanoscale imaging and force probing of biomolecular systems using atomic force microscopy: from single molecules to living cells. NANOSCALE 2017; 9:17643-17666. [PMID: 29135007 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr07023c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Due to the lack of adequate tools for observation, native molecular behaviors at the nanoscale have been poorly understood. The advent of atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides an exciting instrument for investigating physiological processes on individual living cells with molecular resolution, which attracts the attention of worldwide researchers. In the past few decades, AFM has been widely utilized to investigate molecular activities on diverse biological interfaces, and the performances and functions of AFM have also been continuously improved, greatly improving our understanding of the behaviors of single molecules in action and demonstrating the important role of AFM in addressing biological issues with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. In this article, we review the related techniques and recent progress about applying AFM to characterize biomolecular systems in situ from single molecules to living cells. The challenges and future directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
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20
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Li M, Dang D, Liu L, Xi N, Wang Y. Atomic Force Microscopy in Characterizing Cell Mechanics for Biomedical Applications: A Review. IEEE Trans Nanobioscience 2017; 16:523-540. [PMID: 28613180 DOI: 10.1109/tnb.2017.2714462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Cell mechanics is a novel label-free biomarker for indicating cell states and pathological changes. The advent of atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides a powerful tool for quantifying the mechanical properties of single living cells in aqueous conditions. The wide use of AFM in characterizing cell mechanics in the past two decades has yielded remarkable novel insights in understanding the development and progression of certain diseases, such as cancer, showing the huge potential of cell mechanics for practical applications in the field of biomedicine. In this paper, we reviewed the utilization of AFM to characterize cell mechanics. First, the principle and method of AFM single-cell mechanical analysis was presented, along with the mechanical responses of cells to representative external stimuli measured by AFM. Next, the unique changes of cell mechanics in two types of physiological processes (stem cell differentiation, cancer metastasis) revealed by AFM were summarized. After that, the molecular mechanisms guiding cell mechanics were analyzed. Finally the challenges and future directions were discussed.
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21
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22
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Ossola D, Dörig P, Vörös J, Zambelli T, Vassalli M. Serial weighting of micro-objects with resonant microchanneled cantilevers. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 27:415502. [PMID: 27608651 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/41/415502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilevers have proven to be very effective mass sensors. The attachment of a small mass to a vibrating cantilever produces a resonance frequency shift that can be monitored, providing the ability to measure mass changes down to a few molecules resolution. Nevertheless, the lack of a practical method to handle the catch and release process required for dynamic weighting of microobjects strongly hindered the application of the technology beyond proof of concept measurements. Here, a method is proposed in which FluidFM hollow cantilevers are exploited to overcome the standard limitations of AFM-based mass sensors, providing high throughput single object weighting with picogram accuracy. The extension of the dynamic models of AFM cantilevers to hollow cantilevers was discussed and the effectiveness of mass weighting in air was validated on test samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Ossola
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
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23
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PPAR Gamma in Neuroblastoma: The Translational Perspectives of Hypoglycemic Drugs. PPAR Res 2016; 2016:3038164. [PMID: 27799938 PMCID: PMC5069360 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3038164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common and aggressive pediatric cancer, characterized by a remarkable phenotypic diversity and high malignancy. The heterogeneous clinical behavior, ranging from spontaneous remission to fatal metastatic disease, is attributable to NB biology and genetics. Despite major advances in therapies, NB is still associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Thus, novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches are required, mainly to improve treatment outcomes of high-risk NB patients. Among neuroepithelial cancers, NB is the most studied tumor as far as PPAR ligands are concerned. PPAR ligands are endowed with antitumoral effects, mainly acting on cancer stem cells, and constitute a possible add-on therapy to antiblastic drugs, in particular for NB with unfavourable prognosis. While discussing clinical background, this review will provide a synopsis of the major studies about PPAR expression in NB, focusing on the potential beneficial effects of hypoglycemic drugs, thiazolidinediones and metformin, to reduce the occurrence of relapses as well as tumor regrowth in NB patients.
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24
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Alloisio S, Garbati P, Viti F, Dante S, Barbieri R, Arnaldi G, Petrelli A, Gigoni A, Giannoni P, Quarto R, Nobile M, Vassalli M, Pagano A. Generation of a Functional Human Neural Network by NDM29 Overexpression in Neuroblastoma Cancer Cells. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:6097-6106. [PMID: 27699601 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0161-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in life sciences suggest that human and rodent cell responses to stimuli might differ significantly. In this context, the results achieved in neurotoxicology and biomedical research practices using neural networks obtained from mouse or rat primary culture of neurons would benefit of the parallel evaluation of the same parameters using fully differentiated neurons with a human genetic background, thus emphasizing the current need of neuronal cells with human origin. In this work, we developed a human functionally active neural network derived by human neuroblastoma cancer cells genetically engineered to overexpress NDM29, a non-coding RNA whose increased synthesis causes the differentiation toward a neuronal phenotype. These cells are here analyzed accurately showing functional and morphological traits of neurons such as the expression of neuron-specific proteins and the possibility to generate the expected neuronal current traces and action potentials. Their morphometrical analysis is carried out by quantitative phase microscopy showing soma and axon sizes compatible with those of functional neurons. The ability of these cells to connect autonomously forming physical junctions recapitulates that of hippocampal neurons, as resulting by connect-ability test. Lastly, these cells self-organize in neural networks able to produce spontaneous firing, in which spikes can be clustered in bursts. Altogether, these results show that the neural network obtained by NDM29-dependent differentiation of neuroblastoma cells is a suitable tool for biomedical research practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Alloisio
- ETT Spa, via Sestri 37, 16154, Genoa, Italy.,National Research Council, Institute of Biophysics, via De Marini 6, 16149, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Federica Viti
- National Research Council, Institute of Biophysics, via De Marini 6, 16149, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Dante
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Arnaldi
- IRCCS-AOU San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Alessia Petrelli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Arianna Gigoni
- IRCCS-AOU San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Giannoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Quarto
- IRCCS-AOU San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Mario Nobile
- National Research Council, Institute of Biophysics, via De Marini 6, 16149, Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Vassalli
- National Research Council, Institute of Biophysics, via De Marini 6, 16149, Genoa, Italy
| | - Aldo Pagano
- IRCCS-AOU San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy. .,Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.
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25
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Perhexiline maleate enhances antitumor efficacy of cisplatin in neuroblastoma by inducing over-expression of NDM29 ncRNA. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18144. [PMID: 26674674 PMCID: PMC4682181 DOI: 10.1038/srep18144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
High Risk Neuroblastoma (HR-NB) is a pediatric cancer characterized by high malignancy and remarkable cell heterogeneity within the tumour nodules. In a recent study, we demonstrated that in vitro and in vivo over-expression of the non-coding RNA NDM29 (neuroblastoma differentiation marker 29) induces NB cell differentiation, dramatically reducing their malignancy. Among gene expression changes, differentiated phenotype induced by NDM29 is characterized by decrease of the expression of ABC transporters responsible for anticancer drug resistance. Thus, the pharmacological induction of NDM29, in principle, might represent a possible novel strategy to increase cytotoxic drug responses. In this work, we identify a small molecule able to induce the expression of NDM29 in NB cells, conferring to malignant cells increased susceptibility to cisplatin cytotoxic effects. We demonstrate that the pharmacological induction of NDM29 expression in vivo enhances the antitumoral effects of chemotherapy specifically on tumour initiating/cancer stem cells sub-population, usually refractory to therapies and responsible for tumour relapse. In summary, we suggest a novel therapeutical approach possibly useful to treat very aggressive NB cases with poor prognosis. This novel pharmacological strategy aims to promote differentiation of “stem-like” cells to render them more susceptible to the killing action of cytotoxic anticancer drugs.
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26
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Palmieri V, Lucchetti D, Maiorana A, Papi M, Maulucci G, Calapà F, Ciasca G, Giordano R, Sgambato A, De Spirito M. Mechanical and structural comparison between primary tumor and lymph node metastasis cells in colorectal cancer. SOFT MATTER 2015; 11:5719-5726. [PMID: 26083581 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm01089f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
SW480 and SW620 colon carcinoma cell lines derive from primary tumour and lymph-node metastasis of the same patient, respectively. For this reason, these cells represent an ideal system to analyse phenotypic variations associated with the metastatic process. In this study we analysed SW480 and SW620 cytoskeleton remodelling by measuring the cells' mechanics and morphological properties using different microscopic techniques. We observed that different specialized functions of cells, i.e. the capacity to metastasize of elongated cells inside the primary tumour and the ability to intravasate and resist shear forces of the stream of cells derived from lymph node metastasis, are reflected in their mechanical properties. We demonstrated that, together with stiffness and adhesion between the AFM tip and the cell surface, cell shape, actin organization and surface roughness are strictly related and are finely modulated by colorectal cancer cells to better accomplish their specific tasks in cancer growth and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Palmieri
- Institute of Physics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
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27
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Jembrek MJ, Šimić G, Hof PR, Šegota S. Atomic force microscopy as an advanced tool in neuroscience. Transl Neurosci 2015; 6:117-130. [PMID: 28123795 PMCID: PMC4936619 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2015-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This review highlights relevant issues about applications and improvements of atomic force microscopy (AFM) toward a better understanding of neurodegenerative changes at the molecular level with the hope of contributing to the development of effective therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative illnesses. The basic principles of AFM are briefly discussed in terms of evaluation of experimental data, including the newest PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (QNM) and the evaluation of Young’s modulus as the crucial elasticity parameter. AFM topography, revealed in imaging mode, can be used to monitor changes in live neurons over time, representing a valuable tool for high-resolution detection and monitoring of neuronal morphology. The mechanical properties of living cells can be quantified by force spectroscopy as well as by new AFM. A variety of applications are described, and their relevance for specific research areas discussed. In addition, imaging as well as non-imaging modes can provide specific information, not only about the structural and mechanical properties of neuronal membranes, but also on the cytoplasm, cell nucleus, and particularly cytoskeletal components. Moreover, new AFM is able to provide detailed insight into physical structure and biochemical interactions in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Goran Šimić
- Department for Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, 10029 New York, USA
| | - Suzana Šegota
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, POB 180, Zagreb, Croatia
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28
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Andolfi L, Bourkoula E, Migliorini E, Palma A, Pucer A, Skrap M, Scoles G, Beltrami AP, Cesselli D, Lazzarino M. Investigation of adhesion and mechanical properties of human glioma cells by single cell force spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112582. [PMID: 25390644 PMCID: PMC4229222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Active cell migration and invasion is a peculiar feature of glioma that makes this tumor able to rapidly infiltrate into the surrounding brain tissue. In our recent work, we identified a novel class of glioma-associated-stem cells (defined as GASC for high-grade glioma -HG- and Gasc for low-grade glioma -LG-) that, although not tumorigenic, act supporting the biological aggressiveness of glioma-initiating stem cells (defined as GSC for HG and Gsc for LG) favoring also their motility. Migrating cancer cells undergo considerable molecular and cellular changes by remodeling their cytoskeleton and cell interactions with surrounding environment. To get a better understanding about the role of the glioma-associated-stem cells in tumor progression, cell deformability and interactions between glioma-initiating stem cells and glioma-associated-stem cells were investigated. Adhesion of HG/LG-cancer cells on HG/LG-glioma-associated stem cells was studied by time-lapse microscopy, while cell deformability and cell-cell adhesion strengths were quantified by indentation measurements by atomic force microscopy and single cell force spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate that for both HG and LG glioma, cancer-initiating-stem cells are softer than glioma-associated-stem cells, in agreement with their neoplastic features. The adhesion strength of GSC on GASC appears to be significantly lower than that observed for Gsc on Gasc. Whereas, GSC spread and firmly adhere on Gasc with an adhesion strength increased as compared to that obtained on GASC. These findings highlight that the grade of glioma-associated-stem cells plays an important role in modulating cancer cell adhesion, which could affect glioma cell migration, invasion and thus cancer aggressiveness. Moreover this work provides evidence about the importance of investigating cell adhesion and elasticity for new developments in disease diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Andolfi
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali-National Research Council, Trieste, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Eugenia Bourkoula
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Elisa Migliorini
- Département de Chimie Moléculaire, Ingénierie et Interactions Bio Moléculaires, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France
| | - Anita Palma
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Anja Pucer
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Miran Skrap
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Giacinto Scoles
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Cesselli
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Marco Lazzarino
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali-National Research Council, Trieste, Italy
- Cluster in Biomedicine, Trieste, Italy
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29
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Dörig P, Ossola D, Truong AM, Graf M, Stauffer F, Vörös J, Zambelli T. Exchangeable colloidal AFM probes for the quantification of irreversible and long-term interactions. Biophys J 2014; 105:463-72. [PMID: 23870267 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Revised: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
An original method is presented to study single-colloid interaction with a substrate in liquid environment. Colloids, either in solution or adsorbed on a surface, are fixed by suction against the aperture of a microchanneled atomic force microscopy cantilever. Their adhesion to the substrate is measured, followed by their release via a short overpressure surge. Such colloid exchange procedure allows for 1), the quick variation of differently functionalized colloids within the same experiment; 2), the investigation of long-term interactions by leaving the colloids on a surface for a defined time before detaching them; and 3), the inspection of irreversible interactions. After validation of the method by reproducing literature results obtained with traditional colloidal atomic force microscopy, the serial use of colloids with different surface functionalization was shown on a micropatterned surface. Finally, concanavalin A-coated colloids were allowed to adsorb on human embryonic kidney cells and then detached one by one. The adhesion between cells and colloids was up to 60 nN, whereas individual cells adhered with 20 nN to the glass substrate. A cellular elastic modulus of 0.8 kPa was determined using the attached colloid as indenter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Dörig
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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30
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Pillet F, Chopinet L, Formosa C, Dague E. Atomic Force Microscopy and pharmacology: from microbiology to cancerology. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2013; 1840:1028-50. [PMID: 24291690 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Revised: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been extensively used to study biological samples. Researchers take advantage of its ability to image living samples to increase our fundamental knowledge (biophysical properties/biochemical behavior) on living cell surface properties, at the nano-scale. SCOPE OF REVIEW AFM, in the imaging modes, can probe cells morphological modifications induced by drugs. In the force spectroscopy mode, it is possible to follow the nanomechanical properties of a cell and to probe the mechanical modifications induced by drugs. AFM can be used to map single molecule distribution at the cell surface. We will focus on a collection of results aiming at evaluating the nano-scale effects of drugs, by AFM. Studies on yeast, bacteria and mammal cells will illustrate our discussion. Especially, we will show how AFM can help in getting a better understanding of drug mechanism of action. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS This review demonstrates that AFM is a versatile tool, useful in pharmacology. In microbiology, it has been used to study the drugs fighting Candida albicans or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The major conclusions are a better understanding of the microbes' cell wall and of the drugs mechanism of action. In cancerology, AFM has been used to explore the effects of cytotoxic drugs or as an innovative diagnostic technology. AFM has provided original results on cultured cells, cells extracted from patient and directly on patient biopsies. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This review enhances the interest of AFM technologies for pharmacology. The applications reviewed range from microbiology to cancerology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavien Pillet
- CNRS, LAAS, 7 avenue du colonel Roche, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, INSA, INP, ISAE, UT1, UTM, LAAS, ITAV, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
| | - Louise Chopinet
- CNRS, IPBS-UMR 5089, BP64182, 205 route de Narbonne, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, INSA, INP, ISAE, UT1, UTM, LAAS, ITAV, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
| | - Cécile Formosa
- CNRS, LAAS, 7 avenue du colonel Roche, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, INSA, INP, ISAE, UT1, UTM, LAAS, ITAV, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France; CNRS, UMR 7565, SRSMC, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France; Université de Lorraine, UMR 7565, Faculté de Pharmacie, Nancy, France
| | - Etienne Dague
- CNRS, LAAS, 7 avenue du colonel Roche, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, INSA, INP, ISAE, UT1, UTM, LAAS, ITAV, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France; CNRS; ITAV-USR 3505; F31106 Toulouse, France.
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31
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Gavazzo P, Vassalli M, Costa D, Pagano A. Novel ncRNAs transcribed by Pol III and elucidation of their functional relevance by biophysical approaches. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:203. [PMID: 24223537 PMCID: PMC3819595 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 11/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade the role of non coding (nc) RNAs in neurogenesis and in the onset of neurological diseases has been assessed by a multitude of studies. In this scenario, approximately 30 small RNA polymerase (pol) III-dependent ncRNAs were recently identified by computational tools and proposed as regulatory elements. The function of several of these transcripts was elucidated in vitro and in vivo confirming their involvement in cancer and in metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Emerging biophysical technologies together with the introduction of a physical perspective have been advantageous in regulatory RNA investigation providing original results on: (a) the differentiation of neuroblastoma (NB) cells towards a neuron-like phenotype triggered by Neuroblastoma Differentiation Marker 29 (NDM29) ncRNA; (b) the modulation of A-type K(+) current in neurons induced by the small ncRNA 38A and (c) the synthesis driven by 17A ncRNA of a GABAB2 receptor isoform unable to trigger intracellular signaling. Moreover, the application of Single Cell Force Spectroscopy (SCFS) to these studies suggests a correlation between the malignancy stage of NB and the micro-adhesive properties of the cells, allowing to investigate the molecular basis of such a correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Gavazzo
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR)Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Vassalli
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR)Genoa, Italy
| | - Delfina Costa
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenoaGenoa, Italy
| | - Aldo Pagano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenoaGenoa, Italy
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-ISTGenoa, Italy
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