1
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Boufaied N, Chetta P, Hallal T, Cacciatore S, Lalli D, Luthold C, Homsy K, Imada EL, Syamala S, Photopoulos C, Di Matteo A, de Polo A, Storaci AM, Huang Y, Giunchi F, Sheridan PA, Michelotti G, Nguyen QD, Zhao X, Liu Y, Davicioni E, Spratt DE, Sabbioneda S, Maga G, Mucci LA, Ghigna C, Marchionni L, Butler LM, Ellis L, Bordeleau F, Loda M, Vaira V, Labbé DP, Zadra G. Obesogenic High-Fat Diet and MYC Cooperate to Promote Lactate Accumulation and Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling in Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1834-1855. [PMID: 38831751 PMCID: PMC11148549 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-0519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells exhibit metabolic plasticity to meet oncogene-driven dependencies while coping with nutrient availability. A better understanding of how systemic metabolism impacts the accumulation of metabolites that reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) and drive cancer could facilitate development of precision nutrition approaches. Using the Hi-MYC prostate cancer mouse model, we demonstrated that an obesogenic high-fat diet (HFD) rich in saturated fats accelerates the development of c-MYC-driven invasive prostate cancer through metabolic rewiring. Although c-MYC modulated key metabolic pathways, interaction with an obesogenic HFD was necessary to induce glycolysis and lactate accumulation in tumors. These metabolic changes were associated with augmented infiltration of CD206+ and PD-L1+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and FOXP3+ regulatory T cells, as well as with the activation of transcriptional programs linked to disease progression and therapy resistance. Lactate itself also stimulated neoangiogenesis and prostate cancer cell migration, which were significantly reduced following treatment with the lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor FX11. In patients with prostate cancer, high saturated fat intake and increased body mass index were associated with tumor glycolytic features that promote the infiltration of M2-like TAMs. Finally, upregulation of lactate dehydrogenase, indicative of a lactagenic phenotype, was associated with a shorter time to biochemical recurrence in independent clinical cohorts. This work identifies cooperation between genetic drivers and systemic metabolism to hijack the TME and promote prostate cancer progression through oncometabolite accumulation. This sets the stage for the assessment of lactate as a prognostic biomarker and supports strategies of dietary intervention and direct lactagenesis blockade in treating advanced prostate cancer. SIGNIFICANCE Lactate accumulation driven by high-fat diet and MYC reprograms the tumor microenvironment and promotes prostate cancer progression, supporting the potential of lactate as a biomarker and therapeutic target in prostate cancer. See related commentary by Frigo, p. 1742.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Boufaied
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Paolo Chetta
- University of Milan, Residency Program in Pathology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tarek Hallal
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Stefano Cacciatore
- Bionformatics Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Daniela Lalli
- Department of Science and Technological Innovation, University of Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro,” Alessandria, Italy
| | - Carole Luthold
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division) and Cancer Research Center, Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale/LOEX, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Kevin Homsy
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division) and Cancer Research Center, Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale/LOEX, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Eddie L. Imada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Campus, New York, New York
| | - Sudeepa Syamala
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Cornelia Photopoulos
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anna Di Matteo
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council (CNR-IGM), Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna de Polo
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Ying Huang
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Francesca Giunchi
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Quang-De Nguyen
- Department of Imaging, Lurie Family Imaging Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging in Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Xin Zhao
- Veracyte, South San Francisco, California
| | - Yang Liu
- Veracyte, South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Daniel E. Spratt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Simone Sabbioneda
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council (CNR-IGM), Pavia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Maga
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council (CNR-IGM), Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorelei A. Mucci
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Claudia Ghigna
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council (CNR-IGM), Pavia, Italy
| | - Luigi Marchionni
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Campus, New York, New York
| | - Lisa M. Butler
- South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute and Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, University of Adelaide, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Leigh Ellis
- Department of Surgery, Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - François Bordeleau
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division) and Cancer Research Center, Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale/LOEX, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Clinical Biochemistry, and Pathology, Laval University, Québec, Canada
| | - Massimo Loda
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Campus, New York, New York
| | - Valentina Vaira
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - David P. Labbé
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Giorgia Zadra
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council (CNR-IGM), Pavia, Italy
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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2
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Massey A, Stewart J, Smith C, Parvini C, McCormick M, Do K, Cartagena-Rivera AX. Mechanical properties of human tumour tissues and their implications for cancer development. NATURE REVIEWS. PHYSICS 2024; 6:269-282. [PMID: 38706694 PMCID: PMC11066734 DOI: 10.1038/s42254-024-00707-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
The mechanical properties of cells and tissues help determine their architecture, composition and function. Alterations to these properties are associated with many diseases, including cancer. Tensional, compressive, adhesive, elastic and viscous properties of individual cells and multicellular tissues are mostly regulated by reorganization of the actomyosin and microtubule cytoskeletons and extracellular glycocalyx, which in turn drive many pathophysiological processes, including cancer progression. This Review provides an in-depth collection of quantitative data on diverse mechanical properties of living human cancer cells and tissues. Additionally, the implications of mechanical property changes for cancer development are discussed. An increased knowledge of the mechanical properties of the tumour microenvironment, as collected using biomechanical approaches capable of multi-timescale and multiparametric analyses, will provide a better understanding of the complex mechanical determinants of cancer organization and progression. This information can lead to a further understanding of resistance mechanisms to chemotherapies and immunotherapies and the metastatic cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Massey
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jamie Stewart
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Jamie Stewart, Chynna Smith
| | - Chynna Smith
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Jamie Stewart, Chynna Smith
| | - Cameron Parvini
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Moira McCormick
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kun Do
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexander X. Cartagena-Rivera
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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3
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Tulchinsky M, Weihs D. Mechanobiological cell adaptations to changing microenvironments determine cancer invasiveness: Experimentally validated finite element modeling. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:1951-1959. [PMID: 37606496 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Metastases are the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. A key process in metastasis is cell invasiveness, which is driven and controlled by cancer cell interactions with their microenvironment. We have previously shown that invasive cancer cells forcefully push into and indent physiological stiffness gels to cell-scale depths, where the percentage of indenting cells and their attained depths provide clinically relevant predictions of tumor invasiveness and the potential metastatic risk. The cell-attained, invasive indentation depths are directly affected by gel-microenvironment mechanics, which can concurrently modulate the cells' mechanics and force application capacity, in a complex, coordinated mechanobiological response. As it is impossible to experimentally isolate the different contributions of cell and gel mechanics to cancer cell invasiveness, we perform finite element modeling with literature-based parameters. Under average-scale, cell cytoplasm and nucleus mechanics and cell-applied force levels, increasing gel stiffness 1-50 kPa significantly reduced the attained indentation depth by >200%, while the gel's Poisson ratio reduced depths only by up to 20% and only when the ratio was >0.4; this reveals microenvironment mechanics that can promote invasiveness. Experiments with varying-invasiveness cancer cells exhibited qualitative variations in their responses to gel stiffness increase, for example large/small reduction in indentation depth or increase and then reduction. We quantitatively and qualitatively reproduced the different experimental responses via coordinated changes in cell mechanics and applied force levels. Thus, the different cancer cell capacities to adapt their mechanobiology in response to mechanically changing microenvironments likely determine the varying cancer invasiveness and metastatic risk levels in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Tulchinsky
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Daphne Weihs
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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4
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Delanoë-Ayari H, Hiraiwa T, Marcq P, Rieu JP, Saw TB. 2.5D Traction Force Microscopy: Imaging three-dimensional cell forces at interfaces and biological applications. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2023; 161:106432. [PMID: 37290687 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2023.106432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The forces that cells, tissues, and organisms exert on the surface of a soft substrate can be measured using Traction Force Microscopy (TFM), an important and well-established technique in Mechanobiology. The usual TFM technique (two-dimensional, 2D TFM) treats only the in-plane component of the traction forces and omits the out-of-plane forces at the substrate interfaces (2.5D) that turn out to be important in many biological processes such as tissue migration and tumour invasion. Here, we review the imaging, material, and analytical tools to perform "2.5D TFM" and explain how they are different from 2D TFM. Challenges in 2.5D TFM arise primarily from the need to work with a lower imaging resolution in the z-direction, track fiducial markers in three-dimensions, and reliably and efficiently reconstruct mechanical stress from substrate deformation fields. We also discuss how 2.5D TFM can be used to image, map, and understand the complete force vectors in various important biological events of various length-scales happening at two-dimensional interfaces, including focal adhesions forces, cell diapedesis across tissue monolayers, the formation of three-dimensional tissue structures, and the locomotion of large multicellular organisms. We close with future perspectives including the use of new materials, imaging and machine learning techniques to continuously improve the 2.5D TFM in terms of imaging resolution, speed, and faithfulness of the force reconstruction procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Delanoë-Ayari
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Tetsuya Hiraiwa
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Philippe Marcq
- Laboratoire Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 7636, ESPCI, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
| | - Jean-Paul Rieu
- University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Thuan Beng Saw
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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5
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Zhu Y, Zhang M, Sun Q, Wang X, Li X, Li Q. Advanced Mechanical Testing Technologies at the Cellular Level: The Mechanisms and Application in Tissue Engineering. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3255. [PMID: 37571149 PMCID: PMC10422338 DOI: 10.3390/polym15153255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanics, as a key physical factor which affects cell function and tissue regeneration, is attracting the attention of researchers in the fields of biomaterials, biomechanics, and tissue engineering. The macroscopic mechanical properties of tissue engineering scaffolds have been studied and optimized based on different applications. However, the mechanical properties of the overall scaffold materials are not enough to reveal the mechanical mechanism of the cell-matrix interaction. Hence, the mechanical detection of cell mechanics and cellular-scale microenvironments has become crucial for unraveling the mechanisms which underly cell activities and which are affected by physical factors. This review mainly focuses on the advanced technologies and applications of cell-scale mechanical detection. It summarizes the techniques used in micromechanical performance analysis, including atomic force microscope (AFM), optical tweezer (OT), magnetic tweezer (MT), and traction force microscope (TFM), and analyzes their testing mechanisms. In addition, the application of mechanical testing techniques to cell mechanics and tissue engineering scaffolds, such as hydrogels and porous scaffolds, is summarized and discussed. Finally, it highlights the challenges and prospects of this field. This review is believed to provide valuable insights into micromechanics in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxuan Zhu
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Mengqi Zhang
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qingqing Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaomeng Li
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qian Li
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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6
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Pawlak MR, Smiley AT, Ramirez MP, Kelly MD, Shamsan GA, Anderson SM, Smeester BA, Largaespada DA, Odde DJ, Gordon WR. RAD-TGTs: high-throughput measurement of cellular mechanotype via rupture and delivery of DNA tension probes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2468. [PMID: 37117218 PMCID: PMC10147940 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38157-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical forces drive critical cellular processes that are reflected in mechanical phenotypes, or mechanotypes, of cells and their microenvironment. We present here "Rupture And Deliver" Tension Gauge Tethers (RAD-TGTs) in which flow cytometry is used to record the mechanical history of thousands of cells exerting forces on their surroundings via their propensity to rupture immobilized DNA duplex tension probes. We demonstrate that RAD-TGTs recapitulate prior DNA tension probe studies while also yielding a gain of fluorescence in the force-generating cell that is detectable by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the rupture propensity is altered following disruption of the cytoskeleton using drugs or CRISPR-knockout of mechanosensing proteins. Importantly, RAD-TGTs can differentiate distinct mechanotypes among mixed populations of cells. We also establish oligo rupture and delivery can be measured via DNA sequencing. RAD-TGTs provide a facile and powerful assay to enable high-throughput mechanotype profiling, which could find various applications, for example, in combination with CRISPR screens and -omics analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Pawlak
- Departments of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Adam T Smiley
- Departments of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Maria Paz Ramirez
- Departments of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Marcus D Kelly
- Departments of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ghaidan A Shamsan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sarah M Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | - David J Odde
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Wendy R Gordon
- Departments of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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7
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Impact of baculoviral transduction of fluorescent actin on cellular forces. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151294. [PMID: 36791652 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Live staining of actin brings valuable information in the field of mechanobiology. Gene transfer of GFP-actin has been reported to disturb cell rheological properties while gene transfer of fluorescent actin binding proteins was not. However the influence of gene transfer on cellular forces in adhered cells has never been investigated. This would provide a more complete picture of mechanical disorders induced by actin live staining for mechanobiology studies. Indeed, most of these techniques were shown to alter cell morphology. Change in cell morphology may in itself be sufficient to perturb cellular forces. Here we focus on quantifying the alterations of cellular stresses that result from baculoviral transduction of GFP-actin in MDCK cell line. We report that GFP-actin transduction increases the proportion of cells with large intracellular or surface stresses, especially in epithelia with low cell density. We show that the enhancement of the mechanical stresses is accompanied by small perturbations of cell shape, but not by a significant change in cell size. We thus conclude that this live staining method enhances the cellular forces but only brings subtle shape alterations.
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8
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Leartprapun N, Adie SG. Recent advances in optical elastography and emerging opportunities in the basic sciences and translational medicine [Invited]. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:208-248. [PMID: 36698669 PMCID: PMC9842001 DOI: 10.1364/boe.468932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Optical elastography offers a rich body of imaging capabilities that can serve as a bridge between organ-level medical elastography and single-molecule biophysics. We review the methodologies and recent developments in optical coherence elastography, Brillouin microscopy, optical microrheology, and photoacoustic elastography. With an outlook toward maximizing the basic science and translational clinical impact of optical elastography technologies, we discuss potential ways that these techniques can integrate not only with each other, but also with supporting technologies and capabilities in other biomedical fields. By embracing cross-modality and cross-disciplinary interactions with these parallel fields, optical elastography can greatly increase its potential to drive new discoveries in the biomedical sciences as well as the development of novel biomechanics-based clinical diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichaluk Leartprapun
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Present affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Steven G. Adie
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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9
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Mustapha F, Sengupta K, Puech PH. May the force be with your (immune) cells: an introduction to traction force microscopy in Immunology. Front Immunol 2022; 13:898558. [PMID: 35990636 PMCID: PMC9389945 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.898558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
For more than a couple of decades now, “force” has been recognized as an important physical parameter that cells employ to adapt to their microenvironment. Whether it is externally applied, or internally generated, cells use force to modulate their various actions, from adhesion and migration to differentiation and immune function. T lymphocytes use such mechano-sensitivity to decipher signals when recognizing cognate antigens presented on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APCs), a critical process in the adaptive immune response. As such, many techniques have been developed and used to measure the forces felt/exerted by these small, solitary and extremely reactive cells to decipher their influence on diverse T cell functions, primarily activation. Here, we focus on traction force microscopy (TFM), in which a deformable substrate, coated with the appropriate molecules, acts as a force sensor on the cellular scale. This technique has recently become a center of interest for many groups in the “ImmunoBiophysics” community and, as a consequence, has been subjected to refinements for its application to immune cells. Here, we present an overview of TFM, the precautions and pitfalls, and the most recent developments in the context of T cell immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Mustapha
- Laboratory Adhesion Inflammation (LAI), INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille (CINaM), CNRS, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Turing Center for Living Systems (CENTURI), Marseille, France
| | - Kheya Sengupta
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille (CINaM), CNRS, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Turing Center for Living Systems (CENTURI), Marseille, France
- *Correspondence: Pierre-Henri Puech, ; Kheya Sengupta,
| | - Pierre-Henri Puech
- Laboratory Adhesion Inflammation (LAI), INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Turing Center for Living Systems (CENTURI), Marseille, France
- *Correspondence: Pierre-Henri Puech, ; Kheya Sengupta,
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10
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Light-sheet photonic force optical coherence elastography for high-throughput quantitative 3D micromechanical imaging. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3465. [PMID: 35710790 PMCID: PMC9203576 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30995-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative characterisation of micro-scale mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and dynamic cell-ECM interactions can significantly enhance fundamental discoveries and their translational potential in the rapidly growing field of mechanobiology. However, quantitative 3D imaging of ECM mechanics with cellular-scale resolution and dynamic monitoring of cell-mediated changes to pericellular viscoelasticity remain a challenge for existing mechanical characterisation methods. Here, we present light-sheet photonic force optical coherence elastography (LS-pfOCE) to address this need by leveraging a light-sheet for parallelised, non-invasive, and localised mechanical loading. We demonstrate the capabilities of LS-pfOCE by imaging the micromechanical heterogeneity of fibrous collagen matrices and perform live-cell imaging of cell-mediated ECM micromechanical dynamics. By providing access to 4D spatiotemporal variations in the micromechanical properties of 3D biopolymer constructs and engineered cellular systems, LS-pfOCE has the potential to drive new discoveries in mechanobiology and contribute to the development of novel biomechanics-based clinical diagnostics and therapies.
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11
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Tulchinsky M, Weihs D. Computational modeling reveals a vital role for proximity-driven additive and synergistic cell-cell interactions in increasing cancer invasiveness. Acta Biomater 2022; 163:392-399. [PMID: 35367632 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.03.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Solid-tumor cell invasion typically occurs by collective migration of attached cell-cohorts, yet we show here that indirect cell-interactions through the substrate can also drive invasiveness. We have previously shown that well-spaced, invasive cancer cells push-into and indent gels to depths of 10 µm, while closely adjacent, non-contacting cancer cells may reach up to 18 µm, potentially relying on cell-cell interactions through the gel-substrate. To test that, we developed finite element models of indenting cells, using experimental gel mechanics, cell mechanostructure, and force magnitudes. We show that under 50-350 nN of combined traction and normal forces, a stiff nucleus-region is essential in facilitating 5-10 µm single-cell indentations, while uniformly soft cells attain 1.6-fold smaller indentations. We observe that indentation depths of cells in close proximity (0.5-50 µm distance) increase relative to well-spaced cells, due to additive, continuum mechanics-driven contributions. Specifically, 2-3 cells applying 220 nN normal forces gained up to 3% in depth, which interestingly increased to 7.8% when two cells, 10 µm apart, applied unequal force-magnitudes (i.e., 220 and 350 nN). Such additive, energy-free contributions can reduce cell mechanical energy -output required for invasiveness, yet the experimentally observed 10-18 µm depths likely necessitate synergistic, mechanobiological changes, which may be mechanically triggered. We note that nucleus stiffening or cytoplasm softening by 25-50% increased indentation depths by only 1-7%, while depths increase nearly linearly with force-magnitude even to two-fold levels. Hence, cell-proximity triggered, synergistic and additive cell-interactions through the substrate can drive collective cancer-cell invasiveness, even without direct cell-cell interactions. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Metastatic cancer invasion typically occurs collectively in attached cell-cohorts. We have previously shown increased invasiveness in closely adjacent cancer cells that are able to push-into and indent soft-gels more deeply than single, well-spaced cells. Using finite element models, we reveal mechanisms of cell-proximity driven invasiveness, demonstrating an important role for the stiff nucleus. Cell-proximity can additively induce small increase in indentation depth via continuum mechanics contributions, especially when adjacent cells apply unequal forces, and without requiring increased cell-mechanical-energy-output. Concurrently, proximity-triggered synergistic interactions that produce changes in cell mechanics or capacity for increased force-levels can facilitate deep invasive-indentations. Thus, we reveal concurrent additive and synergistic mechanisms to drive collective cancer-cell invasiveness even without direct cell-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Tulchinsky
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Daphne Weihs
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel.
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12
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Blumberg JW, Schwarz US. Comparison of direct and inverse methods for 2.5D traction force microscopy. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262773. [PMID: 35051243 PMCID: PMC8775276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Essential cellular processes such as cell adhesion, migration and division strongly depend on mechanical forces. The standard method to measure cell forces is traction force microscopy (TFM) on soft elastic substrates with embedded marker beads. While in 2D TFM one only reconstructs tangential forces, in 2.5D TFM one also considers normal forces. Here we present a systematic comparison between two fundamentally different approaches to 2.5D TFM, which in particular require different methods to deal with noise in the displacement data. In the direct method, one calculates strain and stress tensors directly from the displacement data, which in principle requires a divergence correction. In the inverse method, one minimizes the difference between estimated and measured displacements, which requires some kind of regularization. By calculating the required Green's functions in Fourier space from Boussinesq-Cerruti potential functions, we first derive a new variant of 2.5D Fourier Transform Traction Cytometry (FTTC). To simulate realistic traction patterns, we make use of an analytical solution for Hertz-like adhesion patches. We find that FTTC works best if only tangential forces are reconstructed, that 2.5D FTTC is more precise for small noise, but that the performance of the direct method approaches the one of 2.5D FTTC for larger noise, before both fail for very large noise. Moreover we find that a divergence correction is not really needed for the direct method and that it profits more from increased resolution than the inverse method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes W. Blumberg
- Heidelberg University, Institute for Theoretical Physics and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich S. Schwarz
- Heidelberg University, Institute for Theoretical Physics and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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Kabanov D, Klimovic S, Rotrekl V, Pesl M, Pribyl J. Atomic Force Spectroscopy is a promising tool to study contractile properties of cardiac cells. Micron 2021; 155:103199. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2021.103199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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14
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Zheng Q, Peng M, Liu Z, Li S, Han R, Ouyang H, Fan Y, Pan C, Hu W, Zhai J, Li Z, Wang ZL. Dynamic real-time imaging of living cell traction force by piezo-phototronic light nano-antenna array. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/22/eabe7738. [PMID: 34039600 PMCID: PMC8153726 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe7738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic mapping of the cell-generated force of cardiomyocytes will help provide an intrinsic understanding of the heart. However, a real-time, dynamic, and high-resolution mapping of the force distribution across a single living cell remains a challenge. Here, we established a force mapping method based on a "light nano-antenna" array with the use of piezo-phototronic effect. A spatial resolution of 800 nm and a temporal resolution of 333 ms have been demonstrated for force mapping. The dynamic mapping of cell force of live cardiomyocytes was directly derived by locating the antennas' positions and quantifying the light intensities of the piezo-phototronic light nano-antenna array. This study presents a rapid and ultrahigh-resolution methodology for the fundamental study of cardiomyocyte behavior at the cell or subcellular level. It can provide valuable information about disease detection, drug screening, and tissue engineering for heart-related studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zheng
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100083 Beijing, China
| | - Mingzeng Peng
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100083 Beijing, China
| | - Zhuo Liu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100083 Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Shuyu Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Rongcheng Han
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Han Ouyang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100083 Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Yubo Fan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Caofeng Pan
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100083 Beijing, China
- School of Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Weiguo Hu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100083 Beijing, China
- School of Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Junyi Zhai
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100083 Beijing, China.
- School of Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Zhou Li
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100083 Beijing, China.
- School of Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Zhong Lin Wang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100083 Beijing, China.
- School of Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0245, USA
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15
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De La Pena A, Mukhtar M, Yokosawa R, Carrasquilla S, Simmons CS. Quantifying cellular forces: Practical considerations of traction force microscopy for dermal fibroblasts. Exp Dermatol 2021; 30:74-83. [PMID: 32767472 PMCID: PMC7769991 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Traction force microscopy (TFM) is a well-established technique traditionally used by biophysicists to quantify the forces adherent biological cells exert on their microenvironment. As image processing software becomes increasingly user-friendly, TFM is being adopted by broader audiences to quantify contractility of (myo)fibroblasts. While many technical reviews of TFM's computational mechanics are available, this review focuses on practical experimental considerations for dermatology researchers new to cell mechanics and TFM who may wish to implement a higher throughput and less expensive alternative to collagen compaction assays. Here, we describe implementation of experimental methods, analysis using open-source software and troubleshooting of common issues to enable researchers to leverage TFM for their investigations into skin fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Chelsey S. Simmons
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- J. Crayton Pruitt Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Florida
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Blair CA, Pruitt BL. Mechanobiology Assays with Applications in Cardiomyocyte Biology and Cardiotoxicity. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e1901656. [PMID: 32270928 PMCID: PMC7480481 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201901656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes are the motor units that drive the contraction and relaxation of the heart. Traditionally, testing of drugs for cardiotoxic effects has relied on primary cardiomyocytes from animal models and focused on short-term, electrophysiological, and arrhythmogenic effects. However, primary cardiomyocytes present challenges arising from their limited viability in culture, and tissue from animal models suffers from a mismatch in their physiology to that of human heart muscle. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) can address these challenges. They also offer the potential to study not only electrophysiological effects but also changes in cardiomyocyte contractile and mechanical function in response to cardiotoxic drugs. With growing recognition of the long-term cardiotoxic effects of some drugs on subcellular structure and function, there is increasing interest in using hiPSC-CMs for in vitro cardiotoxicity studies. This review provides a brief overview of techniques that can be used to quantify changes in the active force that cardiomyocytes generate and variations in their inherent stiffness in response to cardiotoxic drugs. It concludes by discussing the application of these tools in understanding how cardiotoxic drugs directly impact the mechanobiology of cardiomyocytes and how cardiomyocytes sense and respond to mechanical load at the cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheavar A. Blair
- Department of mechanical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Beth L. Pruitt
- Department of mechanical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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Song D, Hugenberg N, Oberai AA. Three-Dimensional Traction Microscopy with a Fiber-Based Constitutive Model. COMPUTER METHODS IN APPLIED MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING 2019; 357:112579. [PMID: 32831420 PMCID: PMC7442266 DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2019.112579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Tractions exerted by cells on their surroundings play an important role in many biological processes including stem cell differentiation, tumorigenesis, cell migration, cancer metastasis, and angiogenesis. The ability to quantify these tractions is important in understanding and manipulating these processes. Three-dimensional traction force microscopy (3DTFM) provides reliable means of evaluating cellular tractions by first measuring the displacement of fluorescent beads in response to these tractions in the surrounding matrix, and then using this measurement to compute the tractions. However, most applications of 3DTFM assume that the surrounding extra-cellular matrix (ECM) is non-fibrous, despite the fact that in many natural and synthetic environments the ECM contains a significant proportion of fibrous components. Motivated by this, we develop a computational approach for determining tractions, while accounting for the fibrous nature of the ECM. In particular, we make use of a fiber-based constitutive model in which the stress contains contributions from a distribution of nonlinear elastic fibers and a hyperelastic matrix. We solve an inverse problem with the nodal values of the traction vector as unknowns, and minimize the difference between a predicted displacement field, obtained by solving the equations of equilibrium in conjunction with the fiber-based constitutive model, and the measured displacement field at the bead locations. We employ a gradient-based minimization method to solve this problem and determine the gradient efficiently by solving for the appropriate adjoint field. We apply this algorithm to problems with experimentally observed cell geometries and synthetic, albeit realistic, traction fields to gauge its sensitivity to noise, and quantify the impact of using an incorrect constitutive model: the so-called model error. We conclude that the approach is robust to noise, yielding about 10% error in tractions for 5% displacement noise. We also conclude that the impact of model error is significant, where using a nonlinear exponential hyperelastic model instead of the fiber-based model, can lead to more than 100% error in the traction field. These results underline the importance of using appropriate constitutive models in 3DTFM, especially in fibrous ECM constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Song
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Nicholas Hugenberg
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
| | - Assad A Oberai
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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