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Gasser E, Su E, Vaidžiulytė K, Abbade N, Cognart H, Manneville JB, Viovy JL, Piel M, Pierga JY, Terao K, Villard C. Deformation under flow and morphological recovery of cancer cells. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:3930-3944. [PMID: 38993177 PMCID: PMC11302772 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00246f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
The metastatic cascade includes a blood circulation step for cells detached from the primary tumor. This stage involves significant shear stress as well as large and fast deformation as the cells circulate through the microvasculature. These mechanical stimuli are well reproduced in microfluidic devices. However, the recovery dynamics after deformation is also pivotal to understand how a cell can pass through the multiple capillary constrictions encountered during a single hemodynamic cycle. The microfluidic system developed in this work allows single cell recovery to be studied under flow-free conditions following pressure-actuated cell deformation inside constricted microchannels. We used three breast cancer cell lines - namely MCF-7, SK-BR3 and MDA-MB231 - as cellular models representative of different cancer phenotypes. Changing the size of the constriction allows exploration of moderate to strong deformation regimes, the latter being associated with the formation of plasma membrane blebs. In the regime of moderate deformation, all cell types display a fast elastic recovery behavior followed by a slower viscoelastic regime, well described by a double exponential decay. Among the three cell types, cells of the mesenchymal phenotype, i.e. the MDA-MB231 cells, are softer and the most fluid-like, in agreement with previous studies. Our main finding here is that the fast elastic recovery regime revealed by our novel microfluidic system is under the control of cell contractility ensured by the integrity of the cell cortex. Our results suggest that the cell cortex plays a major role in the transit of circulating tumor cells by allowing their fast morphological recovery after deformation in blood capillaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emile Gasser
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, Physique des Cellules et Cancer, CNRS UMR168, Université PSL, F-75005 Paris, France.
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, CNRS UMR 8236, Université Paris Cité, F-75013, Paris, France.
| | - Emilie Su
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, CNRS UMR 8236, Université Paris Cité, F-75013, Paris, France.
- Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes (MSC), CNRS UMR 7057, Université Paris Cité, 10 Rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Kotryna Vaidžiulytė
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, CNRS UMR144, Université PSL, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Nassiba Abbade
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, Physique des Cellules et Cancer, CNRS UMR168, Université PSL, F-75005 Paris, France.
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, CNRS UMR144, Université PSL, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Hamizah Cognart
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, Physique des Cellules et Cancer, CNRS UMR168, Université PSL, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Jean-Baptiste Manneville
- Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes (MSC), CNRS UMR 7057, Université Paris Cité, 10 Rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Viovy
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, Physique des Cellules et Cancer, CNRS UMR168, Université PSL, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Matthieu Piel
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, CNRS UMR144, Université PSL, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Yves Pierga
- Département d'Oncologie Médicale de l'Institut Curie et Université Paris Cité, France
| | - Kyohei Terao
- Nano-Micro Structure Device Integrated Research Center, Kagawa University, 2217-20 Hayashi-cho, Takamatsu 761-0396, Japan.
| | - Catherine Villard
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, CNRS UMR 8236, Université Paris Cité, F-75013, Paris, France.
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2
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Flormann DAD, Kainka L, Montalvo G, Anton C, Rheinlaender J, Thalla D, Vesperini D, Pohland MO, Kaub KH, Schu M, Pezzano F, Ruprecht V, Terriac E, Hawkins RJ, Lautenschläger F. The structure and mechanics of the cell cortex depend on the location and adhesion state. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320372121. [PMID: 39042691 PMCID: PMC11295003 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320372121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cells exist in different phenotypes and can transition between them. A phenotype may be characterized by many different aspects. Here, we focus on the example of whether the cell is adhered or suspended and choose particular parameters related to the structure and mechanics of the actin cortex. The cortex is essential to cell mechanics, morphology, and function, such as for adhesion, migration, and division of animal cells. To predict and control cellular functions and prevent malfunctioning, it is necessary to understand the actin cortex. The structure of the cortex governs cell mechanics; however, the relationship between the architecture and mechanics of the cortex is not yet well enough understood to be able to predict one from the other. Therefore, we quantitatively measured structural and mechanical cortex parameters, including cortical thickness, cortex mesh size, actin bundling, and cortex stiffness. These measurements required developing a combination of measurement techniques in scanning electron, expansion, confocal, and atomic force microscopy. We found that the structure and mechanics of the cortex of cells in interphase are different depending on whether the cell is suspended or adhered. We deduced general correlations between structural and mechanical properties and show how these findings can be explained within the framework of semiflexible polymer network theory. We tested the model predictions by perturbing the properties of the actin within the cortex using compounds. Our work provides an important step toward predictions of cell mechanics from cortical structures and suggests how cortex remodeling between different phenotypes impacts the mechanical properties of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. A. D. Flormann
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - L. Kainka
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - G. Montalvo
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - C. Anton
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - J. Rheinlaender
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen72076, Germany
| | - D. Thalla
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - D. Vesperini
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - M. O. Pohland
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - K. H. Kaub
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Georg-August-University, Göttingen37077, Germany
| | - M. Schu
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - F. Pezzano
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona08003, Spain
| | - V. Ruprecht
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona08003, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona08002, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona08010, Spain
| | - E. Terriac
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - R. J. Hawkins
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, SheffieldS3 7RH, United Kingdom
- African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Accra20046, Ghana
| | - F. Lautenschläger
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
- Center for Biophysics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken66123, Germany
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3
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Urbanska M, Guck J. Single-Cell Mechanics: Structural Determinants and Functional Relevance. Annu Rev Biophys 2024; 53:367-395. [PMID: 38382116 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-030629] [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] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
The mechanical phenotype of a cell determines its ability to deform under force and is therefore relevant to cellular functions that require changes in cell shape, such as migration or circulation through the microvasculature. On the practical level, the mechanical phenotype can be used as a global readout of the cell's functional state, a marker for disease diagnostics, or an input for tissue modeling. We focus our review on the current knowledge of structural components that contribute to the determination of the cellular mechanical properties and highlight the physiological processes in which the mechanical phenotype of the cells is of critical relevance. The ongoing efforts to understand how to efficiently measure and control the mechanical properties of cells will define the progress in the field and drive mechanical phenotyping toward clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Urbanska
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany; ,
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jochen Guck
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany; ,
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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4
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Smith IM, Ursitti JA, Majeti P, Givpoor N, Stemberger MB, Hengen A, Banerjee S, Stains J, Martin SS, Ward C, Stroka KM. High throughput cell mechanotyping of cell response to cytoskeletal modulations using a microfluidic cell deformation system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.17.599307. [PMID: 38948841 PMCID: PMC11212920 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.17.599307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Cellular mechanical properties influence cellular functions across pathological and physiological systems. The observation of these mechanical properties is limited in part by methods with a low throughput of acquisition or with low accessibility. To overcome these limitations, we have designed, developed, validated, and optimized a microfluidic cellular deformation system (MCDS) capable of mechanotyping suspended cells on a population level at a high throughput rate of ∼300 cells pers second. The MCDS provides researchers with a viable method for efficiently quantifying cellular mechanical properties towards defining prognostic implications of mechanical changes in pathology or screening drugs to modulate cytoskeletal integrity.
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Handler C, Testi C, Scarcelli G. Advantages of integrating Brillouin microscopy in multimodal mechanical mapping of cells and tissues. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 88:102341. [PMID: 38471195 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Recent research has highlighted the growing significance of the mechanical properties of cells and tissues in the proper execution of physiological functions within an organism; alterations to these properties can potentially result in various diseases. These mechanical properties can be assessed using various techniques that vary in spatial and temporal resolutions as well as applications. Due to the wide range of mechanical behaviors exhibited by cells and tissues, a singular mapping technique may be insufficient in capturing their complexity and nuance. Consequently, by utilizing a combination of methods-multimodal mechanical mapping-researchers can achieve a more comprehensive characterization of mechanical properties, encompassing factors such as stiffness, modulus, viscoelasticity, and forces. Furthermore, different mapping techniques can provide complementary information and enable the exploration of spatial and temporal variations to enhance our understanding of cellular dynamics and tissue mechanics. By capitalizing on the unique strengths of each method while mitigating their respective limitations, a more precise and holistic understanding of cellular and tissue mechanics can be obtained. Here, we spotlight Brillouin microscopy (BM) as a noncontact, noninvasive, and label-free mechanical mapping modality to be coutilized alongside established mechanical probing methods. This review summarizes some of the most widely adopted individual mechanical mapping techniques and highlights several recent multimodal approaches demonstrating their utility. We envision that future studies aim to adopt multimodal techniques to drive advancements in the broader realm of mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Handler
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Claudia Testi
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Center for Life Nano- and Neuro- Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Giuliano Scarcelli
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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Yanamandra AK, Zhang J, Montalvo G, Zhou X, Biedenweg D, Zhao R, Sharma S, Hoth M, Lautenschläger F, Otto O, Del Campo A, Qu B. PIEZO1-mediated mechanosensing governs NK-cell killing efficiency and infiltration in three-dimensional matrices. Eur J Immunol 2024; 54:e2350693. [PMID: 38279603 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in eliminating tumorigenic cells. Efficient locating and killing of target cells in complex three-dimensional (3D) environments are critical for their functions under physiological conditions. However, the role of mechanosensing in regulating NK-cell killing efficiency in physiologically relevant scenarios is poorly understood. Here, we report that the responsiveness of NK cells is regulated by tumor cell stiffness. NK-cell killing efficiency in 3D is impaired against softened tumor cells, whereas it is enhanced against stiffened tumor cells. Notably, the durations required for NK-cell killing and detachment are significantly shortened for stiffened tumor cells. Furthermore, we have identified PIEZO1 as the predominantly expressed mechanosensitive ion channel among the examined candidates in NK cells. Perturbation of PIEZO1 abolishes stiffness-dependent NK-cell responsiveness, significantly impairs the killing efficiency of NK cells in 3D, and substantially reduces NK-cell infiltration into 3D collagen matrices. Conversely, PIEZO1 activation enhances NK killing efficiency as well as infiltration. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that PIEZO1-mediated mechanosensing is crucial for NK killing functions, highlighting the role of mechanosensing in NK-cell killing efficiency under 3D physiological conditions and the influence of environmental physical cues on NK-cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana K Yanamandra
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Jingnan Zhang
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Galia Montalvo
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Center for Biophysics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Xiangda Zhou
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Doreen Biedenweg
- Institute of Physics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Renping Zhao
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Shulagna Sharma
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Markus Hoth
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Lautenschläger
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Center for Biophysics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Oliver Otto
- Institute of Physics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Aránzazu Del Campo
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Chemistry Department, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Bin Qu
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), School of Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
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7
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Huang W, Ma Y, Tottori N, Yamanishi Y. Enhancing suspended cell transfection by inducing localized distribution of the membrane actin cortex before exposure to electromechanical stimulation. Biotechnol Lett 2023; 45:1417-1430. [PMID: 37656264 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03382-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES During physical transfection, an electrical field or mechanical force is used to induce cell transfection. We tested if the disruption of a dense actin layer underneath the membrane of a suspended cell enhances cell transfection. RESULTS A bubble generator was used to electromechanically stimulate suspended cells. To clarify the influence of the actin layer (the actin cortex) on cell transfection efficiency, we used an actin polymerization inhibitor (cytochalasin D) to disrupt the actin cortex before electromechanical stimulation. Without cytochalasin D treatment, signals from the overall actin cortex decreased after electromechanical stimulation. With cytochalasin D treatment, there was localized F-actin aggregation under static conditions. After electromechanical stimulation, there was a partial loss (localized disruption), but no overall disruption, of the actin cortex. With the pretreatment with cytochalasin D, the transfection efficiency of plasmids (4.7, 8.3, or 11 kbp) into NIH/3T3 or UMR-106 cells increased significantly after exposure to electromechanical stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Localized distribution of the actin cortex before exposure to electromechanical stimulation is crucial for inducing a partial loss of the cortex, which improves transfection efficiency and large plasmid delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
- Information and control systems course, Kindai University technical college, 7-1, Kasugaoka, Nabari City, Mie Prefecture, 518-0459, Japan
| | - Yibo Ma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Naotomo Tottori
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Yoko Yamanishi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan.
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8
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Sauer F, Grosser S, Shahryari M, Hayn A, Guo J, Braun J, Briest S, Wolf B, Aktas B, Horn L, Sack I, Käs JA. Changes in Tissue Fluidity Predict Tumor Aggressiveness In Vivo. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303523. [PMID: 37553780 PMCID: PMC10502644 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer progression is caused by genetic changes and associated with various alterations in cell properties, which also affect a tumor's mechanical state. While an increased stiffness has been well known for long for solid tumors, it has limited prognostic power. It is hypothesized that cancer progression is accompanied by tissue fluidization, where portions of the tissue can change position across different length scales. Supported by tabletop magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) on stroma mimicking collagen gels and microscopic analysis of live cells inside patient derived tumor explants, an overview is provided of how cancer associated mechanisms, including cellular unjamming, proliferation, microenvironment composition, and remodeling can alter a tissue's fluidity and stiffness. In vivo, state-of-the-art multifrequency MRE can distinguish tumors from their surrounding host tissue by their rheological fingerprints. Most importantly, a meta-analysis on the currently available clinical studies is conducted and universal trends are identified. The results and conclusions are condensed into a gedankenexperiment about how a tumor can grow and eventually metastasize into its environment from a physics perspective to deduce corresponding mechanical properties. Based on stiffness, fluidity, spatial heterogeneity, and texture of the tumor front a roadmap for a prognosis of a tumor's aggressiveness and metastatic potential is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Sauer
- Soft Matter Physics DivisionPeter‐Debye‐Institute for Soft Matter Physics04103LeipzigGermany
| | - Steffen Grosser
- Soft Matter Physics DivisionPeter‐Debye‐Institute for Soft Matter Physics04103LeipzigGermany
- Institute for Bioengineering of CataloniaThe Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST)Barcelona08028Spain
| | - Mehrgan Shahryari
- Department of RadiologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin10117BerlinGermany
| | - Alexander Hayn
- Department of HepatologyLeipzig University Hospital04103LeipzigGermany
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of RadiologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin10117BerlinGermany
| | - Jürgen Braun
- Institute of Medical InformaticsCharité‐Universitätsmedizin10117BerlinGermany
| | - Susanne Briest
- Department of GynecologyLeipzig University Hospital04103LeipzigGermany
| | - Benjamin Wolf
- Department of GynecologyLeipzig University Hospital04103LeipzigGermany
| | - Bahriye Aktas
- Department of GynecologyLeipzig University Hospital04103LeipzigGermany
| | - Lars‐Christian Horn
- Division of Breast, Urogenital and Perinatal PathologyLeipzig University Hospital04103LeipzigGermany
| | - Ingolf Sack
- Department of RadiologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin10117BerlinGermany
| | - Josef A. Käs
- Soft Matter Physics DivisionPeter‐Debye‐Institute for Soft Matter Physics04103LeipzigGermany
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Goldner AN, Fessehaye SM, Rodriguez N, Mapes KA, Osterfield M, Doubrovinski K. Evidence that tissue recoil in the early Drosophila embryo is a passive not active process. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:br16. [PMID: 37405768 PMCID: PMC10551697 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-09-0409] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding tissue morphogenesis is impossible without knowing the mechanical properties of the tissue being shaped. Although techniques for measuring tissue material properties are continually being developed, methods for determining how individual proteins contribute to mechanical properties are very limited. Here, we developed two complementary techniques for the acute inactivation of spaghetti squash (the Drosophila myosin regulatory light chain), one based on the recently introduced (auxin-inducible degron 2 (AID2) system, and the other based on a novel method for conditional protein aggregation that results in nearly instantaneous protein inactivation. Combining these techniques with rheological measurements, we show that passive material properties of the cellularization-stage Drosophila embryo are essentially unaffected by myosin activity. These results suggest that this tissue is elastic, not predominantly viscous, on the developmentally relevant timescale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Nicole Goldner
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Salena M. Fessehaye
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Nataly Rodriguez
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Kelly Ann Mapes
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Miriam Osterfield
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Konstantin Doubrovinski
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
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Abraham A, Virdi S, Herrero N, Bryant I, Nwakama C, Jacob M, Khaparde G, Jordan D, McCuddin M, McKinley S, Taylor A, Peeples C, Ekpenyong A. Microfluidic Microcirculation Mimetic for Exploring Biophysical Mechanisms of Chemotherapy-Induced Metastasis. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1653. [PMID: 37763816 PMCID: PMC10536821 DOI: 10.3390/mi14091653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
There is rapidly emerging evidence from pre-clinical studies, patient samples and patient subpopulations that certain chemotherapeutics inadvertently produce prometastatic effects. Prior to this, we showed that doxorubicin and daunorubicin stiffen cells before causing cell death, predisposing the cells to clogging and extravasation, the latter being a step in metastasis. Here, we investigate which other anti-cancer drugs might have similar prometastatic effects by altering the biophysical properties of cells. We treated myelogenous (K562) leukemic cancer cells with the drugs nocodazole and hydroxyurea and then measured their mechanical properties using a microfluidic microcirculation mimetic (MMM) device, which mimics aspects of blood circulation and enables the measurement of cell mechanical properties via transit times through the device. We also quantified the morphological properties of cells to explore biophysical mechanisms underlying the MMM results. Results from MMM measurements show that nocodazole- and hydroxyurea-treated K562 cells exhibit significantly altered transit times. Nocodazole caused a significant (p < 0.01) increase in transit times, implying a stiffening of cells. This work shows the feasibility of using an MMM to explore possible biophysical mechanisms that might contribute to chemotherapy-induced metastasis. Our work also suggests cell mechanics as a therapeutic target for much needed antimetastatic strategies in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Abraham
- Biology Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.A.); (N.H.); (M.J.); (G.K.); (D.J.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Sukhman Virdi
- Physics Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (S.V.); (I.B.); (C.P.)
| | - Nick Herrero
- Biology Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.A.); (N.H.); (M.J.); (G.K.); (D.J.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Israel Bryant
- Physics Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (S.V.); (I.B.); (C.P.)
| | - Chisom Nwakama
- Chemistry Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA;
| | - Megha Jacob
- Biology Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.A.); (N.H.); (M.J.); (G.K.); (D.J.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Gargee Khaparde
- Biology Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.A.); (N.H.); (M.J.); (G.K.); (D.J.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Destiny Jordan
- Biology Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.A.); (N.H.); (M.J.); (G.K.); (D.J.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Mackenzie McCuddin
- Biology Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.A.); (N.H.); (M.J.); (G.K.); (D.J.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Spencer McKinley
- Biology Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.A.); (N.H.); (M.J.); (G.K.); (D.J.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Adam Taylor
- Biology Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.A.); (N.H.); (M.J.); (G.K.); (D.J.); (M.M.); (S.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Conner Peeples
- Physics Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (S.V.); (I.B.); (C.P.)
| | - Andrew Ekpenyong
- Physics Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (S.V.); (I.B.); (C.P.)
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11
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Dabbiru VAS, Manu E, Biedenweg D, Nestler P, Pires RH, Otto O. Cell-surface contacts determine volume and mechanical properties of human embryonic kidney 293 T cells. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2023; 80:21-33. [PMID: 36310101 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21735] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in the organization of the cytoskeleton precede the escape of adherent cells from the framework of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions into suspension. With cytoskeletal dynamics being linked to cell mechanical properties, many studies elucidated this relationship under either native adherent or suspended conditions. In contrast, tethered cells that mimic the transition between both states have not been the focus of recent research. Using human embryonic kidney 293 T cells we investigated all three conditions in the light of alterations in cellular shape, volume, as well as mechanical properties and relate these findings to the level, structure, and intracellular localization of filamentous actin (F-actin). For cells adhered to a substrate, our data shows that seeding density affects cell size but does not alter their elastic properties. Removing surface contacts leads to cell stiffening that is accompanied by changes in cell shape, and a reduction in cellular volume but no alterations in F-actin density. Instead, we observe changes in the organization of F-actin indicated by the appearance of blebs in the semi-adherent state. In summary, our work reveals an interplay between molecular and mechanical alterations when cells detach from a surface that is mainly dominated by cell morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata A S Dabbiru
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V. Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Institut für Physik, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Emmanuel Manu
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V. Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Institut für Physik, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Doreen Biedenweg
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Institut für Physik, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Peter Nestler
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Institut für Physik, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ricardo H Pires
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V. Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Institut für Physik, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Oliver Otto
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V. Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Institut für Physik, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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12
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Huang W, Sakuma S, Tottori N, Sugano SS, Yamanishi Y. Viscosity-aided electromechanical poration of cells for transfecting molecules. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4276-4291. [PMID: 36263697 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00628f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cell poration technologies offer opportunities not only to understand the activities of biological molecules but also to investigate genetic manipulation possibilities. Unfortunately, transferring large molecules that can carry huge genomic information is challenging. Here, we demonstrate electromechanical poration using a core-shell-structured microbubble generator, consisting of a fine microelectrode covered with a dielectric material. By introducing a microcavity at its tip, we could concentrate the electrical field with the application of electric pulses and generate microbubbles for electromechanical stimulation of cells. Specifically, the technology enables transfection with molecules that are thousands of kDa even into osteoblasts and Chlamydomonas, which are generally considered to be difficult to inject. Notably, we found that the transfection efficiency can be enhanced by adjusting the viscosity of the cell suspension, which was presumably achieved by remodeling of the membrane cytoskeleton. The applicability of the approach to a variety of cell types opens up numerous emerging gene engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
| | - Shinya Sakuma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
| | - Naotomo Tottori
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
| | - Shigeo S Sugano
- Bioproduction Research Institute, The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan.
| | - Yoko Yamanishi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
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13
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Shaebani MR, Stankevicins L, Vesperini D, Urbanska M, Flormann DAD, Terriac E, Gad AKB, Cheng F, Eriksson JE, Lautenschläger F. Effects of vimentin on the migration, search efficiency, and mechanical resilience of dendritic cells. Biophys J 2022; 121:3950-3961. [PMID: 36056556 PMCID: PMC9675030 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells use amoeboid migration to pass through narrow passages in the extracellular matrix and confined tissue in search for pathogens and to reach the lymph nodes and alert the immune system. Amoeboid migration is a migration mode that, instead of relying on cell adhesion, is based on mechanical resilience and friction. To better understand the role of intermediate filaments in ameboid migration, we studied the effects of vimentin on the migration of dendritic cells. We show that the lymph node homing of vimentin-deficient cells is reduced in our in vivo experiments in mice. Lack of vimentin also reduces the cell stiffness, the number of migrating cells, and the migration speed in vitro in both 1D and 2D confined environments. Moreover, we find that lack of vimentin weakens the correlation between directional persistence and migration speed. Thus, vimentin-expressing dendritic cells move faster in straighter lines. Our numerical simulations of persistent random search in confined geometries verify that the reduced migration speed and the weaker correlation between the speed and direction of motion result in longer search times to find regularly located targets. Together, these observations show that vimentin enhances the ameboid migration of dendritic cells, which is relevant for the efficiency of their random search for pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Reza Shaebani
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany; Centre for Biophysics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Luiza Stankevicins
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Doriane Vesperini
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Marta Urbanska
- Biotechnology Centre, Centre for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniel A D Flormann
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Emmanuel Terriac
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Annica K B Gad
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Fang Cheng
- Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - John E Eriksson
- Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Franziska Lautenschläger
- Centre for Biophysics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
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14
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Bálint M, Zsidó BZ, van der Spoel D, Hetényi C. Binding Networks Identify Targetable Protein Pockets for Mechanism-Based Drug Design. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137313. [PMID: 35806314 PMCID: PMC9267029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137313] [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: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The human genome codes only a few thousand druggable proteins, mainly receptors and enzymes. While this pool of available drug targets is limited, there is an untapped potential for discovering new drug-binding mechanisms and modes. For example, enzymes with long binding cavities offer numerous prerequisite binding sites that may be visited by an inhibitor during migration from a bulk solution to the destination site. Drug design can use these prerequisite sites as new structural targets. However, identifying these ephemeral sites is challenging. Here, we introduce a new method called NetBinder for the systematic identification and classification of prerequisite binding sites at atomic resolution. NetBinder is based on atomistic simulations of the full inhibitor binding process and provides a networking framework on which to select the most important binding modes and uncover the entire binding mechanism, including previously undiscovered events. NetBinder was validated by a study of the binding mechanism of blebbistatin (a potent inhibitor) to myosin 2 (a promising target for cancer chemotherapy). Myosin 2 is a good test enzyme because, like other potential targets, it has a long internal binding cavity that provides blebbistatin with numerous potential prerequisite binding sites. The mechanism proposed by NetBinder of myosin 2 structural changes during blebbistatin binding shows excellent agreement with experimentally determined binding sites and structural changes. While NetBinder was tested on myosin 2, it may easily be adopted to other proteins with long internal cavities, such as G-protein-coupled receptors or ion channels, the most popular current drug targets. NetBinder provides a new paradigm for drug design by a network-based elucidation of binding mechanisms at an atomic resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónika Bálint
- Pharmacoinformatics Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12., 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (M.B.); (B.Z.Z.)
| | - Balázs Zoltán Zsidó
- Pharmacoinformatics Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12., 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (M.B.); (B.Z.Z.)
| | - David van der Spoel
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Csaba Hetényi
- Pharmacoinformatics Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12., 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (M.B.); (B.Z.Z.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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Matozo T, Kogachi L, de Alencar BC. Myosin motors on the pathway of viral infections. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2022; 79:41-63. [PMID: 35842902 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21718] [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: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Molecular motors are microscopic machines that use energy from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis to generate movement. While kinesins and dynein are molecular motors associated with microtubule tracks, myosins bind to and move on actin filaments. Mammalian cells express several myosin motors. They power cellular processes such as endo- and exocytosis, intracellular trafficking, transcription, migration, and cytokinesis. As viruses navigate through cells, they may take advantage or be hindered by host components and machinery, including the cytoskeleton. This review delves into myosins' cell roles and compares them to their reported functions in viral infections. In most cases, the previously described myosin functions align with their reported role in viral infections, although not in all cases. This opens the possibility that knowledge obtained from studying myosins in viral infections might shed light on new physiological roles for myosins in cells. However, given the high number of myosins expressed and the variety of viruses investigated in the different studies, it is challenging to infer whether the interactions found are specific to a single virus or can be applied to other viruses with the same characteristics. We conclude that the participation of myosins in viral cycles is still a largely unexplored area, especially concerning unconventional myosins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tais Matozo
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leticia Kogachi
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna Cunha de Alencar
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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16
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Microfluidic Microcirculation Mimetic as a Tool for the Study of Rheological Characteristics of Red Blood Cells in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12094394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disorder (SCD) is a multisystem disease with heterogeneous phenotypes. Although all patients have the mutated hemoglobin (Hb) in the SS phenotype, the severity and frequency of complications are variable. When exposed to low oxygen tension, the Hb molecule becomes dense and forms tactoids, which lead to the peculiar sickled shapes of the affected red blood cells, giving the disorder its name. This sickle cell morphology is responsible for the profound and widespread pathologies associated with this disorder, such as vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). How much of the clinical manifestation is due to sickled erythrocytes and what is due to the relative contributions of other elements in the blood, especially in the microcapillary circulation, is usually not visualized and quantified for each patient during clinical management. Here, we used a microfluidic microcirculation mimetic (MMM), which has 187 capillary-like constrictions, to impose deformations on erythrocytes of 25 SCD patients, visualizing and characterizing the morpho-rheological properties of the cells in normoxic, hypoxic (using sodium meta-bisulfite) and treatment conditions (using hydroxyurea). The MMM enabled a patient-specific quantification of shape descriptors (circularity and roundness) and transit time through the capillary constrictions, which are readouts for morpho-rheological properties implicated in VOC. Transit times varied significantly (p < 0.001) between patients. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of microfluidics-based monitoring of individual patients for personalized care in the context of SCD complications such as VOC, even in resource-constrained settings.
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17
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Mierke CT. Viscoelasticity, Like Forces, Plays a Role in Mechanotransduction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:789841. [PMID: 35223831 PMCID: PMC8864183 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.789841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Viscoelasticity and its alteration in time and space has turned out to act as a key element in fundamental biological processes in living systems, such as morphogenesis and motility. Based on experimental and theoretical findings it can be proposed that viscoelasticity of cells, spheroids and tissues seems to be a collective characteristic that demands macromolecular, intracellular component and intercellular interactions. A major challenge is to couple the alterations in the macroscopic structural or material characteristics of cells, spheroids and tissues, such as cell and tissue phase transitions, to the microscopic interferences of their elements. Therefore, the biophysical technologies need to be improved, advanced and connected to classical biological assays. In this review, the viscoelastic nature of cytoskeletal, extracellular and cellular networks is presented and discussed. Viscoelasticity is conceptualized as a major contributor to cell migration and invasion and it is discussed whether it can serve as a biomarker for the cells’ migratory capacity in several biological contexts. It can be hypothesized that the statistical mechanics of intra- and extracellular networks may be applied in the future as a powerful tool to explore quantitatively the biomechanical foundation of viscoelasticity over a broad range of time and length scales. Finally, the importance of the cellular viscoelasticity is illustrated in identifying and characterizing multiple disorders, such as cancer, tissue injuries, acute or chronic inflammations or fibrotic diseases.
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18
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Pires RH, Dau TH, Manu E, Shree N, Otto O. Switching in the expression pattern of actin isoforms marks the onset of contractility and distinct mechanodynamic behavior during cardiomyocyte differentiation. Physiol Rep 2022; 10:e15171. [PMID: 35166060 PMCID: PMC8844573 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPC) into cardiomyocytes is a fundamental step in cardiogenesis, which is marked by changes in gene expression responsible for remodeling of the cytoskeleton and in altering the mechanical properties of cells. Here we have induced the differentiation of CPC derived from human pluripotent stem cells into immature cardiomyocytes (iCM) which we compare with more differentiated cardiomyocytes (mCM). Using atomic force microscopy and real-time deformability cytometry, we describe the mechanodynamic changes that occur during the differentiation process and link our findings to protein expression data of cytoskeletal proteins. Increased levels of cardiac-specific markers as well as evolution of cytoskeletal morphology and contractility parameters correlated with the expected extent of cell differentiation that was accompanied by hypertrophic growth of cells. These changes were associated with switching in the balance of the different actin isoforms where β-actin is predominantly found in CPC, smooth muscle α-actin is dominant in iCM cells and sarcomeric α-actin is found in significantly higher levels in mCM. We link these cytoskeletal changes to differences in mechano-dynamic behavior of cells that translate to changes in Young's modulus that depend on the cell adherence. Our results demonstrate that the intracellular balance of actin isoform expression can be used as a sensitive ruler to determine the stage of differentiation during early phases of cardiomyocyte differentiation that correlates with an increased expression of sarcomeric proteins and is accompanied by changes in cellular elasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo H. Pires
- ZIK‐HIKE ‐ Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären ErkrankungenUniversität GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- DZHK ‐ Deutsches Zentrum für HerzkreislaufforschungGreifswaldGermany
| | - Tung H. Dau
- ZIK‐HIKE ‐ Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären ErkrankungenUniversität GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- FLI ‐ Friedrich‐Loeffler‐InstitutGreifswaldInsel RiemsGermany
| | - Emmanuel Manu
- ZIK‐HIKE ‐ Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären ErkrankungenUniversität GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- DZHK ‐ Deutsches Zentrum für HerzkreislaufforschungGreifswaldGermany
| | - Nithya Shree
- ZIK‐HIKE ‐ Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären ErkrankungenUniversität GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Oliver Otto
- ZIK‐HIKE ‐ Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären ErkrankungenUniversität GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
- DZHK ‐ Deutsches Zentrum für HerzkreislaufforschungGreifswaldGermany
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19
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Nietmann P, Bodenschatz JE, Cordes AM, Gottwald J, Rother-Nöding H, Oswald T, Janshoff A. Epithelial cells fluidize upon adhesion but display mechanical homeostasis in the adherent state. Biophys J 2022; 121:361-373. [PMID: 34998827 PMCID: PMC8822618 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.12.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy is used to study the viscoelastic properties of epithelial cells in three different states. Force relaxation data are acquired from cells in suspension, adhered but single cells, and polarized cells in a confluent monolayer using different indenter geometries comprising flat bars, pyramidal cones, and spheres. We found that the fluidity of cells increased substantially from the suspended to the adherent state. Along this line, the prestress of suspended cells generated by cortical contractility is also greater than that of cells adhering to a surface. Polarized cells that are part of a confluent monolayer form an apical cap that is soft and fluid enough to respond rapidly to mechanical challenges from wounding, changes in the extracellular matrix, osmotic stress, and external deformation. In contrast to adherent cells, cells in the suspended state show a pronounced dependence of fluidity on the external areal strain. With increasing areal strain, the suspended cells become softer and more fluid. We interpret the results in terms of cytoskeletal remodeling that softens cells in the adherent state to facilitate adhesion and spreading by relieving internal active stress. However, once the cells spread on the surface they maintain their mechanical phenotype displaying viscoelastic homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Nietmann
- Georg-August Universität, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Andrea M. Cordes
- Georg-August Universität, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jannis Gottwald
- Georg-August Universität, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Helen Rother-Nöding
- Georg-August Universität, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tabea Oswald
- Georg-August Universität, Institute for Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Janshoff
- Georg-August Universität, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany,Corresponding author
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20
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Quantifying force transmission through fibroblasts: changes of traction forces under external shearing. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL: EBJ 2021; 51:157-169. [PMID: 34713316 PMCID: PMC8964583 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-021-01576-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian cells have evolved complex mechanical connections to their microenvironment, including focal adhesion clusters that physically connect the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. This mechanical link is also part of the cellular machinery to transduce, sense and respond to external forces. Although methods to measure cell attachment and cellular traction forces are well established, these are not capable of quantifying force transmission through the cell body to adhesion sites. We here present a novel approach to quantify intracellular force transmission by combining microneedle shearing at the apical cell surface with traction force microscopy at the basal cell surface. The change of traction forces exerted by fibroblasts to underlying polyacrylamide substrates as a response to a known shear force exerted with a calibrated microneedle reveals that cells redistribute forces dynamically under external shearing and during sequential rupture of their adhesion sites. Our quantitative results demonstrate a transition from dipolar to monopolar traction patterns, an inhomogeneous distribution of the external shear force to the adhesion sites as well as dynamical changes in force loading prior to and after the rupture of single adhesion sites. Our strategy of combining traction force microscopy with external force application opens new perspectives for future studies of force transmission and mechanotransduction in cells.
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21
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Merrick M, Mimlitz MJ, Weeder C, Akhter H, Bray A, Walther A, Nwakama C, Bamesberger J, Djam H, Abid K, Ekpenyong A. In vitro radiotherapy and chemotherapy alter migration of brain cancer cells before cell death. Biochem Biophys Rep 2021; 27:101071. [PMID: 34286111 PMCID: PMC8280507 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although radiotherapy and most cancer drugs target the proliferation of cancer cells, it is metastasis, the complex process by which cancer cells spread from the primary tumor to other tissues and organs of the body where they form new tumors, that leads to over 90% of all cancer deaths. Thus, there is an urgent need for anti-metastasis strategies alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy. An important step in the metastatic cascade is migration. It is the first step in metastasis via local invasion. Here we address the question whether ionizing radiation and/or chemotherapy might inadvertently promote metastasis and/or invasiveness by enhancing cell migration. We used a standard laboratory irradiator, Faxitron CellRad, to irradiate both non-cancer (HCN2 neurons) and cancer cells (T98G glioblastoma) with 2 Gy, 10 Gy and 20 Gy of X-rays. Paclitaxel (5 μM) was used for chemotherapy. We then measured the attachment and migration of the cells using an electric cell substrate impedance sensing device. Both the irradiated HCN2 cells and T98G cells showed significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced migration compared to non-irradiated cells, within the first 20–40 h following irradiation with 20 Gy. Our results suggest that cell migration should be a therapeutic target in anti-metastasis/anti-invasion strategies for improved radiotherapy and chemotherapy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Merrick
- Department of Physics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | | | - Catherine Weeder
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Haris Akhter
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Allie Bray
- Department of Mathematics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Andrew Walther
- Department of Physics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Chisom Nwakama
- Department of Chemistry, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Joe Bamesberger
- HCB Pre-health Science, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Honour Djam
- Department of Physics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Kaamil Abid
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Andrew Ekpenyong
- Department of Physics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
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22
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Mylvaganam S, Freeman SA, Grinstein S. The cytoskeleton in phagocytosis and macropinocytosis. Curr Biol 2021; 31:R619-R632. [PMID: 34033794 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cells of the innate immune system, notably macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells, perform essential antimicrobial and homeostatic functions. These functions rely on the dynamic surveillance of the environment supported by the formation of elaborate membrane protrusions. Such protrusions - pseudopodia, lamellipodia and filopodia - facilitate the sampling of the surrounding fluid by macropinocytosis, as well as the engulfment of particulates by phagocytosis. Both processes entail extreme plasma membrane deformations that require the coordinated rearrangement of cytoskeletal polymers, which exert protrusive force and drive membrane coalescence and scission. The resulting vacuolar compartments undergo pronounced remodeling and ultimate resolution by mechanisms that also involve the cytoskeleton. Here, we describe the regulation and functions of cytoskeletal assembly and remodeling during macropinocytosis and phagocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivakami Mylvaganam
- Program in Cell Biology, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Spencer A Freeman
- Program in Cell Biology, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Sergio Grinstein
- Program in Cell Biology, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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23
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Abstract
Epithelial cells possess the ability to change their shape in response to mechanical stress by remodelling their junctions and their cytoskeleton. This property lies at the heart of tissue morphogenesis in embryos. A key feature of embryonic cell shape changes is that they result from repeated mechanical inputs that make them partially irreversible at each step. Past work on cell rheology has rarely addressed how changes can become irreversible in a complex tissue. Here, we review new and exciting findings dissecting some of the physical principles and molecular mechanisms accounting for irreversible cell shape changes. We discuss concepts of mechanical ratchets and tension thresholds required to induce permanent cell deformations akin to mechanical plasticity. Work in different systems has highlighted the importance of actin remodelling and of E-cadherin endocytosis. We also list some novel experimental approaches to fine-tune mechanical tension, using optogenetics, magnetic beads or stretching of suspended epithelial tissues. Finally, we discuss some mathematical models that have been used to describe the quantitative aspects of accounting for mechanical cell plasticity and offer perspectives on this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Molnar
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), CNRS UMR7622, 9 Quai St-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Michel Labouesse
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), CNRS UMR7622, 9 Quai St-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
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24
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Kulwatno J, Gearhart J, Gong X, Herzog N, Getzin M, Skobe M, Mills KL. Growth of tumor emboli within a vessel model reveals dependence on the magnitude of mechanical constraint. Integr Biol (Camb) 2021; 13:1-16. [PMID: 33443535 DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyaa024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Tumor emboli-aggregates of tumor cells within vessels-pose a clinical challenge as they are associated with increased metastasis and tumor recurrence. When growing within a vessel, tumor emboli are subject to a unique mechanical constraint provided by the tubular geometry of the vessel. Current models of tumor emboli use unconstrained multicellular tumor spheroids, which neglect this mechanical interplay. Here, we modeled a lymphatic vessel as a 200 μm-diameter channel in either a stiff or soft, bioinert agarose matrix to create a vessel-like constraint model (VLCM), and we modeled colon or breast cancer tumor emboli with aggregates of HCT116 or SUM149PT cells, respectively. The stiff matrix VLCM constrained the tumor emboli to the cylindrical channel, which led to continuous growth of the emboli, in contrast to the growth rate reduction that unconstrained spheroids exhibit. Emboli morphology in the soft matrix VLCM, however, was dependent on the magnitude of mechanical mismatch between the matrix and the cell aggregates. In general, when the elastic modulus of the matrix of the VLCM was greater than the emboli (EVLCM/Eemb > 1), the emboli were constrained to grow within the channel, and when the elastic modulus of the matrix was less than the emboli (0 < EVLCM/Eemb < 1), the emboli bulged into the matrix. Due to a large difference in myosin II expression between the cell lines, we hypothesized that tumor cell aggregate stiffness is an indicator of cellular force-generating capability. Inhibitors of myosin-related force generation decreased the elastic modulus and/or increased the stress relaxation of the tumor cell aggregates, effectively increasing the mechanical mismatch. The increased mechanical mismatch after drug treatment was correlated with increased confinement of tumor emboli growth along the channel, which may translate to increased tumor burden due to the increased tumor volume within the diffusion distance of nutrients and oxygen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Kulwatno
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.,Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Jamie Gearhart
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.,Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Xiangyu Gong
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.,Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Nora Herzog
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.,Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Matthew Getzin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.,Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Mihaela Skobe
- Department of Oncological Sciences & Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristen L Mills
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.,Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
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25
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Prasanth D, Suresh S, Prathivadhi-Bhayankaram S, Mimlitz M, Zetocha N, Lee B, Ekpenyong A. Microgravity Modulates Effects of Chemotherapeutic Drugs on Cancer Cell Migration. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E162. [PMID: 32846924 PMCID: PMC7555236 DOI: 10.3390/life10090162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Microgravity or the condition of apparent weightlessness causes bone, muscular and immune system dysfunctions in astronauts following spaceflights. These organ and system-level dysfunctions correlate with changes induced at the single cell level both by simulated microgravity on earth as well as microgravity conditions in outer space (as in the international space station). Reported changes in single bone cells, muscle cells and white blood cells include structural/morphological abnormalities, changes in gene expression, protein expression, metabolic pathways and signaling pathways, suggesting that cells mount some response or adjustment to microgravity. However, the implications of such adjustments on many cellular functions and responses are not clear largely because the primary mechanism of gravity sensing in animal cells is unknown. Here, we used a rotary cell culture system developed by NASA to subject leukemic and erythroleukemic cancer cells to microgravity for 48 h and then quantified their innate immune response to common anti-cancer drugs using biophysical parameters and our recently developed quantum-dot-based fluorescence spectroscopy. We found that leukemic cancer cells treated with daunorubicin show increased chemotactic migration (p < 0.01) following simulated microgravity (µg) compared to normal gravity on earth (1 g). However, cells treated with doxorubicin showed enhanced migration both in 1 g and following µg. Our results show that microgravity modulates cancer cell response to chemotherapy in a drug-dependent manner. These results suggest using simulated microgravity as an immunomodulatory tool for the development of new immunotherapies for both space and terrestrial medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devika Prasanth
- Biology Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA;
| | - Sindhuja Suresh
- Computer Science Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68187, USA;
| | | | - Michael Mimlitz
- Physics Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (S.P.-B.); (M.M.); (N.Z.); (B.L.)
| | - Noah Zetocha
- Physics Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (S.P.-B.); (M.M.); (N.Z.); (B.L.)
| | - Bong Lee
- Physics Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (S.P.-B.); (M.M.); (N.Z.); (B.L.)
| | - Andrew Ekpenyong
- Physics Department, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (S.P.-B.); (M.M.); (N.Z.); (B.L.)
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26
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Cognart HA, Viovy JL, Villard C. Fluid shear stress coupled with narrow constrictions induce cell type-dependent morphological and molecular changes in SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6386. [PMID: 32286431 PMCID: PMC7156718 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63316-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer mortality mainly arises from metastases, due to cells that escape from a primary tumor, circulate in the blood as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), permeate across blood vessels and nest in distant organs. It is still unclear how CTCs overcome the harsh conditions of fluid shear stress and mechanical constraints within the microcirculation. Here, a minimal model of the blood microcirculation was established through the fabrication of microfluidic channels comprising constrictions. Metastatic breast cancer cells of epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like phenotypes were flowed into the microfluidic device. These cells were visualized during circulation and analyzed for their dynamical behavior, revealing long-lived plastic deformations and significant differences in biomechanics between cell types. γ-H2AX staining of cells retrieved post-circulation showed significant increase of DNA damage response in epithelial-like SK-BR-3 cells, while gene expression analysis of key regulators of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition revealed significant changes upon circulation. This work thus documents first results of the changes at the cellular, subcellular and molecular scales induced by the two main mechanical stimuli arising from circulatory conditions, and suggest a significant role of this still elusive step of the metastatic cascade in cancer cells heterogeneity and aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamizah Ahmad Cognart
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, CNRS, UMR168, Paris, France.,Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Viovy
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, CNRS, UMR168, Paris, France.,Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Villard
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, CNRS, UMR168, Paris, France. .,Université PSL, Paris, France.
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27
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Armistead FJ, Gala De Pablo J, Gadêlha H, Peyman SA, Evans SD. Physical Biomarkers of Disease Progression: On-Chip Monitoring of Changes in Mechanobiology of Colorectal Cancer Cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3254. [PMID: 32094413 PMCID: PMC7039955 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59952-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease can induce changes to subcellular components, altering cell phenotype and leading to measurable bulk-material mechanical properties. The mechanical phenotyping of single cells therefore offers many potential diagnostic applications. Cells are viscoelastic and their response to an applied stress is highly dependent on the magnitude and timescale of the actuation. Microfluidics can be used to measure cell deformability over a wide range of flow conditions, operating two distinct flow regimes (shear and inertial) which can expose subtle mechanical properties arising from subcellular components. Here, we investigate the deformability of three colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines using a range of flow conditions. These cell lines offer a model for CRC metastatic progression; SW480 derived from primary adenocarcinoma, HT29 from a more advanced primary tumor and SW620 from lymph-node metastasis. HL60 (leukemia cells) were also studied as a model circulatory cell, offering a non-epithelial comparison. We demonstrate that microfluidic induced flow deformation can be used to robustly detect mechanical changes associated with CRC progression. We also show that single-cell multivariate analysis, utilising deformation and relaxation dynamics, offers potential to distinguish these different cell types. These results point to the benefit of multiparameter determination for improving detection and accuracy of disease stage diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fern J Armistead
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Julia Gala De Pablo
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Hermes Gadêlha
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sally A Peyman
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Stephen D Evans
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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28
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Nguyen AV, Trompetto B, Tan XHM, Scott MB, Hu KHH, Deeds E, Butte MJ, Chiou PY, Rowat AC. Differential Contributions of Actin and Myosin to the Physical Phenotypes and Invasion of Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Cell Mol Bioeng 2020; 13:27-44. [PMID: 32030106 PMCID: PMC6981337 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-019-00603-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Metastasis is a fundamentally physical process in which cells deform through narrow gaps and generate forces to invade surrounding tissues. While it is commonly thought that increased cell deformability is an advantage for invading cells, we previously found that more invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells are stiffer than less invasive PDAC cells. Here we investigate potential mechanisms of the simultaneous increase in PDAC cell stiffness and invasion, focusing on the contributions of myosin II, Arp2/3, and formins. METHOD We measure cell invasion using a 3D scratch wound invasion assay and cell stiffness using atomic force microscopy (AFM). To determine the effects of actin- and myosin-mediated force generation on cell stiffness and invasion, we treat cells with pharmacologic inhibitors of myosin II (blebbistatin), Arp2/3 (CK-666), and formins (SMIFH2). RESULTS We find that the activity of myosin II, Arp2/3, and formins all contribute to the stiffness of PDAC cells. Interestingly, we find that the invasion of PDAC cell lines is differentially affected when the activity of myosin II, Arp2/3, or formins is inhibited, suggesting that despite having similar tissue origins, different PDAC cell lines may rely on different mechanisms for invasion. CONCLUSIONS These findings deepen our knowledge of the factors that regulate cancer cell mechanotype and invasion, and incite further studies to develop therapeutics that target multiple mechanisms of invasion for improved clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelyn V. Nguyen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, 610 Charles E Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Brittany Trompetto
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, 610 Charles E Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | | | - Michael B. Scott
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, 610 Charles E Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Present Address: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering, Evanston, USA
| | | | - Eric Deeds
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, 610 Charles E Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Manish J. Butte
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Pei Yu Chiou
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Amy C. Rowat
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, 610 Charles E Young Dr. East, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
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29
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Song Y, Soto J, Chen B, Yang L, Li S. Cell engineering: Biophysical regulation of the nucleus. Biomaterials 2020; 234:119743. [PMID: 31962231 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cells live in a complex and dynamic microenvironment, and a variety of microenvironmental cues can regulate cell behavior. In addition to biochemical signals, biophysical cues can induce not only immediate intracellular responses, but also long-term effects on phenotypic changes such as stem cell differentiation, immune cell activation and somatic cell reprogramming. Cells respond to mechanical stimuli via an outside-in and inside-out feedback loop, and the cell nucleus plays an important role in this process. The mechanical properties of the nucleus can directly or indirectly modulate mechanotransduction, and the physical coupling of the cell nucleus with the cytoskeleton can affect chromatin structure and regulate the epigenetic state, gene expression and cell function. In this review, we will highlight the recent progress in nuclear biomechanics and mechanobiology in the context of cell engineering, tissue remodeling and disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Song
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; School of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Jennifer Soto
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Binru Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Li Yang
- School of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Song Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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30
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Tabatabaei M, Tafazzoli-Shadpour M, Khani MM. Correlation of the cell mechanical behavior and quantified cytoskeletal parameters in normal and cancerous breast cell lines. Biorheology 2019; 56:207-219. [DOI: 10.3233/bir-190214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mohammad Mehdi Khani
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, , Iran
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31
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Katiyar A, Tocco VJ, Li Y, Aggarwal V, Tamashunas AC, Dickinson RB, Lele TP. Nuclear size changes caused by local motion of cell boundaries unfold the nuclear lamina and dilate chromatin and intranuclear bodies. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:9310-9317. [PMID: 31674621 PMCID: PMC6870954 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01666j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms by which mammalian nuclear shape and size are established in cells, and become abnormal in disease states are not understood. Here, we tracked motile cells that underwent systematic changes in cell morphology as they moved from 1-D to 2-D micro-patterned adhesive domains. Motion of the cell boundaries during cell motility caused a dynamic and systematic change in nuclear volume. Short time scales (∼1 h) distinguished the dilation of the nucleus from the familiar increase that occurs during the cell cycle. Nuclear volume was systematically different between cells cultured in 3-D, 2-D and 1-D environments. Dilation of the nuclear volume was accompanied by dilation of chromatin, a decrease in the number of folds in the nuclear lamina, and an increase in nucleolar volume. Treatment of 2-D cells with non-muscle myosin-II inhibitors decreased cell volume, and proportionately caused a decrease in nuclear volume. These data suggest that nuclear size changes during cell migration may potentially impact gene expression through the modulation of intranuclear structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Katiyar
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - V J Tocco
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Varun Aggarwal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Andrew C Tamashunas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Richard B Dickinson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Tanmay P Lele
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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32
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Mandal K, Pogoda K, Nandi S, Mathieu S, Kasri A, Klein E, Radvanyi F, Goud B, Janmey PA, Manneville JB. Role of a Kinesin Motor in Cancer Cell Mechanics. NANO LETTERS 2019; 19:7691-7702. [PMID: 31565944 PMCID: PMC7737127 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Molecular motors play important roles in force generation, migration, and intracellular trafficking. Changes in specific motor activities are altered in numerous diseases. KIF20A, a motor protein of the kinesin-6 family, is overexpressed in bladder cancer, and KIF20A levels correlate negatively with clinical outcomes. We report here a new role for the KIF20A kinesin motor protein in intracellular mechanics. Using optical tweezers to probe intracellular mechanics and surface AFM to probe cortical mechanics, we first confirm that bladder urothelial cells soften with an increasing cancer grade. We then show that inhibiting KIF20A makes the intracellular environment softer for both high- and low-grade bladder cancer cells. Upon inhibition of KIF20A, cortical stiffness also decreases in lower grade cells, while it surprisingly increases in higher grade malignant cells. Changes in cortical stiffness correlate with the interaction of KIF20A with myosin IIA. Moreover, KIF20A inhibition negatively regulates bladder cancer cell motility irrespective of the underlying substrate stiffness. Our results reveal a central role for a microtubule motor in cell mechanics and migration in the context of bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana Mandal
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
| | - Katarzyna Pogoda
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
- Institute of Nuclear Physics , Polish Academy of Sciences , PL-31342 Krakow 31-342 , Poland
| | - Satabdi Nandi
- School of Veterinary Medicine , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology , National Institute on Aging , Baltimore , Maryland 21224 , United States
| | - Samuel Mathieu
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 144 , 26 rue d'Ulm , Paris Cedex 05 75248 , France
| | - Amal Kasri
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 144 , 26 rue d'Ulm , Paris Cedex 05 75248 , France
- ICM Brain and Spine Institute , Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital , 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital , Paris 75013 , France
| | - Eric Klein
- Department of Biology , Rutgers University-Camden Waterfront Tech Center , Camden , New Jersey 08103 , United States
| | - François Radvanyi
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 144 , 26 rue d'Ulm , Paris Cedex 05 75248 , France
| | - Bruno Goud
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 144 , 26 rue d'Ulm , Paris Cedex 05 75248 , France
| | - Paul A Janmey
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
- Departments of Physiology and Physics & Astronomy , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
| | - Jean-Baptiste Manneville
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 144 , 26 rue d'Ulm , Paris Cedex 05 75248 , France
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33
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Probing the Functional Role of Physical Motion in Development. Dev Cell 2019; 51:135-144. [PMID: 31639366 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal organization during development has frequently been proposed to be explainable by reaction-transport models, where biochemical reactions couple to physical motion. However, whereas genetic tools allow causality of molecular players to be dissected via perturbation experiments, the functional role of physical transport processes, such as diffusion and cytoplasmic streaming, frequently remains untestable. This Perspective explores the challenges of validating reaction-transport hypotheses and highlights new opportunities provided by perturbation approaches that specifically target physical transport mechanisms. Using these methods, experimental physics may begin to catch up with molecular biology and find ways to test roles of diffusion and flows in development.
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34
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Terriac E, Schütz S, Lautenschläger F. Vimentin Intermediate Filament Rings Deform the Nucleus During the First Steps of Adhesion. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:106. [PMID: 31263698 PMCID: PMC6590062 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During cell spreading, cells undergo many changes to their architecture and their mechanical properties. Vimentin, as an integral part of the cell architecture, and its mechanical stability must adapt to the new state of the cell. This study focuses on the structures formed by vimentin during the first steps of cell adhesion. Very early, ball-like structures, or "knots," are seen and often vimentin filaments emerge in the shape of rings around the nucleus. Although intermediate filaments are not known to be associated to motor proteins to form contractile systems, these rings can nonetheless strongly deform the cell nucleus. In the first 6 to 12 h of adhesion, these vimentin knots and rings disappear, and the intermediate filament network returns to the state seen before detachment of the cells. As these vimentin structures are very transient in the early steps of cell spreading, they have rarely been described in the literature. However, they can also be seen during mitosis, which is an event that involves partial detachment and re-spreading of the cells. Interestingly, the turnover dynamics of vimentin are reduced in both the knots and rings, compared to vimentin in the lamellipodia. It remains to define how the force is transmitted from the ball-like structures to the rings, and to measure the impact of such strong nuclear deformation on gene expression during cell re-spreading and the rearrangement of the vimentin network.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susanne Schütz
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Franziska Lautenschläger
- Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
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35
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Gladilin E, Ohse S, Boerries M, Busch H, Xu C, Schneider M, Meister M, Eils R. TGFβ-induced cytoskeletal remodeling mediates elevation of cell stiffness and invasiveness in NSCLC. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7667. [PMID: 31113982 PMCID: PMC6529472 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43409-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance of growth factor (GF) signaling in cancer progression is widely acknowledged. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is known to play a key role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastatic cell transformation that are characterized by alterations in cell mechanical architecture and behavior towards a more robust and motile single cell phenotype. However, mechanisms mediating cancer type specific enhancement of cell mechanical phenotype in response to TGFβ remain poorly understood. Here, we combine high-throughput mechanical cell phenotyping, microarray analysis and gene-silencing to dissect cytoskeletal mediators of TGFβ-induced changes in mechanical properties of on-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells. Our experimental results show that elevation of rigidity and invasiveness of TGFβ-stimulated NSCLC cells correlates with upregulation of several cytoskeletal and motor proteins including vimentin, a canonical marker of EMT, and less-known unconventional myosins. Selective probing of gene-silenced cells lead to identification of unconventional myosin MYH15 as a novel mediator of elevated cell rigidity and invasiveness in TGFβ-stimulated NSCLC cells. Our experimental results provide insights into TGFβ-induced cytoskeletal remodeling of NSCLC cells and suggest that mediators of elevated cell stiffness and migratory activity such as unconventional cytoskeletal and motor proteins may represent promising pharmaceutical targets for restraining invasive spread of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Gladilin
- German Cancer Research Center, Div. Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, Mathematikon - Berliner Str. 41, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,University Heidelberg, BioQuant, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, OT Gatersleben Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Seeland, Germany.
| | - S Ohse
- University of Freiburg, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research (IMMZ), Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - M Boerries
- University of Freiburg, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research (IMMZ), Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department for Biometry, Epidemiology and Medical Bioinformatics and Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (CCCF), University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacherstrasse 153, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - H Busch
- University of Freiburg, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research (IMMZ), Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.,University of Lübeck, Institute of Experimental Dermatology, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany
| | - C Xu
- Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, Amalienstr. 5, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Schneider
- Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, Amalienstr. 5, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Meister
- Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, Amalienstr. 5, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Eils
- Center for Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health, and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Kapelle-Ufer 2, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Health Data Science Unit, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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36
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Tietze S, Kräter M, Jacobi A, Taubenberger A, Herbig M, Wehner R, Schmitz M, Otto O, List C, Kaya B, Wobus M, Bornhäuser M, Guck J. Spheroid Culture of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Results in Morphorheological Properties Appropriate for Improved Microcirculation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2019; 6:1802104. [PMID: 31016116 PMCID: PMC6469243 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201802104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are used in clinical trials for the treatment of systemic inflammatory diseases due to their regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. However, intravenous administration of MSCs is hampered by cell trapping within the pulmonary capillary networks. Here, it is hypothesized that traditional 2D plastic-adherent cell expansion fails to result in appropriate morphorheological properties required for successful cell circulation. To address this issue, a method to culture MSCs in nonadherent 3D spheroids (mesenspheres) is adapted. The biological properties of mesensphere-cultured MSCs remain identical to conventional 2D cultures. However, morphorheological analyses reveal a smaller size and lower stiffness of mesensphere-derived MSCs compared to plastic-adherent MSCs, measured using real-time deformability cytometry and atomic force microscopy. These properties result in an increased ability to pass through microconstrictions in an ex vivo microcirculation assay. This ability is confirmed in vivo by comparison of cell accumulation in various organ capillary networks after intravenous injection of both types of MSCs in mouse. The findings generally identify cellular morphorheological properties as attractive targets for improving microcirculation and specifically suggest mesensphere culture as a promising approach for optimized MSC-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Tietze
- Biotechnology CenterCenter for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTU DresdenTatzberg 47‐4901307DresdenGermany
| | - Martin Kräter
- Biotechnology CenterCenter for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTU DresdenTatzberg 47‐4901307DresdenGermany
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max‐Planck‐Zentrum für Physik und MedizinStaudtstraße 291058ErlangenGermany
| | - Angela Jacobi
- Biotechnology CenterCenter for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTU DresdenTatzberg 47‐4901307DresdenGermany
| | - Anna Taubenberger
- Biotechnology CenterCenter for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTU DresdenTatzberg 47‐4901307DresdenGermany
| | - Maik Herbig
- Biotechnology CenterCenter for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTU DresdenTatzberg 47‐4901307DresdenGermany
| | - Rebekka Wehner
- Institute of ImmunologyMedical Faculty Carl Gustav CarusTU DresdenFetscherstraße 7401307DresdenGermany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Institute of ImmunologyMedical Faculty Carl Gustav CarusTU DresdenFetscherstraße 7401307DresdenGermany
| | - Oliver Otto
- Biotechnology CenterCenter for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTU DresdenTatzberg 47‐4901307DresdenGermany
| | - Catrin List
- Medical Clinic IUniversity Hospital Carl Gustav CarusTU DresdenFetscherstraße 7401307DresdenGermany
| | - Berna Kaya
- Medical Clinic IUniversity Hospital Carl Gustav CarusTU DresdenFetscherstraße 7401307DresdenGermany
| | - Manja Wobus
- Medical Clinic IUniversity Hospital Carl Gustav CarusTU DresdenFetscherstraße 7401307DresdenGermany
| | - Martin Bornhäuser
- Medical Clinic IUniversity Hospital Carl Gustav CarusTU DresdenFetscherstraße 7401307DresdenGermany
| | - Jochen Guck
- Biotechnology CenterCenter for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTU DresdenTatzberg 47‐4901307DresdenGermany
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max‐Planck‐Zentrum für Physik und MedizinStaudtstraße 291058ErlangenGermany
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37
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Armistead FJ, Gala De Pablo J, Gadêlha H, Peyman SA, Evans SD. Cells Under Stress: An Inertial-Shear Microfluidic Determination of Cell Behavior. Biophys J 2019; 116:1127-1135. [PMID: 30799072 PMCID: PMC6428867 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The deformability of a cell is the direct result of a complex interplay between the different constituent elements at the subcellular level, coupling a wide range of mechanical responses at different length scales. Changes to the structure of these components can also alter cell phenotype, which points to the critical importance of cell mechanoresponse for diagnostic applications. The response to mechanical stress depends strongly on the forces experienced by the cell. Here, we use cell deformability in both shear-dominant and inertia-dominant microfluidic flow regimes to probe different aspects of the cell structure. In the inertial regime, we follow cellular response from (visco-)elastic through plastic deformation to cell structural failure and show a significant drop in cell viability for shear stresses >11.8 kN/m2. Comparatively, a shear-dominant regime requires lower applied stresses to achieve higher cell strains. From this regime, deformation traces as a function of time contain a rich source of information including maximal strain, elastic modulus, and cell relaxation times and thus provide a number of markers for distinguishing cell types and potential disease progression. These results emphasize the benefit of multiple parameter determination for improving detection and will ultimately lead to improved accuracy for diagnosis. We present results for leukemia cells (HL60) as a model circulatory cell as well as for a colorectal cancer cell line, SW480, derived from primary adenocarcinoma (Dukes stage B). SW480 were also treated with the actin-disrupting drug latrunculin A to test the sensitivity of flow regimes to the cytoskeleton. We show that the shear regime is more sensitive to cytoskeletal changes and that large strains in the inertial regime cannot resolve changes to the actin cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fern J Armistead
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Gala De Pablo
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Hermes Gadêlha
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Sally A Peyman
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen D Evans
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
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38
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Duciel L, Anezo O, Mandal K, Laurent C, Planque N, Coquelle FM, Gentien D, Manneville JB, Saule S. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 4A3 (PTP4A3/PRL-3) promotes the aggressiveness of human uveal melanoma through dephosphorylation of CRMP2. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2990. [PMID: 30816227 PMCID: PMC6395723 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39643-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is an aggressive tumor in which approximately 50% of patients develop metastasis. Expression of the PTP4A3 gene, encoding a phosphatase, is predictive of poor patient survival. PTP4A3 expression in UM cells increases their migration in vitro and invasiveness in vivo. Here, we show that CRMP2 is mostly dephosphorylated on T514 in PTP4A3 expressing cells. We also demonstrate that inhibition of CRMP2 expression in UM cells expressing PTP4A3 increases their migration in vitro and invasiveness in vivo. This phenotype is accompanied by modifications of the actin microfilament network, with shortened filaments, whereas cells with a inactive mutant of the phosphatase do not show the same behavior. In addition, we showed that the cell cytoplasm becomes stiffer when CRMP2 is downregulated or PTP4A3 is expressed. Our results suggest that PTP4A3 acts upstream of CRMP2 in UM cells to enhance their migration and invasiveness and that a low level of CRMP2 in tumors is predictive of poor patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Duciel
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, INSERM, Orsay, France.,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INSERM, Orsay, France
| | - Océane Anezo
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, INSERM, Orsay, France.,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INSERM, Orsay, France
| | - Kalpana Mandal
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | | | - Nathalie Planque
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, INSERM, Orsay, France.,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Frédéric M Coquelle
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, INSERM, Orsay, France.,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INSERM, Orsay, France
| | - David Gentien
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Translational Research Departement, Genomics Platform, Paris, France
| | | | - Simon Saule
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, INSERM, Orsay, France. .,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INSERM, Orsay, France.
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39
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Active Prestress Leads to an Apparent Stiffening of Cells through Geometrical Effects. Biophys J 2019; 114:419-424. [PMID: 29401439 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuning of active prestress, e.g., through activity of molecular motors, constitutes a powerful cellular tool to adjust cellular stiffness through nonlinear material properties. Understanding this tool is an important prerequisite for our comprehension of cellular force response, cell shape dynamics, and tissue organization. Experimental data obtained from cell-mechanical measurements often show a simple linear dependence between mechanical prestress and measured differential elastic moduli. Although these experimental findings could point to stress-induced structural changes in the material, we propose a surprisingly simple alternative explanation in a theoretical study. We show how geometrical effects can give rise to increased cellular force response of cells in the presence of active prestress. The associated effective stress-stiffening is disconnected from actual stress-induced changes of the elastic modulus, and should therefore be regarded as an apparent stiffening of the material. We argue that new approaches in experimental design are necessary to separate this apparent stress-stiffening due to geometrical effects from actual nonlinearities of the elastic modulus in prestressed cellular material.
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40
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Schierbaum N, Rheinlaender J, Schäffer TE. Combined atomic force microscopy (AFM) and traction force microscopy (TFM) reveals a correlation between viscoelastic material properties and contractile prestress of living cells. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:1721-1729. [PMID: 30657157 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01585f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Living cells exhibit a complex mechanical behavior, whose underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. Emerging from the molecular structure and dynamics of the cytoskeleton, the mechanical behavior comprises "passive" viscoelastic material properties and "active" contractile prestress. To directly investigate the connection between these quantities at the single-cell level, we here present the combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) with traction force microscopy (TFM). With this combination, we simultaneously measure viscoelastic material parameters (stiffness, fluidity) and contractile prestress of adherent fibroblast and epithelial cells. Although stiffness, fluidity, and contractile prestress greatly vary within a cell population, they are highly correlated: stiffer cells have a lower fluidity and a larger prestress than softer cells. We show that viscoelastic material properties and contractile prestress are both governed by the activity of the actomyosin machinery. Our results underline the connection between a cell's viscoelastic material properties and its contractile prestress and their importance in cell mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Schierbaum
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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41
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Gill NK, Ly C, Nyberg KD, Lee L, Qi D, Tofig B, Reis-Sobreiro M, Dorigo O, Rao J, Wiedemeyer R, Karlan B, Lawrenson K, Freeman MR, Damoiseaux R, Rowat AC. A scalable filtration method for high throughput screening based on cell deformability. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:343-357. [PMID: 30566156 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00922h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cell deformability is a label-free biomarker of cell state in physiological and disease contexts ranging from stem cell differentiation to cancer progression. Harnessing deformability as a phenotype for screening applications requires a method that can simultaneously measure the deformability of hundreds of cell samples and can interface with existing high throughput facilities. Here we present a scalable cell filtration device, which relies on the pressure-driven deformation of cells through a series of pillars that are separated by micron-scale gaps on the timescale of seconds: less deformable cells occlude the gaps more readily than more deformable cells, resulting in decreased filtrate volume which is measured using a plate reader. The key innovation in this method is that we design customized arrays of individual filtration devices in a standard 96-well format using soft lithography, which enables multiwell input samples and filtrate outputs to be processed with higher throughput using automated pipette arrays and plate readers. To validate high throughput filtration to detect changes in cell deformability, we show the differential filtration of human ovarian cancer cells that have acquired cisplatin-resistance, which is corroborated with cell stiffness measurements using quantitative deformability cytometry. We also demonstrate differences in the filtration of human cancer cell lines, including ovarian cancer cells that overexpress transcription factors (Snail, Slug), which are implicated in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; breast cancer cells (malignant versus benign); and prostate cancer cells (highly versus weekly metastatic). We additionally show how the filtration of ovarian cancer cells is affected by treatment with drugs known to perturb the cytoskeleton and the nucleus. Our results across multiple cancer cell types with both genetic and pharmacologic manipulations demonstrate the potential of this scalable filtration device to screen cells based on their deformability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navjot Kaur Gill
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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42
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Danielsson F, Peterson MK, Caldeira Araújo H, Lautenschläger F, Gad AKB. Vimentin Diversity in Health and Disease. Cells 2018; 7:E147. [PMID: 30248895 PMCID: PMC6210396 DOI: 10.3390/cells7100147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vimentin is a protein that has been linked to a large variety of pathophysiological conditions, including cataracts, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV and cancer. Vimentin has also been shown to regulate a wide spectrum of basic cellular functions. In cells, vimentin assembles into a network of filaments that spans the cytoplasm. It can also be found in smaller, non-filamentous forms that can localise both within cells and within the extracellular microenvironment. The vimentin structure can be altered by subunit exchange, cleavage into different sizes, re-annealing, post-translational modifications and interacting proteins. Together with the observation that different domains of vimentin might have evolved under different selection pressures that defined distinct biological functions for different parts of the protein, the many diverse variants of vimentin might be the cause of its functional diversity. A number of review articles have focussed on the biology and medical aspects of intermediate filament proteins without particular commitment to vimentin, and other reviews have focussed on intermediate filaments in an in vitro context. In contrast, the present review focusses almost exclusively on vimentin, and covers both ex vivo and in vivo data from tissue culture and from living organisms, including a summary of the many phenotypes of vimentin knockout animals. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the many diverse aspects of vimentin, from biochemical, mechanical, cellular, systems biology and medical perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frida Danielsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Royal Institute of Technology, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | | | | - Franziska Lautenschläger
- Campus D2 2, Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien gGmbH (INM) and Experimental Physics, NT Faculty, E 2 6, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Annica Karin Britt Gad
- Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, 9020105 Funchal, Portugal.
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden.
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43
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Herbig M, Mietke A, Müller P, Otto O. Statistics for real-time deformability cytometry: Clustering, dimensionality reduction, and significance testing. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:042214. [PMID: 29937952 PMCID: PMC5999349 DOI: 10.1063/1.5027197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Real-time deformability (RT-DC) is a method for high-throughput mechanical and morphological phenotyping of cells in suspension. While analysis rates exceeding 1000 cells per second allow for a label-free characterization of complex biological samples, e.g., whole blood, data evaluation has so far been limited to a few geometrical and material parameters such as cell size, deformation, and elastic Young's modulus. But as a microscopy-based technology, RT-DC actually generates and yields multidimensional datasets that require automated and unbiased tools to obtain morphological and rheological cell information. Here, we present a statistical framework to shed light on this complex parameter space and to extract quantitative results under various experimental conditions. As model systems, we apply cell lines as well as primary cells and highlight more than 11 parameters that can be obtained from RT-DC data. These parameters are used to identify sub-populations in heterogeneous samples using Gaussian mixture models, to perform a dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis, and to quantify the statistical significance applying linear mixed models to datasets of multiple replicates.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Herbig
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - P. Müller
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - O. Otto
- Author to whom the correspondence should be addressed:
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44
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Nandi SK. Activity-dependent self-regulation of viscous length scales in biological systems. Phys Rev E 2018; 97:052404. [PMID: 29906984 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.97.052404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The cellular cortex, which is a highly viscous thin cytoplasmic layer just below the cell membrane, controls the cell's mechanical properties, which can be characterized by a hydrodynamic length scale ℓ. Cells actively regulate ℓ via the activity of force-generating molecules, such as myosin II. Here we develop a general theory for such systems through a coarse-grained hydrodynamic approach including activity in the static description of the system providing an experimentally accessible parameter and elucidate the detailed mechanism of how a living system can actively self-regulate its hydrodynamic length scale, controlling the rigidity of the system. Remarkably, we find that ℓ, as a function of activity, behaves universally and roughly inversely proportional to the activity of the system. Our theory rationalizes a number of experimental findings on diverse systems, and comparison of our theory with existing experimental data shows good agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saroj Kumar Nandi
- Max-Planck Institute für Physik Komplexer Systeme, 01187 Dresden, Germany
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45
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Abstract
How do the cells in our body reconfigure their shape to achieve complex tasks like migration and mitosis, yet maintain their shape in response to forces exerted by, for instance, blood flow and muscle action? Cell shape control is defined by a delicate mechanical balance between active force generation and passive material properties of the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton forms a space-spanning fibrous network comprising three subsystems: actin, microtubules and intermediate filaments. Bottom-up reconstitution of minimal synthetic cells where these cytoskeletal subsystems are encapsulated inside a lipid vesicle provides a powerful avenue to dissect the force balance that governs cell shape control. Although encapsulation is technically demanding, a steady stream of advances in this technique has made the reconstitution of shape-changing minimal cells increasingly feasible. In this topical review we provide a route-map of the recent advances in cytoskeletal encapsulation techniques and outline recent reports that demonstrate shape change phenomena in simple biomimetic vesicle systems. We end with an outlook toward the next steps required to achieve more complex shape changes with the ultimate aim of building a fully functional synthetic cell with the capability to autonomously grow, divide and move.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Mulla
- These authors contributed equally to this work
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46
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Boussommier-Calleja A, Atiyas Y, Haase K, Headley M, Lewis C, Kamm RD. The effects of monocytes on tumor cell extravasation in a 3D vascularized microfluidic model. Biomaterials 2018; 198:180-193. [PMID: 29548546 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Recent developments in cancer immunotherapy have shown exciting therapeutic promise for metastatic patients. While most therapies target T cells, other immune cells, such as monocytes, hold great promise for therapeutic intervention. In our study, we provide primary evidence of direct engagement between human monocytes and tumor cells in a 3D vascularized microfluidic model. We first characterize the novel application of our model to investigate and visualize at high resolution the evolution of monocytes as they migrate from the intravascular to the extravascular micro-environment. We also demonstrate their differentiation into macrophages in our all-human model. Our model replicates physiological differences between different monocyte subsets. In particular, we report that inflammatory, but not patrolling, monocytes rely on actomyosin based motility. Finally, we exploit this platform to study the effect of monocytes, at different stages of their life cycle, on cancer cell extravasation. Our data demonstrates that monocytes can directly reduce cancer cell extravasation in a non-contact dependent manner. In contrast, we see little effect of monocytes on cancer cell extravasation once monocytes transmigrate through the vasculature and are macrophage-like. Taken together, our study brings novel insight into the role of monocytes in cancer cell extravasation, which is an important step in the metastatic cascade. These findings establish our microfluidic platform as a powerful tool to investigate the characteristics and function of monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages in normal and diseased states. We propose that monocyte-cancer cell interactions could be targeted to potentiate the anti-metastatic effect we observe in vitro, possibly expanding the milieu of immunotherapies available to tame metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Y Atiyas
- Biological Engineering, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, USA
| | - K Haase
- Mechanical Engineering, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, USA
| | - M Headley
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - C Lewis
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - R D Kamm
- Mechanical Engineering, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, USA; Biological Engineering, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, USA.
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47
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Mechanical phenotyping of K562 cells by the Micropipette Aspiration Technique allows identifying mechanical changes induced by drugs. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1219. [PMID: 29352174 PMCID: PMC5775209 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19563-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical properties of living cells can be used as reliable markers of their state, such as the presence of a pathological state or their differentiation phase. The mechanical behavior of cells depends on the organization of their cytoskeletal network and the main contribution typically comes from the actomyosin contractile system, in both suspended and adherent cells. In the present study, we investigated the effect of a pharmaceutical formulation (OTC – Ossitetraciclina liquida 20%) used as antibiotic, on the mechanical properties of K562 cells by using the Micropipette Aspiration Technique (MAT). This formulation has been shown to increase in a time dependent way the inflammation and toxicity in terms of apoptosis in in vitro experiments on K562 and other types of cells. Here we show that by measuring the mechanical properties of cells exposed to OTC for different incubation times, it is possible to infer modifications induced by the formulation to the actomyosin contractile system. We emphasize that this system is involved in the first stages of the apoptotic process where an increase of the cortical tension leads to the formation of blebs. We discuss the possible relation between the observed mechanical behavior of cells aspirated inside a micropipette and apoptosis.
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48
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Kolb T, Kraxner J, Skodzek K, Haug M, Crawford D, Maaß KK, Aifantis KE, Whyte G. Optomechanical measurement of the role of lamins in whole cell deformability. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2017; 10:1657-1664. [PMID: 28485113 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201600198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
There is mounting evidence that the nuclear envelope, and particularly the lamina, plays a critical role in the mechanical and regulation properties of the cell and changes to the lamina can have implications for the physical properties of the whole cell. In this study we demonstrate that the optical stretcher can measure changes in the time-dependent mechanical properties of living cells with different levels of A-type lamin expression. Results from the optical stretcher shows a decrease in the deformability of cells as the levels of lamin A increases, for cells which grow both adherently and in suspension. Further detail can be probed by combining the optical stretcher with fluorescence microscopy to investigate the nuclear mechanical properties which show a larger decrease in deformability than for the whole cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Kolb
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestrasse 91, 91052, Erlangen, Germany
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Kraxner
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestrasse 91, 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kai Skodzek
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Michael Haug
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestrasse 91, 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dean Crawford
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Kendra K Maaß
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katerina E Aifantis
- Lab of Mechanics and Materials, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Civil Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona, 85721
| | - Graeme Whyte
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestrasse 91, 91052, Erlangen, Germany
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK
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Nyberg KD, Hu KH, Kleinman SH, Khismatullin DB, Butte MJ, Rowat AC. Quantitative Deformability Cytometry: Rapid, Calibrated Measurements of Cell Mechanical Properties. Biophys J 2017; 113:1574-1584. [PMID: 28978449 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.06.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in methods that determine cell mechanical phenotype, or mechanotype, have demonstrated the utility of biophysical markers in clinical and research applications ranging from cancer diagnosis to stem cell enrichment. Here, we introduce quantitative deformability cytometry (q-DC), a method for rapid, calibrated, single-cell mechanotyping. We track changes in cell shape as cells deform into microfluidic constrictions, and we calibrate the mechanical stresses using gel beads. We observe that time-dependent strain follows power-law rheology, enabling single-cell measurements of apparent elastic modulus, Ea, and power-law exponent, β. To validate our method, we mechanotype human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells and thereby confirm q-DC measurements of Ea = 0.53 ± 0.04 kPa. We also demonstrate that q-DC is sensitive to pharmacological perturbations of the cytoskeleton as well as differences in the mechanotype of human breast cancer cell lines (Ea = 2.1 ± 0.1 and 0.80 ± 0.19 kPa for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells). To establish an operational framework for q-DC, we investigate the effects of applied stress and cell/pore-size ratio on mechanotype measurements. We show that Ea increases with applied stress, which is consistent with stress stiffening behavior of cells. We also find that Ea increases for larger cell/pore-size ratios, even when the same applied stress is maintained; these results indicate strain stiffening and/or dependence of mechanotype on deformation depth. Taken together, the calibrated measurements enabled by q-DC should advance applications of cell mechanotype in basic research and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra D Nyberg
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kenneth H Hu
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Sara H Kleinman
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | | | - Manish J Butte
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Amy C Rowat
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California; UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Broad Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Center for Biological Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California.
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50
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Gullekson C, Cojoc G, Schürmann M, Guck J, Pelling A. Mechanical mismatch between Ras transformed and untransformed epithelial cells. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:8483-8491. [PMID: 29091102 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01396e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The organization of the actin cytoskeleton plays a key role in regulating cell mechanics. It is fundamentally altered during transformation, affecting how cells interact with their environment. We investigated mechanical properties of cells expressing constitutively active, oncogenic Ras (RasV12) in adherent and suspended states. To do this, we utilized atomic force microscopy and a microfluidic optical stretcher. We found that adherent cells stiffen and suspended cells soften with the expression of constitutively active Ras. The effect on adherent cells was reversed when contractility was inhibited with the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632, resulting in softer RasV12 cells. Our findings suggest that increased ROCK activity as a result of Ras has opposite effects on suspended and adhered cells. Our results also establish the importance of the activation of ROCK by Ras and its effect on cell mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Gullekson
- Centre for Interdisciplinary NanoPhysics, Department of Physics, University of Ottawa, 598 King Edward, Ottawa, ON, K1N5N5 Canada.
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