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Zhou M, Ma Y, Rock EC, Chiang CC, Luker KE, Luker GD, Chen YC. Microfluidic single-cell migration chip reveals insights into the impact of extracellular matrices on cell movement. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4619-4635. [PMID: 37750357 PMCID: PMC10615797 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00651d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Cell migration is a complex process that plays a crucial role in normal physiology and pathologies such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and mental disorders. Conventional cell migration assays face limitations in tracking a large number of individual migrating cells. To address this challenge, we have developed a high-throughput microfluidic cell migration chip, which seamlessly integrates robotic liquid handling and computer vision to swiftly monitor the movement of 3200 individual cells, providing unparalleled single-cell resolution for discerning distinct behaviors of the fast-moving cell population. This study focuses on the ECM's role in regulating cellular migration, utilizing this cutting-edge microfluidic technology to investigate the impact of ten different ECMs on triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. We found that collagen IV, collagen III, and collagen I coatings were the top enhancers of cell movement. Combining these ECMs increased cell motility, but the effect was sub-additive. Furthermore, we examined 87 compounds and found that while some compounds inhibited migration on all substrates, significantly distinct effects on differently coated substrates were observed, underscoring the importance of considering ECM coating. We also utilized cells expressing a fluorescent actin reporter and observed distinct actin structures in ECM-interacting cells. ScRNA-Seq analysis revealed that ECM coatings induced EMT and enhanced cell migration. Finally, we identified genes that were particularly up-regulated by collagen IV and the selective inhibitors successfully blocked cell migration on collagen IV. Overall, the study provides insights into the impact of various ECMs on cell migration and dynamics of cell movement with implications for developing therapeutic strategies to combat diseases related to cell motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Zhou
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Yushu Ma
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Edwin C Rock
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Chun-Cheng Chiang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Kathryn E Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Gary D Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel, Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2099, USA
| | - Yu-Chih Chen
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- CMU-Pitt Ph.D. Program in Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Zhou M, Ma Y, Chiang CC, Rock EC, Luker KE, Luker GD, Chen YC. High-Throughput Cellular Heterogeneity Analysis in Cell Migration at the Single-Cell Level. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2206754. [PMID: 36449634 PMCID: PMC9908848 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cell migration represents an essential step toward metastasis and cancer deaths. However, conventional drug discovery focuses on cytotoxic and growth-inhibiting compounds rather than inhibitors of migration. Drug screening assays generally measure the average response of many cells, masking distinct cell populations that drive metastasis and resist treatments. Here, this work presents a high-throughput microfluidic cell migration platform that coordinates robotic liquid handling and computer vision for rapidly quantifying individual cellular motility. Using this innovative technology, 172 compounds were tested and a surprisingly low correlation between migration and growth inhibition was found. Notably, many compounds were found to inhibit migration of most cells while leaving fast-moving subpopulations unaffected. This work further pinpoints synergistic drug combinations, including Bortezomib and Danirixin, to stop fast-moving cells. To explain the observed cell behaviors, single-cell morphological and molecular analysis were performed. These studies establish a novel technology to identify promising migration inhibitors for cancer treatment and relevant applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Zhou
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Yushu Ma
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Chun-Cheng Chiang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Edwin C. Rock
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Kathryn E. Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Gary D. Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel, Blvd. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2099, USA
| | - Yu-Chih Chen
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- CMU-Pitt Ph.D. Program in Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Arora A, Niño JLG, Myaing MZ, Chia S, Arasi B, Ravasio A, Huang RYJ, Dasgupta R, Biro M, Viasnoff V. Two high-yield complementary methods to sort cell populations by their 2D or 3D migration speed. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:2779-2790. [PMID: 33085550 PMCID: PMC7851856 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e20-07-0466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential to migrate is one of the most fundamental functions for various epithelial, mesenchymal, and immune cells. Image analysis of motile cell populations, both primary and cultured, typically reveals an intercellular variability in migration speeds. However, cell migration chromatography, the sorting of large populations of cells based on their migratory characteristics, cannot be easily performed. The lack of such methods has hindered our understanding of the direct correlation between the capacity to migrate and other cellular properties. Here, we report two novel, easily implementable and readily scalable methods to sort millions of live migratory cancer and immune cells based on their spontaneous migration in two-dimensional and three-dimensional microenvironments, respectively. Correlative downstream transcriptomic, molecular and functional tests reveal marked differences between the fast and slow subpopulations in patient-derived cancer cells. We further employ our method to reveal that sorting the most migratory cytotoxic T lymphocytes yields a pool of cells with enhanced cytotoxicity against cancer cells. This phenotypic assay opens new avenues for the precise characterization of the mechanisms underlying hither to unexplained heterogeneities in migratory phenotypes within a cell population, and for the targeted enrichment of the most potent migratory leukocytes in immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Arora
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Jorge Luis Galeano Niño
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science Node, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales 2052, Sydney, Australia
| | - Myint Zu Myaing
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Shumei Chia
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore/A*STAR, Singapore 138632
| | - Bakya Arasi
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Andrea Ravasio
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ruby Yun-Ju Huang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore 117599
| | - Ramanuj Dasgupta
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore/A*STAR, Singapore 138632
| | - Maté Biro
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore/A*STAR, Singapore 138632
| | - Virgile Viasnoff
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Bordeleau F, Reinhart-King CA. Tuning cell migration: contractility as an integrator of intracellular signals from multiple cues. F1000Res 2016; 5. [PMID: 27508074 PMCID: PMC4962296 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.7884.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There has been immense progress in our understanding of the factors driving cell migration in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional microenvironments over the years. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that even though most cells share many of the same signaling molecules, they rarely respond in the same way to migration cues. To add to the complexity, cells are generally exposed to multiple cues simultaneously, in the form of growth factors and/or physical cues from the matrix. Understanding the mechanisms that modulate the intracellular signals triggered by multiple cues remains a challenge. Here, we will focus on the molecular mechanism involved in modulating cell migration, with a specific focus on how cell contractility can mediate the crosstalk between signaling initiated at cell-matrix adhesions and growth factor receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois Bordeleau
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Mitchell MJ, Castellanos CA, King MR. Immobilized surfactant-nanotube complexes support selectin-mediated capture of viable circulating tumor cells in the absence of capture antibodies. J Biomed Mater Res A 2015; 103:3407-18. [PMID: 25761664 PMCID: PMC4552621 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The metastatic spread of tumor cells from the primary site to anatomically distant organs leads to a poor patient prognosis. Increasing evidence has linked adhesive interactions between circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and endothelial cells to metastatic dissemination. Microscale biomimetic flow devices hold promise as a diagnostic tool to isolate CTCs and develop metastatic therapies, utilizing E-selectin (ES) to trigger the initial rolling adhesion of tumor cells under flow. To trigger firm adhesion and capture under flow, such devices also typically require antibodies against biomarkers thought to be expressed on CTCs. This approach is challenged by the fact that CTCs are now known to exhibit heterogeneous expression of conventional biomarkers. Here, we describe surfactant-nanotube complexes to enhance ES-mediated capture and isolation of tumor cells without the use of capture antibodies. While the majority of tumor cells exhibited weaker rolling adhesion on halloysite nanotubes (HNT) coated with ES, HNT functionalization with the sodium dodecanoate (NaL) surfactant induced a switch to firm cellular adhesion under flow. Conversely, surfactant-nanotube complexes significantly reduced the number of primary human leukocytes captured via ES-mediated adhesion under flow. The switch in tumor cell adhesion was exploited to capture and isolate tumor cells in the absence of EpCAM antibodies, commonly utilized as the gold standard for CTC isolation. Additionally, HNT-NaL complexes were shown to capture tumor cells with low to negligible EpCAM expression, that are not efficiently captured using conventional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Mitchell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Michael R. King
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Mitchell MJ, Castellanos CA, King MR. Surfactant functionalization induces robust, differential adhesion of tumor cells and blood cells to charged nanotube-coated biomaterials under flow. Biomaterials 2015; 56:179-86. [PMID: 25934290 PMCID: PMC4428905 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Revised: 03/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The metastatic spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites leads to a poor prognosis in cancers originating from multiple organs. Increasing evidence has linked selectin-based adhesion between circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and endothelial cells of the microvasculature to metastatic dissemination, in a manner similar to leukocyte adhesion during inflammation. Functionalized biomaterial surfaces hold promise as a diagnostic tool to separate CTCs and potentially treat metastasis, utilizing antibody and selectin-mediated interactions for cell capture under flow. However, capture at high purity levels is challenged by the fact that CTCs and leukocytes both possess selectin ligands. Here, a straightforward technique to functionalize and alter the charge of naturally occurring halloysite nanotubes using surfactants is reported to induce robust, differential adhesion of tumor cells and blood cells to nanotube-coated surfaces under flow. Negatively charged sodium dodecanoate-functionalized nanotubes simultaneously enhanced tumor cell capture while negating leukocyte adhesion, both in the presence and absence of adhesion proteins, and can be utilized to isolate circulating tumor cells regardless of biomarker expression. Conversely, diminishing nanotube charge via functionalization with decyltrimethylammonium bromide both abolished tumor cell capture while promoting leukocyte adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Mitchell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Michael R King
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Chen YC, Allen SG, Ingram PN, Buckanovich R, Merajver SD, Yoon E. Single-cell Migration Chip for Chemotaxis-based Microfluidic Selection of Heterogeneous Cell Populations. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9980. [PMID: 25984707 PMCID: PMC4435023 DOI: 10.1038/srep09980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cell migration toward and intravasation into capillaries is an early and key event in cancer metastasis, yet not all cancer cells are imbued with the same capability to do so. This heterogeneity within a tumor is a fundamental property of cancer. Tools to help us understand what molecular characteristics allow a certain subpopulation of cells to spread from the primary tumor are thus critical for overcoming metastasis. Conventional in vitro migration platforms treat populations in aggregate, which leads to a masking of intrinsic differences among cells. Some migration assays reported recently have single-cell resolution, but these platforms do not provide for selective retrieval of the distinct migrating and non-migrating cell populations for further analysis. Thus, to study the intrinsic differences in cells responsible for chemotactic heterogeneity, we developed a single-cell migration platform so that individual cells' migration behavior can be studied and the heterogeneous population sorted based upon chemotactic phenotype. Furthermore, after migration, the highly chemotactic and non-chemotactic cells were retrieved and proved viable for later molecular analysis of their differences. Moreover, we modified the migration channel to resemble lymphatic capillaries to better understand how certain cancer cells are able to move through geometrically confining spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chih Chen
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, 1301 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122, USA
- University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Steven G. Allen
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Patrick N. Ingram
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ronald Buckanovich
- University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sofia D. Merajver
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Internal Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Euisik Yoon
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, 1301 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Metastasis contributes to over 90% of cancer-related deaths. Numerous nanoparticle platforms have been developed to target and treat cancer, yet efficient delivery of these systems to the appropriate site remains challenging. Leukocytes, which share similarities to tumor cells in terms of their transport and migration through the body, are well suited to serve as carriers of drug delivery systems to target cancer sites. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the use and functionalization of leukocytes for therapeutic targeting of metastatic cancer. Tumor cell and leukocyte extravasation, margination in the bloodstream, and migration into soft tissue are discussed, along with the potential to exploit these functional similarities to effectively deliver drugs. Current nanoparticle-based drug formulations for the treatment of cancer are reviewed, along with methods to functionalize delivery vehicles to leukocytes, either on the surface and/or within the cell. Recent progress in this area, both in vitro and in vivo, is also discussed, with a particular emphasis on targeting cancer cells in the bloodstream as a means to interrupt the metastatic process. EXPERT OPINION Leukocytes interact with cancer cells both in the bloodstream and at the site of solid tumors. These interactions can be utilized to effectively deliver drugs to targeted areas, which can reduce both the amount of drug required and various nonspecific cytotoxic effects within the body. If drug delivery vehicle functionalization does not interfere with leukocyte function, this approach may be utilized to neutralize tumor cells in the bloodstream to prevent the formation of new metastases, and also to deliver drugs to metastatic sites within tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Mitchell
- Cornell University, Department of Biomedical Engineering , Ithaca, NY 14853 , USA
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