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Zbiral B, Weber A, Vivanco MDM, Toca-Herrera JL. Characterization of Breast Cancer Aggressiveness by Cell Mechanics. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12208. [PMID: 37569585 PMCID: PMC10418463 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512208] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In healthy tissues, cells are in mechanical homeostasis. During cancer progression, this equilibrium is disrupted. Cancer cells alter their mechanical phenotype to a softer and more fluid-like one than that of healthy cells. This is connected to cytoskeletal remodeling, changed adhesion properties, faster cell proliferation and increased cell motility. In this work, we investigated the mechanical properties of breast cancer cells representative of different breast cancer subtypes, using MCF-7, tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7, MCF10A and MDA-MB-231 cells. We derived viscoelastic properties from atomic force microscopy force spectroscopy measurements and showed that the mechanical properties of the cells are associated with cancer cell malignancy. MCF10A are the stiffest and least fluid-like cells, while tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells are the softest ones. MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 show an intermediate mechanical phenotype. Confocal fluorescence microscopy on cytoskeletal elements shows differences in actin network organization, as well as changes in focal adhesion localization. These findings provide further evidence of distinct changes in the mechanical properties of cancer cells compared to healthy cells and add to the present understanding of the complex alterations involved in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Zbiral
- Institute of Biophysics, Department of Bionanosciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (B.Z.); (A.W.)
| | - Andreas Weber
- Institute of Biophysics, Department of Bionanosciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (B.Z.); (A.W.)
| | - Maria dM. Vivanco
- Cancer Heterogeneity Lab, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain;
| | - José L. Toca-Herrera
- Institute of Biophysics, Department of Bionanosciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (B.Z.); (A.W.)
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Esser L, Springer R, Dreissen G, Lövenich L, Konrad J, Hampe N, Merkel R, Hoffmann B, Noetzel E. Elastomeric Pillar Cages Modulate Actomyosin Contractility of Epithelial Microtissues by Substrate Stiffness and Topography. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091256. [PMID: 37174659 PMCID: PMC10177551 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell contractility regulates epithelial tissue geometry development and homeostasis. The underlying mechanobiological regulation circuits are poorly understood and experimentally challenging. We developed an elastomeric pillar cage (EPC) array to quantify cell contractility as a mechanoresponse of epithelial microtissues to substrate stiffness and topography. The spatially confined EPC geometry consisted of 24 circularly arranged slender pillars (1.2 MPa, height: 50 µm; diameter: 10 µm, distance: 5 µm). These high-aspect-ratio pillars were confined at both ends by planar substrates with different stiffness (0.15-1.2 MPa). Analytical modeling and finite elements simulation retrieved cell forces from pillar displacements. For evaluation, highly contractile myofibroblasts and cardiomyocytes were assessed to demonstrate that the EPC device can resolve static and dynamic cellular force modes. Human breast (MCF10A) and skin (HaCaT) cells grew as adherence junction-stabilized 3D microtissues within the EPC geometry. Planar substrate areas triggered the spread of monolayered clusters with substrate stiffness-dependent actin stress fiber (SF)-formation and substantial single-cell actomyosin contractility (150-200 nN). Within the same continuous microtissues, the pillar-ring topography induced the growth of bilayered cell tubes. The low effective pillar stiffness overwrote cellular sensing of the high substrate stiffness and induced SF-lacking roundish cell shapes with extremely low cortical actin tension (11-15 nN). This work introduced a versatile biophysical tool to explore mechanobiological regulation circuits driving low- and high-tensional states during microtissue development and homeostasis. EPC arrays facilitate simultaneously analyzing the impact of planar substrate stiffness and topography on microtissue contractility, hence microtissue geometry and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisann Esser
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Ronald Springer
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Georg Dreissen
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Lukas Lövenich
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Jens Konrad
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Nico Hampe
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Rudolf Merkel
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Erik Noetzel
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
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3
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Cell Stretcher Assay to Analyze Mechanoresponses to Cyclic Stretching. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2600:91-105. [PMID: 36587092 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2851-5_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
In their natural environment, most cells and tissues are continuously exposed to cyclic mechanical strain. Sensing these stimuli by mechanosensory proteins and subsequent conversion into a variety of biological responses (referred to as mechanotransduction) are key processes for tissue homeostasis, survival, and differentiation. Perturbations of underlying signaling pathways lead to severe diseases in vivo (Urciuoli E, Peruzzi B, Int J Mol Sci 21(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21249426, (2020)). In addition, cellular mechanoresponses to cyclic stretching of an isolated single cell differ from those of a cell monolayer, network, or even three-dimensional tissue. Since these processes depend on various physical and biological parameters, the development of a precise, well-characterized, and highly reproducible but also easily tunable stretcher assay is indispensable. Here, we describe the fabrication of defined elastic substrates and their application in cyclic stretching of cultured cells in a custom-made cell stretcher device. We focus on the detailed description of the system and provide a possibility for mechanoresponse characterization, using the analysis of actin stress fiber orientation as exemplary mechanoresponse to cyclic stretching of adherent cells.
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4
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Chan FY, Kurosaki R, Ganser C, Takeda T, Uchihashi T. Tip-scan high-speed atomic force microscopy with a uniaxial substrate stretching device for studying dynamics of biomolecules under mechanical stress. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2022; 93:113703. [PMID: 36461522 DOI: 10.1063/5.0111017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) is a powerful tool for studying the dynamics of biomolecules in vitro because of its high temporal and spatial resolution. However, multi-functionalization, such as combination with complementary measurement methods, environment control, and large-scale mechanical manipulation of samples, is still a complex endeavor due to the inherent design and the compact sample scanning stage. Emerging tip-scan HS-AFM overcame this design hindrance and opened a door for additional functionalities. In this study, we designed a motor-driven stretching device to manipulate elastic substrates for HS-AFM imaging of biomolecules under controllable mechanical stimulation. To demonstrate the applicability of the substrate stretching device, we observed a microtubule buckling by straining the substrate and actin filaments linked by α-actinin on a curved surface. In addition, a BAR domain protein BIN1 that senses substrate curvature was observed while dynamically controlling the surface curvature. Our results clearly prove that large-scale mechanical manipulation can be coupled with nanometer-scale imaging to observe biophysical effects otherwise obscured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Yueh Chan
- Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Ryo Kurosaki
- Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Christian Ganser
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Takeda
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Takayuki Uchihashi
- Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
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5
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Epithelial cells sacrifice excess area to preserve fluidity in response to external mechanical stress. Commun Biol 2022; 5:855. [PMID: 35995827 PMCID: PMC9395404 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03809-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Viscoelastic properties of epithelial cells subject to shape changes were monitored by indentation-retraction/relaxation experiments. MDCK II cells cultured on extensible polydimethylsiloxane substrates were laterally stretched and, in response, displayed increased cortex contractility and loss of excess surface area. Thereby, the cells preserve their fluidity but inevitably become stiffer. We found similar behavior in demixed cell monolayers of ZO-1/2 double knock down (dKD) cells, cells exposed to different temperatures and after removal of cholesterol from the plasma membrane. Conversely, the mechanical response of single cells adhered onto differently sized patches displays no visible rheological change. Sacrificing excess surface area allows the cells to respond to mechanical challenges without losing their ability to flow. They gain a new degree of freedom that permits resolving the interdependence of fluidity β on stiffness \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$${K}_{{{{{{{{\rm{A}}}}}}}}}^{0}$$\end{document}KA0. We also propose a model that permits to tell apart contributions from excess membrane area and excess cell surface area. The viscoelastic properties of cells subjected to external strain are assessed, showing that cells become stiffer but preserve fluidity by sacrificing their excess surface area.
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Zijl S, Salameti V, Louis B, Negri VA, Watt FM. Dynamic regulation of human epidermal differentiation by adhesive and mechanical forces. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 150:129-148. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Eschenbruch J, Dreissen G, Springer R, Konrad J, Merkel R, Hoffmann B, Noetzel E. From Microspikes to Stress Fibers: Actin Remodeling in Breast Acini Drives Myosin II-Mediated Basement Membrane Invasion. Cells 2021; 10:cells10081979. [PMID: 34440749 PMCID: PMC8394122 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular mechanisms of basement membrane (BM) invasion remain poorly understood. We investigated the invasion-promoting mechanisms of actin cytoskeleton reorganization in BM-covered MCF10A breast acini. High-resolution confocal microscopy has characterized actin cell protrusion formation and function in response to tumor-resembling ECM stiffness and soluble EGF stimulation. Traction force microscopy quantified the mechanical BM stresses that invasion-triggered acini exerted on the BM-ECM interface. We demonstrate that acini use non-proteolytic actin microspikes as functional precursors of elongated protrusions to initiate BM penetration and ECM probing. Further, these microspikes mechanically widened the collagen IV pores to anchor within the BM scaffold via force-transmitting focal adhesions. Pre-invasive basal cells located at the BM-ECM interface exhibited predominantly cortical actin networks and actin microspikes. In response to pro-invasive conditions, these microspikes accumulated and converted subsequently into highly contractile stress fibers. The phenotypical switch to stress fiber cells matched spatiotemporally with emerging high BM stresses that were driven by actomyosin II contractility. The activation of proteolytic invadopodia with MT1-MMP occurred at later BM invasion stages and only in cells already disseminating into the ECM. Our study demonstrates that BM pore-widening filopodia bridge mechanical ECM probing function and contractility-driven BM weakening. Finally, these EMT-related cytoskeletal adaptations are critical mechanisms inducing the invasive transition of benign breast acini.
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Becerra N, Salis B, Tedesco M, Moreno Flores S, Vena P, Raiteri R. AFM and Fluorescence Microscopy of Single Cells with Simultaneous Mechanical Stimulation via Electrically Stretchable Substrates. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 14:4131. [PMID: 34361325 PMCID: PMC8347060 DOI: 10.3390/ma14154131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We have developed a novel experimental set-up that simultaneously, (i) applies static and dynamic deformations to adherent cells in culture, (ii) allows the visualization of cells under fluorescence microscopy, and (iii) allows atomic force microscopy nanoindentation measurements of the mechanical properties of the cells. The cell stretcher device relies on a dielectric elastomer film that can be electro-actuated and acts as the cell culture substrate. The shape and position of the electrodes actuating the film can be controlled by design in order to obtain specific deformations across the cell culture chamber. By using optical markers we characterized the strain fields under different electrode configurations and applied potentials. The combined setup, which includes the cell stretcher device, an atomic force microscope, and an inverted optical microscope, can assess in situ and with sub-micron spatial resolution single cell topography and elasticity, as well as ion fluxes, during the application of static deformations. Proof of performance on fibroblasts shows a reproducible increase in the average cell elastic modulus as a response to applied uniaxial stretch of just 4%. Additionally, high resolution topography and elasticity maps on a single fibroblast can be acquired while the cell is deformed, providing evidence of long-term instrumental stability. This study provides a proof-of-concept of a novel platform that allows in situ and real time investigation of single cell mechano-transduction phenomena with sub-cellular spatial resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Becerra
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, 16145 Genova, Italy; (N.B.); (B.S.); (M.T.)
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group (GITTC), School of Medicine University of Antioquia, Medellin 050010, Colombia
| | - Barbara Salis
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, 16145 Genova, Italy; (N.B.); (B.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Mariateresa Tedesco
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, 16145 Genova, Italy; (N.B.); (B.S.); (M.T.)
| | | | - Pasquale Vena
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Roberto Raiteri
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, 16145 Genova, Italy; (N.B.); (B.S.); (M.T.)
- The National Research Council-Institute of Biophysics, 16149 Genova, Italy
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Cell Force-Driven Basement Membrane Disruption Fuels EGF- and Stiffness-Induced Invasive Cell Dissemination from Benign Breast Gland Acini. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083962. [PMID: 33921304 PMCID: PMC8070162 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Local basement membrane (BM) disruption marks the initial step of breast cancer invasion. The activation mechanisms of force-driven BM-weakening remain elusive. We studied the mechanical response of MCF10A-derived human breast cell acini with BMs of tuneable maturation to physical and soluble tumour-like extracellular matrix (ECM) cues. Traction force microscopy (TFM) and elastic resonator interference stress microscopy (ERISM) were used to quantify pro-invasive BM stress and protrusive forces. Substrate stiffening and mechanically impaired BM scaffolds induced the invasive transition of benign acini synergistically. Robust BM scaffolds attenuated this invasive response. Additional oncogenic EGFR activation compromised the BMs’ barrier function, fuelling invasion speed and incidence. Mechanistically, EGFR-PI3-Kinase downstream signalling modulated both MMP- and force-driven BM-weakening processes. We show that breast acini form non-proteolytic and BM-piercing filopodia for continuous matrix mechanosensation, which significantly push and pull on the BM and ECM under pro-invasive conditions. Invasion-triggered acini further shear and compress their BM by contractility-based stresses that were significantly increased (3.7-fold) compared to non-invasive conditions. Overall, the highest amplitudes of protrusive and contractile forces accompanied the highest invasiveness. This work provides a mechanistic concept for tumour ECM-induced mechanically misbalanced breast glands fuelling force-driven BM disruption. Finally, this could facilitate early cell dissemination from pre-invasive lesions to metastasize eventually.
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Keratin intermediate filaments: intermediaries of epithelial cell migration. Essays Biochem 2020; 63:521-533. [PMID: 31652439 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20190017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Migration of epithelial cells is fundamental to multiple developmental processes, epithelial tissue morphogenesis and maintenance, wound healing and metastasis. While migrating epithelial cells utilize the basic acto-myosin based machinery as do other non-epithelial cells, they are distinguished by their copious keratin intermediate filament (KF) cytoskeleton, which comprises differentially expressed members of two large multigene families and presents highly complex patterns of post-translational modification. We will discuss how the unique mechanophysical and biochemical properties conferred by the different keratin isotypes and their modifications serve as finely tunable modulators of epithelial cell migration. We will furthermore argue that KFs together with their associated desmosomal cell-cell junctions and hemidesmosomal cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesions serve as important counterbalances to the contractile acto-myosin apparatus either allowing and optimizing directed cell migration or preventing it. The differential keratin expression in leaders and followers of collectively migrating epithelial cell sheets provides a compelling example of isotype-specific keratin functions. Taken together, we conclude that the expression levels and specific combination of keratins impinge on cell migration by conferring biomechanical properties on any given epithelial cell affecting cytoplasmic viscoelasticity and adhesion to neighboring cells and the ECM.
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