Cell–Matrix De-Adhesion Dynamics Reflect Contractile Mechanics
Open Access
- 5 May 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering
- Vol. 2 (2), 218-230
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12195-009-0057-7
Abstract
Measurement of the mechanical properties of single cells is of increasing interest both from a fundamental cell biological perspective and in the context of disease diagnostics. In this study, we show that tracking cell shape dynamics during trypsin-induced de-adhesion can serve as a simple but extremely useful tool for probing the contractility of adherent cells. When treated with trypsin, both SW13−/− epithelial cells and U373 MG glioma cells exhibit a brief lag period followed by a concerted retraction to a rounded shape. The time–response of the normalized cell area can be fit to a sigmoidal curve with two characteristic time constants that rise and fall when cells are treated with blebbistatin and nocodazole, respectively. These differences can be attributed to actomyosin-based cytoskeletal remodeling, as evidenced by the prominent buildup of stress fibers in nocodazole-treated SW13−/− cells, which are also two-fold stiffer than untreated cells. Similar results observed in U373 MG cells highlights the direct association between cell stiffness and the de-adhesion response. Faster de-adhesion is obtained with higher trypsin concentration, with nocodazole treatment further expediting the process and blebbistatin treatment blunting the response. A simple finite element model confirms that faster contraction is achieved with increased stiffness.Keywords
This publication has 56 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Mechanical Rigidity of the Extracellular Matrix Regulates the Structure, Motility, and Proliferation of Glioma CellsCancer Research, 2009
- Programmed subcellular release for studying the dynamics of cell detachmentNature Methods, 2009
- Febrile temperature leads to significant stiffening ofPlasmodium falciparumparasitized erythrocytesAmerican Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 2009
- Contribution of actin filaments and microtubules to quasi-in situ tensile properties and internal force balance of cultured smooth muscle cells on a substrateAmerican Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 2008
- Quantification of Cell Edge Velocities and Traction Forces Reveals Distinct Motility Modules during Cell SpreadingPLOS ONE, 2008
- Substrate Modulus Directs Neural Stem Cell BehaviorBiophysical Journal, 2008
- Single-molecule force spectroscopy: optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers and atomic force microscopyNature Methods, 2008
- Fibroblast Adaptation and Stiffness Matching to Soft Elastic SubstratesBiophysical Journal, 2007
- Nonmuscle Myosin IIA-Dependent Force Inhibits Cell Spreading and Drives F-Actin FlowBiophysical Journal, 2006
- Cell Migration: Integrating Signals from Front to BackScience, 2003