Optical deformability as an inherent cell marker for testing malignant transformation and metastatic competence.
The relationship between the mechanical properties of cells and their molecular architecture has been the focus of extensive research for decades. The cytoskeleton, an internal polymer network, in particular determines a cell's mechanical strength and morphology. This cytoskeleton evolves during the normal differentiation of cells, is involved in many cellular functions, and is characteristically altered in many diseases, including cancer. Here we examine this hypothesized link between function and elasticity, enabling the distinction between different cells, by using a microfluidic optical stretcher, a two-beam laser trap optimized to serially deform single suspended cells by optically induced surface forces. In contrast to previous cell elasticity measurement techniques, statistically relevant numbers of single cells can be measured in rapid succession through microfluidic delivery, without any modification or contact. We find that optical deformability is sensitive enough to monitor the subtle changes during the progression of mouse fibroblasts and human breast epithelial cells from normal to cancerous and even metastatic state. The surprisingly low numbers of cells required for this distinction reflect the tight regulation of the cytoskeleton by the cell. This suggests using optical deformability as an inherent cell marker for basic cell biological investigation and diagnosis of disease.
Guck
Jochen
J
Institute for Soft Matter Physics, Department of Physics and Geosciences, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. jguck@physik.uni-leipzig.de
Schinkinger
Stefan
S
Lincoln
Bryan
B
Wottawah
Falk
F
Ebert
Susanne
S
Romeyke
Maren
M
Lenz
Dominik
D
Erickson
Harold M
HM
Ananthakrishnan
Revathi
R
Mitchell
Daniel
D
Käs
Josef
J
Ulvick
Sydney
S
Bilby
Curt
C
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048430:Cell Shape; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004548:Elasticity; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
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