Cell motility assays on tissue culture dishes via non-invasive confinement and release of cells.
In vitro cell migration assays are useful for screening bioactive agents that regulate angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, would healing, and immune responses by effecting changes in the rate of cell migration. Here we have developed a noninvasive in vitro migration assay that operates through release of confluent groups of cells initially confined within patterns of cell-resistant polyelectrolyte. Cell-resistant patterns of polyelectrolyte, separating groups of confluent cells, are rendered cell adhesive by adsorption of a second, cell adhesive polyelectrolyte of opposite charge; thereby, resulting in migration of cells into the separating regions. By dynamically controlling cell-surface interactions through self-assembly of cell-adhesive and cell resistant polyelectrolytes, this method eliminates the need to mechanically wound cells, as is done in current cell migration assays. The utility of this technique in identifying molecules and mechanisms that regulate cell migration is demonstrated by its application as an assay for the effects of platelet derived growth factors, cytoskeleton disrupting agents, and Merlin overexpression, on the migration of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.
Kumar
Girish
G
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221.
Meng
Jin-Jun
JJ
Ip
Wallace
W
Co
Carlos C
CC
Ho
Chia-Chi
CC
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004573:Electrolytes; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*
D004573:Electrolytes; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor