title: Elasticity and adhesion of resting and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.
abstract: Colloidal Force Microscopy was employed to study the viscoelastic and adhesive properties of macrophages upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Force vs. distance measurements were performed. The adhesion of LPS-stimulated cells (separation force=37+/-3 nN) was almost twice as high as that of resting macrophages (16+/-1 nN). Upon retraction pulling of membrane tethers was observed. Tether lengths and forces at which rupture take place did not depend on stimulation. The reduced Young's modulus K, a measure of cytoskeleton elasticity, was three times lower than that of the control. The data show that LPS has profound effects on cytomechanical and adhesion properties of macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, D-04107 Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. leps@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leporatti
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerth
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kohlstrunk
authors.forename: Sunna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauschildt
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donath
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020527:Microscopy, Scanning Probe / Q000379:methods; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides