title: Assessing the cytoskeletal system and its elements in C6 glioma cells and astrocytes by atomic force microscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how the characteristic structure of the cytoskeleton in glioma cells is associated with invasiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The whole cytoskeletal system was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), while single cytoskeletal elements were exhibited by AFM and using cytoskeletal protein inhibitors to inhibit microfilaments or/and microtubules and displayed by immunofluorescence microscopy. The fluorescence intensity of F-actin was measured by flow cytometry and the structural difference between C6 glioma cells and astrocytes was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cytoskeletons in both cells presented network structures, however, the C6 glioma cells showed an irregular edge root and their microfilaments were creber and dense. Intermediate filaments were extensive network structure with non-polarized multipoint connections. The microtubules were relatively big and long and formed tight bundles with close connections between bundles. Astrocytes had a regular and smooth edge, with sparse microfilaments, while the intermediate filaments were dense and interwoven and the microtubules were dense bundled, but only loosely connected each other. Besides, the fluorescence intensity of F-actin was significantly higher in C6 glioma cells (202.54 +/- 11.06) than in the astrocytes (62.64 +/- 10.23), P < 0.01.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole cytoskeleton and its elements of C6 cells were disclosed of characteristic structures associated with invasiveness. Meanwhile, the content of F-actin could be used as a parameter for measuring cell invasiveness.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Institute of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Dexiang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiaodan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ruxiang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yingqian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Jiliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yuxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000199:Actins