title: Electric impedance sensing during the inhibition of cell-cell adhesion.
abstract: Electric cell impedance sensing (ECIS) was used to monitor the change of in vitro neuron-neuron adhesion in response to the blocking of N-Cam, N-Cadherin and L1. ECIS is a method in which cell morphology and cell mobility can be indirectly measured by changes in intercellular resistance. Antibodies and soluble extracellular domains of the cell adhesion molecules N-Cam, N-Cadherin and L1 were used as blockers of these adhesion molecules on the cell surface. In a 96 hour aggregation assay on a low adhesive substrate, the effect of mentioned blockers on the aggregation was investigated. The N-Cadherin antibody showed effective in aggregation inhibition at concentrations of 3 and 10 micrograms/ml. Up to 96 hours no aggregation occurred. A similar effect was achieved by the N-Cadherin protein, although less distinct. Blocking of N-CAM and L1 revealed no inhibition of aggregation. Results from impedance measurements correspond to those of the aggregation assays. The neuron-neuron adhesion in monolayers was inhibited by blocking of cell adhesion molecules and monitored by ECIS. Impedances of neuron covered electrodes were significantly lower in the presence of N-Cadherin antibody and protein at concentrations of 1, 3 and 10 micrograms/ml, indicating a less profound binding between adjacent neuron.The results from both the aggregation assays and the impedance measurements demonstrate the applicability of CAM blocking for the regulation of culture topography.
authors.affiliation: University of Twente, Enschede, 7500 AE The Netherlands. r.w.f.wiertz@utwente.nl
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Wiertz
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Rutten
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004566:Electrodes; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D015820:Cadherins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules