title: Quantitative analysis of human keratinocyte cell elasticity using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
abstract: We present the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize and quantify the dynamics of epithelial cell junction interactions under physiological and pathophysiological conditions at the nanoscale. Desmosomal junctions are critical cellular adhesion components within epithelial tissues and blistering skin diseases such as Pemphigus are the result in the disruption of these components. However, these structures are complex and mechanically inhomogeneous, making them difficult to study. The mechanisms of autoantibody mediated keratinocyte disassembly remain largely unknown. Here, we have used AFM technology to image and measure the mechanical properties of living skin epithelial cells in culture. We demonstrate that force measurement data can distinguish cells cultured with and without autoantibody treatment. Our demonstration of the use of AFM for in situ imaging and elasticity measurements at the local, or tissue level opens potential new avenues for the investigation of disease mechanisms and monitoring of therapeutic strategies in blistering skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen Kar Man
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Ruiguo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seiffert-Sinha
authors.forename: King Wai Chiu
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Animesh A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sinha
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D051184:Desmoglein 3