title: Analysis of the paracrine loop between cancer cells and fibroblasts using a microfluidic chip.
abstract: We use a microfluidic cell culture chip equipped with pneumatic microvalves to analyze the paracrine loop between lung cancer cells and fibroblasts. In order to assess the cellular responses in the paracrine loop, we measure the migration speeds of cancer cells and the aspect ratios of fibroblasts which reflect the phenotype of myofibroblasts. With well-controlled interaction sequences between these two types of cells, we verify that the cytokines from cancer cells effectively stimulate the fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. The cytokines from myofibroblasts, rather than fibroblasts, increase the migration speeds of cancer cells. We confirm that the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is involved in the interaction between cancer cells and fibroblasts, and we also interrupt this paracrine loop in the cell culture chip by inhibiting the TGF-β1 receptors on fibroblasts.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsi-Hsuan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Jian-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Yu-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Yi-Lun
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Shih-Hao
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wei-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Chau-Hwang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: C459179:4-(5-benzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl-4-pyridin-2-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzamide; D000199:Actins; D001549:Benzamides; D004149:Dioxoles; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1