title: Sensing biophysical alterations of human lung epithelial cells (A549) in the context of toxicity effects of diesel exhaust particles.
abstract: Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in urban air are associated with numerous respiratory diseases. The role of underlying biomechanics in cytotoxicity of individual lung cells relating to DEP exposure is unclear. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM), confocal Raman microspectroscopy (RM), and fluorescence (FL) microscopy were used to monitor alterations of single A549 cells exposed to DEP. Results revealed a significant decrease in membrane surface adhesion force and a significant change in cell elasticity as a function of DEP-cell interaction time, and the dynamic changes in cellular biocomponents which were reflected by changes of characteristic Raman bands: 726 cm(-1) (adenine), 782 cm(-1) (uracil, cytosine, thymine), 788 cm(-1) (O-P-O), 1006 cm(-1) (phenylalanine), and 1320 cm(-1) (guanine) after DEP exposure. These findings suggest that the combination of multi-instruments (e.g., AFM/FL) may offer an exciting platform for investigating the roles of biophysical and biochemical responses to particulate matter-induced cell toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, 4105 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322-4105, USA, yzwu@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Yangzhe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Gerald D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: McEwen
authors.forename: Mingjie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Dimmick
authors.forename: Anhong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gilbertson
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Coulombe
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013997:Time Factors; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions