title: Three-dimensional morphometric comparison of normal and apoptotic endothelial cells based on laser scanning confocal microscopy observation.
abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) morphometric analysis of cellular and subcellular structures provides an effective method for spatial cell biology. Here, 3D cellular and nuclear morphologies are reconstructed to quantify and compare morphometric differences between normal and apoptotic endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are treated with 60 μM H2 O2 to get apoptotic cell model and then a series of sectional images are acquired from laser scanning confocal microscopy. The 3D cell model containing plasma membrane and cell nucleus is reconstructed and fused utilizing three sequential softwares or packages (Mimics, Geomagic, and VTK). The results reveal that H2 O2 can induce apoptosis effectively by regulating the activity of apoptosis-related biomolecules, including pro-apoptotic factors p53 and Bax, and anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2. Compared with the normal HUVECs, the apoptotic cells exhibit significant 3D morphometric parameters (height, volume and nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio) variation. The present research provides a new perspective on comparative quantitative analysis associated with cell apoptosis and points to the value of LSCM as an objective tool for 3D cell reconstruction.
authors: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Song
authors: Wenyong
authors: W
authors: Liu
authors: Xufeng
authors: X
authors: Niu
authors: Qingchun
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Lianwen
authors: L
authors: Sun
authors: Meili
authors: M
authors: Liu
authors: Yubo
authors: Y
authors: Fan
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D017209:Apoptosis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: apoptosis; confocal microscopy; endothelial cells; morphometry; reconstruction