Migration speed and directionality switch of normal epithelial cells after TGF-β1-induced EMT (tEMT) on micro-structured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates with variations in stiffness and topographic patterning.
The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) involves several physiological and pathological phenomena and endows cells with invasive and migratory properties. However, the effects of substrate stiffness and topography on the migration of cells before or after transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced EMT (tEMT) are unknown. Herein, we seed control or tEMT NMuMG cells on the 2D patterns consisted of 1 μm or 5 μm line-widths and groove or cone patterns on either 2 MPa (1.96 ± 0.48 MPa) or 4 MPa (3.70 ± 0.74 MPa) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates. After tEMT, the increased expression of α-SMA with vinculin in focal adhesion (FA) sites led to an acceleration of tEMT cell motility. On the 2 MPa substrate, the most influenced substrate was the 1 μm, cone-patterned substrate, where the tEMT cells' motility decelerated by 0.13 μm/min (36% slower than the cells on groove pattern). However, on the 5 μm, groove-patterned substrate, where the tEMT cells demonstrated the most rapid motility relative to the control cells, with an increment of 0.18 μm/min (100%). Among the different physical cues from substrate, the cone pattern could impede the migration speed of tEMT cells. Furthermore, we recommend the groove-patterned with a 5 μm line-width substrate as a useful tool to differentiate control and tEMT cells by migration speed.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan , Taiwan.
Tsung-Hsien
TH
Wu
Chia-Hui
CH
Li
Ming-Jer
MJ
Tang
Jen-I
JI
Liang
Chia-Hsin
CH
Chen
Ming-Long
ML
Yeh
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D008863:Microspheres; D013499:Surface Properties; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016596:Vinculin / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C544013:alpha-smooth muscle actin, mouse; D016596:Vinculin; C013830:baysilon