title: Tension monitoring during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition links the switch of phenotype to expression of moesin and cadherins in NMuMG cells.
abstract: Structural alterations during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pose a substantial challenge to the mechanical response of cells and are supposed to be key parameters for an increased malignancy during metastasis. Herein, we report that during EMT, apical tension of the epithelial cell line NMuMG is controlled by cell-cell contacts and the architecture of the underlying actin structures reflecting the mechanistic interplay between cellular structure and mechanics. Using force spectroscopy we find that tension in NMuMG cells slightly increases 24 h after EMT induction, whereas upon reaching the final mesenchymal-like state characterized by a complete loss of intercellular junctions and a concerted down-regulation of the adherens junction protein E-cadherin, the overall tension becomes similar to that of solitary adherent cells and fibroblasts. Interestingly, the contribution of the actin cytoskeleton on apical tension increases significantly upon EMT induction, most likely due to the formation of stable and highly contractile stress fibers which dominate the elastic properties of the cells after the transition. The structural alterations lead to the formation of single, highly motile cells rendering apical tension a good indicator for the cellular state during phenotype switching. In summary, our study paves the way towards a more profound understanding of cellular mechanics governing fundamental morphological programs such as the EMT.
authors: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Schneider
authors: Thilo
authors: T
authors: Baronsky
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Pietuch
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Rother
authors: Marieelen
authors: M
authors: Oelkers
authors: Dagmar
authors: D
authors: Fichtner
authors: Doris
authors: D
authors: Wedlich
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Janshoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004548:Elasticity; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D051379:Mice; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C071058:moesin