title: Exploring the elasticity and adhesion behavior of cardiac fibroblasts by atomic force microscopy indentation.
abstract: AFM was used to collect the whole force-deformation cell curves. They provide both the elasticity and adhesion behavior of mouse primary cardiac fibroblasts. To confirm the hypothesis that a link exists between the membrane receptors and the cytoskeletal filaments causing therefore changing in both elasticity and adhesion behavior, actin-destabilizing Cytochalsin D was administrated to the fibroblasts. From immunofluorescence observation and AFM loading/unloading curves, cytoskeletal reorganization as well as a change in the elasticity and adhesion was indeed observed. Elasticity of control fibroblasts is three times higher than that for fibroblasts treated with 0.5 μM Cytochalasin. Moreover, AFM loading-unloading curves clearly show the different mechanical behavior of the two different cells analyzed: (i) for control cells the AFM cantilever rises during the dwell time while cells with Cytochalasin fail to show such an active resistance; (ii) the maximum force to deform control cells is quite higher and as far as adhesion is concern (iii) the maximum separation force, detachment area and the detachment process time are much larger for control compared to the Cytochalasin treated cells. Therefore, alterations in the cytoskeleton suggest that a link must exist between the membrane receptors and the cytoskeletal filaments beneath the cellular surface and inhibition of actin polymerization has effects on the whole cell mechanical behavior as well as adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Codan
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Favero
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Italy; International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mestroni
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: sbaizero@units.it.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sbaizero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003572:Cytochalasins / Q000494:pharmacology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects; D004548:Elasticity; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D003572:Cytochalasins
keywords: AFM; Adhesion; Cardiac fibroblast; Cell