title: The role of CD4 on mechanical properties of live cell membrane.
abstract: Although much progress has been made in the characterization and identification of CD4 functions, its role in mechanical properties of cell membrane remains largely unknown. Here an atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the roles of CD4 in the elasticity of the leukemic human Jurkat (clone E6-1) cell membranes. Analysis of the approach force curves with Hertz model for a completely elastic soft sample measured on the selected CD4+ and CD4- cells showed that CD4+ cell membrane was softer than CD4- one. To confirm that CD4 plays a role in altering cell elasticity, human embryonic kidney 293T cells were transiently transfected with wild type (wt) CD4 plasmid before being used in AFM nanoindentation experiments. The results also demonstrated CD4- membrane was stiffer than CD4+ one suggesting that CD4 integrated into plasma membrane and altered its mechanical properties. The study gives insights into the role of CD4 on cell membrane mechanical characteristics and might be helpful for development of cell biology and medicine.
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovation Competence - Humoral Immune Reactions in Cardiovascular Diseases (ZIK HIKE), University of Greifswald, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Van-Chien
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovation Competence - Humoral Immune Reactions in Cardiovascular Diseases (ZIK HIKE), University of Greifswald, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Thi-Huong
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D004548:Elasticity; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens
keywords: CD4 receptor; atomic force microscopy; cell membrane elasticity; nanoindentation