The effects of acoustic vibration on fibroblast cell migration.
Cells are known to interact and respond to external mechanical cues and recent work has shown that application of mechanical stimulation, delivered via acoustic vibration, can be used to control complex cell behaviours. Fibroblast cells are known to respond to physical cues generated in the extracellular matrix and it is thought that such cues are important regulators of the wound healing process. Many conditions are associated with poor wound healing, so there is need for treatments/interventions, which can help accelerate the wound healing process. The primary aim of this research was to investigate the effects of mechanical stimulation upon the migratory and morphological properties of two different fibroblast cells namely; human lung fibroblast cells (LL24) and subcutaneous areolar/adipose mouse fibroblast cells (L929). Using a speaker-based system, the effects of mechanical stimulation (0-1600Hz for 5min) on the mean cell migration distance (μm) and actin organisation was investigated. The results show that 100Hz acoustic vibration enhanced cell migration for both cell lines whereas acoustic vibration above 100Hz was found to decrease cell migration in a frequency dependent manner. Mechanical stimulation was also found to promote changes to the morphology of both cell lines, particularly the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia. Overall lamellipodia was the most prominent actin structure displayed by the lung cell (LL24), whereas filopodia was the most prominent actin feature displayed by the fibroblast derived from subcutaneous areolar/adipose tissue. Mechanical stimulation at all the frequencies used here was found not to affect cell viability. These results suggest that low-frequency acoustic vibration may be used as a tool to manipulate the mechanosensitivity of cells to promote cell migration.
Liverpool John Moores University, Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Byrom street, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Taybia
T
Mohammed
Liverpool John Moores University, Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Byrom street, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.f.murphy@ljmu.ac.uk.
Mark F
MF
Murphy
Liverpool John Moores University, Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Byrom street, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Francis
F
Lilley
Liverpool John Moores University, Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Byrom street, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
David R
DR
Burton
Liverpool John Moores University, Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Byrom street, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Frederic
F
Bezombes
D000162:Acoustics; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002138:Calibration; D002452:Cell Count; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D051379:Mice; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014732:Vibration
D000199:Actins
Acoustic vibration; Actin reorganisation; Fibroblast cell migration; Mechanical stimulation; Wound healing