Single-cell mechanical assay unveils viscoelastic similarities in normal and neoplastic brain cells.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Cell Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0370626 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1542-0086 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00063495 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Biophys J Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Cambridge, MA : Cell Press
      Original Publication: New York, Published by Rockefeller University Press [etc.] for the Biophysical Society.
    • Subject Terms:
      Elasticity* ; Brain Neoplasms*/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms*/metabolism ; Single-Cell Analysis* ; Astrocytes*/metabolism ; Astrocytes*/cytology ; Glioblastoma*/pathology ; Glioblastoma*/metabolism; Humans ; Viscosity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Brain/metabolism ; Brain/pathology ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Stress, Mechanical ; Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism
    • Abstract:
      Understanding cancer cell mechanics allows for the identification of novel disease mechanisms, diagnostic biomarkers, and targeted therapies. In this study, we utilized our previously established fluid shear stress assay to investigate and compare the viscoelastic properties of normal immortalized human astrocytes and invasive human glioblastoma (GBM) cells when subjected to physiological levels of shear stress that are present in the brain microenvironment. We used a parallel-flow microfluidic shear system and a camera-coupled optical microscope to expose single cells to fluid shear stress and monitor the resulting deformation in real time, respectively. From the video-rate imaging, we fed cell deformation information from digital image correlation into a three-parameter generalized Maxwell model to quantify the nuclear and cytoplasmic viscoelastic properties of single cells. We further quantified actin cytoskeleton density and alignment in immortalized human astrocytes and GBM cells via fluorescence microscopy and image analysis techniques. Results from our study show that contrary to the behavior of many extracranial cells, normal and cancerous brain cells do not exhibit significant differences in their viscoelastic properties. Moreover, we also found that the viscoelastic properties of the nucleus and cytoplasm as well as the actin cytoskeletal densities of both brain cell types are similar. Our work suggests that malignant GBM cells exhibit unique mechanical behaviors not seen in other cancer cell types. These results warrant future studies to elucidate the distinct biophysical characteristics of the brain and reveal novel mechanical attributes of GBM and other primary brain tumors.
      Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests.
      (Copyright © 2024 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
    • Comments:
      Update of: bioRxiv. 2023 Sep 25;:. (PMID: 37808779)
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    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20240328 Date Completed: 20240508 Latest Revision: 20240511
    • Publication Date:
      20240511
    • Accession Number:
      PMC11079864
    • Accession Number:
      10.1016/j.bpj.2024.03.034
    • Accession Number:
      38544410