Mechanical Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells Determined by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: A Novel Biomarker
Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been addressed in the framework of molecular, cellular biology, and biochemical traits. A new approach to studying CRC is focused on the relationship between biochemical pathways and biophysical cues, which may contribute to disease understanding and therapy development....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/20/5053 |
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| author | M. Manuela Brás Tânia B. Cruz André F. Maia Maria José Oliveira Susana R. Sousa Pedro L. Granja Manfred Radmacher |
| author_facet | M. Manuela Brás Tânia B. Cruz André F. Maia Maria José Oliveira Susana R. Sousa Pedro L. Granja Manfred Radmacher |
| author_sort | M. Manuela Brás |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been addressed in the framework of molecular, cellular biology, and biochemical traits. A new approach to studying CRC is focused on the relationship between biochemical pathways and biophysical cues, which may contribute to disease understanding and therapy development. Herein, we investigated the mechanical properties of CRC cells, namely, HCT116, HCT15, and SW620, using static and dynamic methodologies by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The static method quantifies Young’s modulus; the dynamic method allows the determination of elasticity, viscosity, and fluidity. AFM results were correlated with confocal laser scanning microscopy and cell migration assay data. The SW620 metastatic cells presented the highest Young’s and storage moduli, with a defined cortical actin ring with distributed F-actin filaments, scarce vinculin expression, abundant total focal adhesions (FAK), and no filopodia formation, which could explain the lessened migratory behavior. In contrast, HCT15 cells presented lower Young’s and storage moduli, high cortical tubulin, less cortical F-actin and less FAK, and more filopodia formation, probably explaining the higher migratory behavior. HCT116 cells presented Young’s and storage moduli values in between the other cell lines, high cortical F-actin expression, intermediate levels of total FAK, and abundant filopodia formation, possibly explaining the highest migratory behavior. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:32:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9038891556f5416696b2c4cd217004b3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:32:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-9038891556f5416696b2c4cd217004b32023-11-23T23:21:10ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942022-10-011420505310.3390/cancers14205053Mechanical Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells Determined by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: A Novel BiomarkerM. Manuela Brás0Tânia B. Cruz1André F. Maia2Maria José Oliveira3Susana R. Sousa4Pedro L. Granja5Manfred Radmacher6Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, PortugalInstituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, PortugalInstituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, PortugalInstituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, PortugalInstituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, PortugalInstituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, PortugalInstitute of Biophysics, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, GermanyColorectal cancer (CRC) has been addressed in the framework of molecular, cellular biology, and biochemical traits. A new approach to studying CRC is focused on the relationship between biochemical pathways and biophysical cues, which may contribute to disease understanding and therapy development. Herein, we investigated the mechanical properties of CRC cells, namely, HCT116, HCT15, and SW620, using static and dynamic methodologies by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The static method quantifies Young’s modulus; the dynamic method allows the determination of elasticity, viscosity, and fluidity. AFM results were correlated with confocal laser scanning microscopy and cell migration assay data. The SW620 metastatic cells presented the highest Young’s and storage moduli, with a defined cortical actin ring with distributed F-actin filaments, scarce vinculin expression, abundant total focal adhesions (FAK), and no filopodia formation, which could explain the lessened migratory behavior. In contrast, HCT15 cells presented lower Young’s and storage moduli, high cortical tubulin, less cortical F-actin and less FAK, and more filopodia formation, probably explaining the higher migratory behavior. HCT116 cells presented Young’s and storage moduli values in between the other cell lines, high cortical F-actin expression, intermediate levels of total FAK, and abundant filopodia formation, possibly explaining the highest migratory behavior.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/20/5053colorectal cancer (CRC)atomic force microscopy (AFM)frequency sweepviscoelasticitycreepstress relaxation |
| spellingShingle | M. Manuela Brás Tânia B. Cruz André F. Maia Maria José Oliveira Susana R. Sousa Pedro L. Granja Manfred Radmacher Mechanical Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells Determined by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: A Novel Biomarker Cancers colorectal cancer (CRC) atomic force microscopy (AFM) frequency sweep viscoelasticity creep stress relaxation |
| title | Mechanical Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells Determined by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: A Novel Biomarker |
| title_full | Mechanical Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells Determined by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: A Novel Biomarker |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells Determined by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: A Novel Biomarker |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells Determined by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: A Novel Biomarker |
| title_short | Mechanical Properties of Colorectal Cancer Cells Determined by Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy: A Novel Biomarker |
| title_sort | mechanical properties of colorectal cancer cells determined by dynamic atomic force microscopy a novel biomarker |
| topic | colorectal cancer (CRC) atomic force microscopy (AFM) frequency sweep viscoelasticity creep stress relaxation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/20/5053 |
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