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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 32: Posters: Physics of Cells

BP 32.8: Poster

Donnerstag, 25. März 2010, 17:15–20:00, Poster B1

Relating Cell Deformability to Cell Migration — •Franziska Lautenschlaeger¹, Joakim da-Silva¹, Michael Beil², and Jochen Guck¹ — ¹Dep. of Physics, University of Cambridge, UK — ²Dep. of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Germany

Mechanical properties of cells, mainly defined by the cytoskeleton, are closely related to cell function and can be measured with a dual-beam laser trap (Optical Stretcher). Functional changes which go hand in hand with changes of the cytoskeleton also occur during differentiation of stem cells. This suggests monitoring differentiation by the changing mechanical deformability of the cells. As a proof of principle, we compared the deformability of a haematopoietic precursor cell line (NB4) to ATRA differentiated NB4 cells. The differentiated cells were significantly softer. Surprisingly, the deformation behaviour of ATRA differentiated NB4 cells was not altered after treatment with the microtubule stabilizing drug Paclitaxel. In contrast, the relaxation after stress application changed significantly. In order to relate these rheology experiments to cell migration, all three cell types were observed migrating into 5um large channels. It was observed that undifferentiated NB4 cells were not able to migrate into these channels, contrary to differentiated NB4 cells and cells treated with taxol. Differences between the two latter have been found in the time the cells needed to migrate fully into the channel. This result correlates cell deformability measurements and cell migration measurements and might constitute an explanation for a syndrome occurring in leukemia patients after treatment with ATRA.