Is the mechanical activity of epithelial cells controlled by deformations or forces?

The traction forces developed by cells depend strongly on the substrate rigidity. In this letter, we characterize quantitatively this effect on MDCK epithelial cells by using a microfabricated force sensor consisting in a high-density array of soft pillars whose stiffness can be tailored by changing their height and radius to obtain a rigidity range from 2 nN/microm up to 130 nN/microm. We find that the forces exerted by the cells are proportional to the spring constant of the pillars meaning that, on average, the cells deform the pillars by the same amount whatever their rigidity. The relevant parameter may thus be a deformation rather than a force. These dynamic observations are correlated with the reinforcement of focal adhesions that increases with the substrate rigidity.     

A novel patterned magnetic micropillar array substrate for analysis of cellular mechanical responses

Traction forces generated at cellular focal adhesions (FAs) play an essential role in regulating various cellular functions. These forces (1–100 nN) can be measured by observing the local displacement of a flexible substrate upon which cells have been plated. Approaches employing this method include using microfabricated arrays of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) micropillars that bend by cellular traction forces. A tool capable of applying a force to FAs independently, by actively moving the micropillars, should become a powerful tool to delineate the cellular mechanotransduction mechanisms. Here, we developed a patterned magnetic micropillar array PDMS substrate that can be used for the mechanical stimulation of cellular FAs and the measurement of associated traction forces. The diameter, length, and center-to-center spacing of the micropillars were 3, 9, and 9 µm, respectively. Iron particles were embedded into the micropillars, enabling the pillars to bend in response to an external magnetic field, which also controlled their location on the substrate. Applying a magnetic field of 0.3 T bent the pillars by ∼4 µm and allowed transfer of external forces to the actin cytoskeleton through FAs formed on the pillar top. Using this approach, we investigated the traction force changes in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) after local compressive stimuli to release cell pretension. The mechanical responses of SMCs were roughly classified into two types: almost a half of the cells showed a little decrease of traction force at each pillar following compressive stimulation, although cell area increased significantly; and the rest showed the opposite, with increased forces and a simultaneous decrease in area. The traction forces of SMCs fluctuated markedly during the local compression. The root mean square of traction forces significantly increased during the compression, and returned to the baseline level after its release. These results suggest that the fluctuation of forces may be caused by active reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and/or its dynamic interaction with myosin molecules. Thus, our magnetic micropillar substrate would be useful in investigating the mechanotransduction mechanisms of cells.     

An array of microfabricated pillars to study cell migration

Mechanical forces play an important role in various cellular functions, such as tumor metastasis, embryonic development or tissue formation. Cell migration involves dynamics of adhesive processes and cytoskeleton remodelling, leading to traction forces between the cells and their surrounding extracellular medium. To study these mechanical forces, a number of methods have been developed to calculate tractions at the interface between the cell and the substrate by tracking the displacements of beads or microfabricated markers embedded in continuous deformable gels. These studies have provided the first reliable estimation of the traction forces under individual migrating cells. We have developed a new force sensor made of a dense array of soft micron-size pillars microfabricated using microelectronics techniques. This approach uses elastomeric substrates that are micropatterned by using a combination of hard and soft lithography. Traction forces are determined in real time by analyzing the deflections of each micropillar with an optical microscope. Indeed, the deflection is directly proportional to the force in the linear regime of small deformations. Epithelial cells are cultured on our substrates coated with extracellular matrix protein. First, we have characterized temporal and spatial distributions of traction forces of a cellular assembly. Forces are found to depend on their relative position in the monolayer : the strongest deformations are always localized at the edge of the islands of cells in the active areas of cell protrusions. Consequently, these forces are quantified and correlated with the adhesion/scattering processes of the cells.     

Development of micropost force sensor array with culture experiments for determination of cell traction forces

Cell traction forces (CTFs) are critical for cell motility and cell shape maintenance. As such, they play a fundamental role in many biological processes such as angiogenesis, embryogenesis, inflammation, and wound healing. To determine CTFs at the sub-cellular level with high sensitivity, we have developed high density micropost force sensor array (MFSA), which consists of an array of vertically standing poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microposts, 2 microm in diameter and 6 microm in height, with a center-to-center distance of 4 microm. In combination with new image analysis algorithms, the MFSA can achieve a spatial resolution of 40 nm and a force sensitivity of 0.5 nN. Culture experiments with various types of cells showed that this MFSA technology can effectively determine CTFs of cells with different sizes and traction force magnitudes.     

E-Cadherin-Dependent Stimulation of Traction Force at Focal Adhesions via the Src and PI3K Signaling Pathways

The interplay between cadherin- and integrin-dependent signals controls cell behavior, but the precise mechanisms that regulate the strength of adhesion to the extracellular matrix remains poorly understood. We deposited cells expressing a defined repertoire of cadherins and integrins on fibronectin (FN)-coated polyacrylamide gels (FN-PAG) and on FN-coated pillars used as a micro-force sensor array (μFSA), and analyzed the functional relationship between these adhesion receptors to determine how it regulates cell traction force. We found that cadherin-mediated adhesion stimulated cell spreading on FN-PAG, and this was modulated by the substrate stiffness. We compared S180 cells with cells stably expressing different cadherins on μFSA and found that traction forces were stronger in cells expressing cadherins than in parental cells. E-cadherin-mediated contact and mechanical coupling between cells are required for this increase in cell-FN traction force, which was not observed in isolated cells, and required Src and PI3K activities. Traction forces were stronger in cells expressing type I cadherins than in cells expressing type II cadherins, which correlates with our previous observation of a higher intercellular adhesion strength developed by type I compared with type II cadherins. Our results reveal one of the mechanisms whereby molecular cross talk between cadherins and integrins upregulates traction forces at cell-FN adhesion sites, and thus provide additional insight into the molecular control of cell behavior.     

Measurement of mechanical forces generated by plant P-protein aggregates (forisomes)

Mechanical forces generated by forisomes were measured using a microfabricated polymer cantilever sensor. The forces were simultaneously measured in both the longitudinal and radial directions. Sensors were fabricated from polystyrene using the sacrificial layer micromolding process. The sensor response was simulated using finite element analysis. Forces in the longitudinal direction ranged from 84 to 136 nN and forces in the radial direction were 22–61 nN. This device offers a new approach to measuring small magnitude biological forces. In addition, the ability to accurately measure forces generated by forisomes is an important step toward their implementation as functional structures in microdevices.     

Microfabricated Post-Array-Detectors (mPADs): an Approach to Isolate Mechanical Forces

In this video, we will present our approach to measure cellular traction forces using a microfabricated array of posts. Traction forces are generated through myosin-actin interactions and play an important role in our physiology. During development, they enable cells to move from one location to the next in order to form the early structures of tissue. Traction forces help in the healing processes. They are necessary for the proper closure of wounds or the migration and crawling of leukocytes through our body. These same forces can be detrimental to our health in the case of cancer metastasis or vascular growth towards a tumor. The most common method by which to study cells in vitro has been to use a glass or polystyrene dish. However, the rigidity of the substrates makes it impossible to physically measure cell traction forces, and there are relatively few methods to study traction forces. Our lab has developed a technique to overcome these limitations. The method is based on a vertical array of flexible cantilevers, the stiffness and size scale of which are such that individual cells spread across many cantilevers and deflect them in the process. The pillars we use are 3 μm in diameter, 10 μm tall, and are configured in a regular array with 9 μm center-to-center spacing. But these physical dimensions can be readily varied to accommodate a variety of studies. We start with a silicon master, but the final posts are made out of silicone rubber called poly (dimethyl siloxane), or PDMS. We can measure the deflections under a microscope and calculate the magnitude and direction of traction forces required to produce the observed deflections. We call these substrates microfabricated post-array-detectors, or mPADs. Here, we will show you how we fabricate and use the mPADs to assess modulations of cellular contractility.     

Microfabricated post-array-detectors (mPADs): an approach to isolate mechanical forces

In this video, we will present our approach to measure cellular traction forces using a microfabricated array of posts. Traction forces are generated through myosin-actin interactions and play an important role in our physiology. During development, they enable cells to move from one location to the next in order to form the early structures of tissue. Traction forces help in the healing processes. They are necessary for the proper closure of wounds or the migration and crawling of leukocytes through our body. These same forces can be detrimental to our health in the case of cancer metastasis or vascular growth towards a tumor. The most common method by which to study cells in vitro has been to use a glass or polystyrene dish. However, the rigidity of the substrates makes it impossible to physically measure cell traction forces, and there are relatively few methods to study traction forces. Our lab has developed a technique to overcome these limitations. The method is based on a vertical array of flexible cantilevers, the stiffness and size scale of which are such that individual cells spread across many cantilevers and deflect them in the process. The pillars we use are 3 microm in diameter, 10 microm tall, and are configured in a regular array with 9 microm center-to-center spacing. But these physical dimensions can be readily varied to accommodate a variety of studies. We start with a silicon master, but the final posts are made out of silicone rubber called poly (dimethyl siloxane), or PDMS. We can measure the deflections under a microscope and calculate the magnitude and direction of traction forces required to produce the observed deflections. We call these substrates microfabricated post-array-detectors, or mPADs. Here, we will show you how we fabricate and use the mPADs to assess modulations of cellular contractility.     

2B4 engagement mediates rapid LFA-1 and actin-dependent NK cell adhesion to tumor cells as measured by single cell force spectroscopy

Adhesion to tumor target cells is essential for initiation and execution of cellular cytotoxicity. In this study, we use single cell force spectroscopy to determine the exact biophysical values of the interaction forces between NK cells and tumor cells. We show that engagement of the activating NK cell receptor 2B4 can rapidly mediate an increase in the force necessary to separate NK cells from tumor cells, starting from 1 nN and increasing to 3 nN after only 120 s tumor cell contact. This early adhesion was mediated by the integrin LFA-1 and dependent on the actin cytoskeleton. The ability of NK cells to rapidly adhere to tumor target cells is consistent with their function in innate immune responses. Our data further suggest that a killing decision is already made within 120- 300 s of tumor cell contact, supporting the essential function of cell adhesion during the early phase of cellular cytotoxicity.     

Keratocytes pull with similar forces on their dorsal and ventral surfaces

As cells move forward, they pull rearward against extracellular matrices (ECMs), exerting traction forces. However, no rearward forces have been seen in the fish keratocyte. To address this discrepancy, we have measured the propulsive forces generated by the keratocyte lamella on both the ventral and the dorsal surfaces. On the ventral surface, a micromachined device revealed that traction forces were small and rearward directed under the lamella, changed direction in front of the nucleus, and became larger under the cell body. On the dorsal surface of the lamella, an optical gradient trap measured rearward forces generated against fibronectin-coated beads. The retrograde force exerted by the cell on the bead increased in the thickened region of the lamella where myosin condensation has been observed (Svitkina, T.M., A.B. Verkhovsky, K.M. McQuade, and G. G. Borisy. 1997. J. Cell Biol. 139:397-415). Similar forces were generated on both the ventral (0.2 nN/microm(2)) and the dorsal (0.4 nN/microm(2)) surfaces of the lamella, suggesting that dorsal matrix contacts are as effectively linked to the force-generating cytoskeleton as ventral contacts. The correlation between the level of traction force and the density of myosin suggests a model for keratocyte movement in which myosin condensation in the perinuclear region generates rearward forces in the lamella and forward forces in the cell rear.     

The influence of contact guidance on the orientation of colonies of subcultured vascular smooth muscle cells

Summary Subcultures of smooth muscle cells derived from rat thoracic aorta were grown on plane plastic substrata and on plastic substrata having ridges molded in them by a heated, ruled template. The cells were found to have a very high degree of contact guidance when distributed sparsely on the ridged substrata. When the cell density increased multilayered, elongated colonies formed. On plane substrata these were irregular, curved, and disposed in all directions. On the ridged substrata, however, the colonies were straight, evenly spaced, and positioned at right angles to the ridges. Supported by Grant MT1011 from the Medical Research Council of Canada.     

Assaying stem cell mechanobiology on microfabricated elastomeric substrates with geometrically modulated rigidity

We describe the use of a microfabricated cell culture substrate, consisting of a uniform array of closely spaced, vertical, elastomeric microposts, to study the effects of substrate rigidity on cell function. Elastomeric micropost substrates are micromolded from silicon masters comprised of microposts of different heights to yield substrates of different rigidities. The tips of the elastomeric microposts are functionalized with extracellular matrix through microcontact printing to promote cell adhesion. These substrates, therefore, present the same topographical cues to adherent cells while varying substrate rigidity only through manipulation of micropost height. This protocol describes how to fabricate the silicon micropost array masters (~2 weeks to complete) and elastomeric substrates (3 d), as well as how to perform cell culture experiments (1-14 d), immunofluorescence imaging (2 d), traction force analysis (2 d) and stem cell differentiation assays (1 d) on these substrates in order to examine the effect of substrate rigidity on stem cell morphology, traction force generation, focal adhesion organization and differentiation.     

Heterogeneous response of traction force at focal adhesions of vascular smooth muscle cells subjected to macroscopic stretch on a micropillar substrate

Traction force generated at focal adhesions (FAs) of cells plays an essential role in regulating cellular functions. However, little is known about how the traction force at each FA changes during cell stretching. Here we investigated dynamic changes in traction force at FAs during macroscopic stretching of porcine aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) cultured on elastic micropillar substrates. SMCs were cultured on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based substrates with a micropillar array, and stretched approximately in the direction of their major axis and then released by stretching and relaxing the substrates. This stretch-release cycle was repeated twice with cell strain rates of 0.3%/15s up to a 3% strain, and the deflection of the PDMS micropillars was measured simultaneously to obtain the traction force at each FA F, total force in the cell's major axis direction F(all), and whole-cell strain ε(cell). Traction forces of SMCs during stretching varied widely with location: their changes at some pillars synchronized well with the applied strain ε(cell), but others did not synchronized. Whole-cell stiffness estimated as the slope of the loading limb of the F(all)-ε(cell) curves was ～10nN/%, which was the same order of magnitude of the reported stiffness of cultured SMCs obtained in a tensile test. Interestingly, F(all) at a zero-strain state (pretension at the whole-cell level) actively increased in some cells following the loading/unloading process, as did whole-cell stiffness. Such a change did not occur in cultured SMCs in the tensile test in which cells were held with a pair of micropipettes coated with nonspecific adhesive. These results indicate that SMCs showed a myogenic response when stretched through their multiple FAs, but not through nonspecific adhesions on their membrane. SMCs may behave differently depending on the sites through which they are stretched.     

Changes in the magnitude and distribution of forces at different Dictyostelium developmental stages

The distribution of forces exerted by migrating Dictyostelium amebae at different developmental stages was measured using traction force microscopy. By using very soft polyacrylamide substrates with a high fluorescent bead density, we could measure stresses as small as 30 Pa. Remarkable differences exist both in term of the magnitude and distribution of forces in the course of development. In the vegetative state, cells present cyclic changes in term of speed and shape between an elongated form and a more rounded one. The forces are larger in this first state, especially when they are symmetrically distributed at the front and rear edge of the cell. Elongated vegetative cells can also present a front-rear asymmetric force distribution with the largest forces in the crescent-shaped rear of the cell (uropod). Pre-aggregating cells, once polarized, only present this last kind of asymmetric distribution with the largest forces in the uropod. Except for speed, no cycle is observed. Neither the force distribution of pre-aggregating cells nor their overall magnitude are modified during chemotaxis, the later being similar to the one of vegetative cells (F(0) approximately 6 nN). On the contrary, both the force distribution and overall magnitude is modified for the fast moving aggregating cells. In particular, these highly elongated cells exert lower forces (F(0) approximately 3 nN). The location of the largest forces in the various stages of the development is consistent with the myosin II localization described in the literature for Dictyostelium (Yumura et al.,1984. J Cell Biol 99:894-899) and is confirmed by preliminary experiments using a GFP-myosin Dictyostelium strain.     

The dynamics and mechanics of endothelial cell spreading

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix is mediated by receptor-ligand interactions. When a cell first contacts a surface, it spreads, exerting traction forces against the surface and forming new bonds as its contact area expands. Here, we examined the changes in shape, actin polymerization, focal adhesion formation, and traction stress generation that accompany spreading of endothelial cells over a period of several hours. Bovine aortic endothelial cells were plated on polyacrylamide gels derivatized with a peptide containing the integrin binding sequence RGD, and changes in shape and traction force generation were measured. Notably, both the rate and extent of spreading increase with the density of substrate ligand. There are two prominent modes of spreading: at higher surface ligand densities cells tend to spread isotropically, whereas at lower densities of ligand the cells tend to spread anisotropically, by extending pseudopodia randomly distributed along the cell membrane. The extension of pseudopodia is followed by periods of growth in the cell body to interconnect these extensions. These cycles occur at very regular intervals and, furthermore, the extent of pseudopodial extension can be diminished by increasing the ligand density. Measurement of the traction forces exerted by the cell reveals that a cell is capable of exerting significant forces before either notable focal adhesion or stress fiber formation. Moreover, the total magnitude of force exerted by the cell is linearly related to the area of the cell during spreading. This study is the first to monitor the dynamic changes in the cell shape, spreading rate, and forces exerted during the early stages (first several hours) of endothelial cell adhesion.     

A predictive model of cell traction forces based on cell geometry

Recent work has indicated that the shape and size of a cell can influence how a cell spreads, develops focal adhesions, and exerts forces on the substrate. However, it is unclear how cell shape regulates these events. Here we present a computational model that uses cell shape to predict the magnitude and direction of forces generated by cells. The predicted results are compared to experimentally measured traction forces, and show that the model can predict traction force direction, relative magnitude, and force distribution within the cell using only cell shape as an input. Analysis of the model shows that the magnitude and direction of the traction force at a given point is proportional to the first moment of area about that point in the cell, suggesting that contractile forces within the cell act on the entire cytoskeletal network as a single cohesive unit. Through this model, we demonstrate that intrinsic properties of cell shape can facilitate changes in traction force patterns, independently of heterogeneous mechanical properties or signaling events within the cell.     

Extraction of membrane proteins from a living cell surface using the atomic force microscope and covalent crosslinkers

The force curve mode of the atomic force microscope (AFM) was applied to extract intrinsic membrane proteins from the surface of live cells using AFM tips modified by amino reactive bifunctional covalent crosslinkers. The modified AFM tips were individually brought into brief contact with the living cell surface to form covalent bonds with cell surface molecules. The force curves recorded during the detachment process from the cell surface were often characterized by an extension of a few hundred nanometers followed mostly by a single step jump to the zero force level. Collection and analysis of the final rupture force revealed that the most frequent force values (of the force) were in the range of 0.4–0.6 nN. The observed rupture force most likely represented extraction events of intrinsic membrane proteins from the cell membrane because the rupture force of a covalent crosslinking system was expected to be significantly larger than 1.0 nN, and the separation force of noncovalent ligand-receptor pairs to be less than 0.2 nN, under similar experimental conditions. The transfer of cell surface proteins to the AFM tip was verified by recording characteristic force curves of protein stretching between the AFM tips used on the cell surface and a silicon surface modified with amino reactive bifunctional crosslinkers. This method will be a useful addition to bionanotechnological research for the application of AFM.     

Thrombin-induced contraction in alveolar epithelial cells probed by traction microscopy.

Contractile tension of alveolar epithelial cells plays a major role in the force balance that regulates the structural integrity of the alveolar barrier. The aim of this work was to study thrombin-induced contractile forces of alveolar epithelial cells. A549 alveolar epithelial cells were challenged with thrombin, and time course of contractile forces was measured by traction microscopy. The cells exhibited basal contraction with total force magnitude 55.0 +/- 12.0 nN (mean +/- SE, n = 12). Traction forces were exerted predominantly at the cell periphery and pointed to the cell center. Thrombin (1 U/ml) induced a fast and sustained 2.5-fold increase in traction forces, which maintained peripheral and centripetal distribution. Actin fluorescent staining revealed F-actin polymerization and enhancement of peripheral actin rim. Disruption of actin cytoskeleton with cytochalasin D (5 microM, 30 min) and inhibition of myosin light chain kinase with ML-7 (10 microM, 30 min) and Rho kinase with Y-27632 (10 microM, 30 min) markedly depressed basal contractile tone and abolished thrombin-induced cell contraction. Therefore, the contractile response of alveolar epithelial cells to the inflammatory agonist thrombin was mediated by actin cytoskeleton remodeling and actomyosin activation through myosin light chain kinase and Rho kinase signaling pathways. Thrombin-induced contractile tension might further impair alveolar epithelial barrier integrity in the injured lung.     

Rapid and Serial Quantification of Adhesion Forces of Yeast and Mammalian Cells

Cell adhesion to surfaces represents the basis for niche colonization and survival. Here we establish serial quantification of adhesion forces of different cell types using a single probe. The pace of single-cell force-spectroscopy was accelerated to up to 200 yeast and 20 mammalian cells per probe when replacing the conventional cell trapping cantilever chemistry of atomic force microscopy by underpressure immobilization with fluidic force microscopy (FluidFM). In consequence, statistically relevant data could be recorded in a rapid manner, the spectrum of examinable cells was enlarged, and the cell physiology preserved until approached for force spectroscopy. Adhesion forces of Candida albicans increased from below 4 up to 16 nN at 37°C on hydrophobic surfaces, whereas a Δhgc1-mutant showed forces consistently below 4 nN. Monitoring adhesion of mammalian cells revealed mean adhesion forces of 600 nN of HeLa cells on fibronectin and were one order of magnitude higher than those observed for HEK cells.