Author/Authors :
Tang, Jilin State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry - Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry - Chinese Academy of Sciences - Changchun, China , Liu,Huiqing State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry - Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry - Chinese Academy of Sciences - Changchun, China , Wang, Nan State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry - Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry - Chinese Academy of Sciences - Changchun, China , Zhang, Zhe State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry - Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry - Chinese Academy of Sciences - Changchun, China , Wang, Hongda State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry - Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry - Chinese Academy of Sciences - Changchun, China , Du, Jun State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry - Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry - Chinese Academy of Sciences - Changchun, China
Abstract :
Chronic inflammation orchestrates the tumor microenvironment and is strongly associated with cancer. Tumor necrosis factor-𝛼(TNF𝛼) is involved in tumor invasion and metastasis by inducing epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). This process isdefined by the loss of epithelial characteristics and gain of mesenchymal traits. The mechanisms of TNF𝛼-induced EMT in cancercells have been well studied. However, mechanical properties have not yet been probed. In this work, atomic force microscopy(AFM) was applied to investigate the morphology and mechanical properties of EMT in HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Aremarkable morphological change from cobblestone shape to spindle-like morphology was observed. In parallel, AFM imagesshowed that the cellular cytoskeleton was rearranged from a cortical to a stress-fiber pattern. Moreover, cell stiffness measurementsindicated that Young’s modulus of cells gradually reduced from 1 to 3 days with TNF𝛼-treatment, but it has an apparent increaseafter 4 days of treatment compared with that for 3 days. Additionally, Young’s modulus of the cells treated with TNF𝛼for 4 days isslightly larger than that for 1 or 2 days, but still less than that of the untreated cells. Our work contributes to a better understandingof colorectal cancer metastasis induced by inflammation.
Keywords :
Tumor Necrosis Factor-𝛼 , Morphologyand Mechanical Properties , HCT116 Human Colon Cancer Cells Investigated , Atomic Force Microscopy , EMT
