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Onwudiwe K, Najera J, Holen L, Burchett AA, Rodriguez D, Zarodniuk M, Siri S, Datta M. Single-cell mechanical assay unveils viscoelastic similarities in normal and neoplastic brain cells. Biophys J 2024:S0006-3495(24)00215-7. [PMID: 38544410 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Killian Onwudiwe
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Julian Najera
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Luke Holen
- Department of Pre-Professional Studies, College of Science, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Alice A Burchett
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Dorielis Rodriguez
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana; Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Maksym Zarodniuk
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Saeed Siri
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Meenal Datta
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.
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Onwudiwe K, Najera J, Holen L, Burchett AA, Rodriguez D, Zarodniuk M, Siri S, Datta M. Single-cell mechanical analysis reveals viscoelastic similarities between normal and neoplastic brain cells. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.23.559055. [PMID: 37808779 PMCID: PMC10557591 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.23.559055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
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 (IHAs) 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 IHAs and GBM cells via immunofluorescence 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 behavior. 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 study to elucidate the distinct biophysical characteristics of the brain and reveal novel mechanical attributes of GBM and other primary brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Killian Onwudiwe
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Julian Najera
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Luke Holen
- Department of Pre-Professional Studies, College of Science, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Alice A. Burchett
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Dorielis Rodriguez
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00918, USA
| | - Maksym Zarodniuk
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Saeed Siri
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Meenal Datta
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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Onwudiwe K, Burchett AA, Datta M. Mechanical and metabolic interplay in the brain metastatic microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:932285. [PMID: 36059679 PMCID: PMC9436395 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.932285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this Perspective, we provide our insights and opinions about the contribution—and potential co-regulation—of mechanics and metabolism in incurable breast cancer brain metastasis. Altered metabolic activity can affect cancer metastasis as high glucose supply and demand in the brain microenvironment favors aerobic glycolysis. Similarly, the altered mechanical properties of disseminating cancer cells facilitate migration to and metastatic seeding of the brain, where local metabolites support their progression. Cancer cells in the brain and the brain tumor microenvironment often possess opposing mechanical and metabolic properties compared to extracranial cancer cells and their microenvironment, which inhibit the ease of extravasation and metastasis of these cells outside the central nervous system. We posit that the brain provides a metabolic microenvironment that mechanically reinforces the cellular structure of cancer cells and supports their metastatic growth while restricting their spread from the brain to external organs.
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