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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

Published on: August 27, 2019

Neutrophils display biphasic relationship between migration and substrate stiffness.

Kimberly M Stroka¹, Helim Aranda-Espinoza

¹Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA.

Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton

|April 18, 2009

Summary

Neutrophil motility, crucial for innate immunity, is significantly influenced by substrate stiffness. This study reveals a biphasic response, with optimal cell migration occurring at intermediate stiffness levels, dependent on fibronectin concentration.

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Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

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Published on: August 27, 2019

Bioparticle Microarrays for Chemotactic and Molecular Analysis of Human Neutrophil Swarming in vitro

Bioparticle Microarrays for Chemotactic and Molecular Analysis of Human Neutrophil Swarming in vitro

Published on: February 16, 2020

Area of Science:

Immunology
Cell Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Neutrophils are key innate immune cells acting as the first responders to inflammation and infection.
While the role of adhesive proteins in neutrophil migration is well-studied, the impact of the physical environment's mechanical properties remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how substrate stiffness affects neutrophil morphology, motility, speed, spreading, and turning angles during chemokinesis.
To elucidate the relationship between mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix and neutrophil behavior.

Main Methods:

Human neutrophils were cultured on polyacrylamide gels with varying stiffness (3-13 kPa).
Gels were coated with fibronectin at different concentrations (10 and 100 microg/mL).
Time-lapse phase contrast microscopy was used to capture neutrophil behavior.

Main Results:

Neutrophil motility exhibited a biphasic response to substrate stiffness.
Optimal motility on 100 microg/mL fibronectin occurred at 4 kPa (speed = 6.9 +/- 0.6 microm/min).
Optimal motility on 10 microg/mL fibronectin shifted to 7 kPa (speed = 4.5 +/- 2.0 microm/min).
Soft substrates reduced adhesion and traction force production, while stiff substrates led to excessive adhesion and decreased migration.

Conclusions:

Neutrophil migration is modulated by substrate stiffness in a biphasic manner.
The optimal substrate stiffness for neutrophil motility is dependent on the concentration of extracellular matrix proteins like fibronectin.
Intermediate substrate stiffness allows neutrophils to achieve optimal motility by balancing adhesion and traction forces.