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Cellular Redox Profiling Using High-content Microscopy
Published on: May 14, 2017
AFM membrane roughness as a probe to identify oxidative stress-induced cellular apoptosis
Dau-Chung Wang1, Ken-Yen Chen, Cheng-Hsien Tsai
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. wangdc@yuntech.edu.tw
Journal of Biomechanics
|September 23, 2011
Summary
Early cellular apoptosis detection is possible by measuring cell membrane roughness. Atomic force microscopy revealed that increased oxidative stress directly correlates with higher membrane roughness in RAW 264.7 cells.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Microscopy
Background:
- Cellular apoptosis, a programmed cell death, involves morphological changes.
- Early detection of apoptosis is crucial for understanding cellular processes and disease.
- Cell membrane alterations, specifically roughness, are early indicators of apoptosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cell membrane roughness and early-stage apoptosis.
- To utilize atomic force microscopy (AFM) for high-resolution imaging of cellular morphological changes during apoptosis.
- To establish a correlation between oxidative stress levels and cell membrane roughness.
Main Methods:
- Employing atomic force microscopy (AFM) to achieve nanometer-scaled resolution imaging.
- Studying the mouse monocyte/macrophage cell line RAW 264.7.
- Inducing apoptosis using hydrogen peroxide to control oxidative stress levels.
Main Results:
- AFM provided unprecedented detail on cell membrane roughness changes.
- A qualitative correlation was found between cell membrane roughness and oxidative stress.
- Increased oxidative stress led to a measurable increase in cell membrane roughness.
Conclusions:
- Cell membrane roughness is a sensitive indicator of early-stage apoptosis.
- AFM is a valuable tool for visualizing subtle morphological changes during apoptosis.
- Oxidative stress significantly impacts cell membrane topography, offering a potential biomarker for apoptosis.
