Quantifying the effect of electric current on cell adhesion studied by single-cell force spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Understanding cellular responses to external stimuli is crucial for developing advanced biomaterials and therapies.
• Investigating the effects of electrical stimulation on cell mechanics and adhesion provides insights into cellular mechanobiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of external electric current on the adhesive and mechanical properties of C2C12 mouse myoblast cells.
• To quantify changes in cell morphology, viability, cytoskeleton, and focal adhesion structure under varying electric current doses.

Main Methods:

• Utilized standard staining protocols to assess cell morphology, viability, cytoskeleton, and focal adhesion.
• Employed fluidic force microscopy for single-cell force spectroscopy to analyze cell adhesion dynamics and mechanical properties.
• Applied a simple elastic model to force-distance curves to estimate Young's modulus and dynamic properties.

Main Results:

• Cell spreading area decreased with increasing electric current doses.
• Low current doses primarily affected cell elasticity, while higher doses (above 11 As/m²) induced significant changes in morphology, viability, and adhesion.
• Observed cell death at higher current doses, potentially linked to decreased pH and reactive oxygen species generation.

Conclusions:

• External electric current significantly influences C2C12 myoblast cell behavior, including adhesion and mechanical integrity.
• The study establishes a dose-dependent relationship between electric current and cellular responses, highlighting thresholds for drastic alterations.
• Findings suggest potential mechanisms involving pH changes and oxidative stress that contribute to current-induced cellular damage.