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Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
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TGF-β induces changes in breast cancer cell deformability
Ankur H Kulkarni1, Aritra Chatterjee2, Paturu Kondaiah1
1Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India.
Physical Biology
|May 11, 2018
Summary
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) alters breast cancer cell mechanics and cytoskeletal structure. Invasive cells become more fluid-like, while non-invasive cells stiffen, potentially impacting cancer cell migration and metastasis.
Area of Science:
- Cellular mechanics
- Biophysics
- Cancer biology
Background:
- Cell mechanical properties influence cell behavior and disease progression.
- Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is implicated in cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of TGF-β on the mechanical and cytoskeletal properties of invasive (MDA-MB-231) and non-invasive (MCF-7) breast cancer cells.
- To correlate changes in cell mechanics with cytoskeletal alterations.
Main Methods:
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation was used to measure elastic and viscoelastic properties.
- Confocal fluorescence imaging assessed sub-membrane cytoskeletal structure, specifically actin stress fibers.
- Stress relaxation tests evaluated cell fluidity.
Main Results:
- TGF-β treatment significantly altered cell moduli in a context-dependent manner: MDA-MB-231 cells decreased in stiffness, while MCF-7 cells increased.
- Stress relaxation revealed increased fluidity in MDA-MB-231 cells and decreased fluidity in MCF-7 cells after TGF-β exposure.
- Actin stress fiber expression and orientation changed with TGF-β treatment, correlating with mechanical property alterations.
Conclusions:
- TGF-β induces distinct mechanical and cytoskeletal changes in invasive versus non-invasive breast cancer cells.
- These TGF-β-mediated changes in cell mechanics and cytoskeletal organization may facilitate cancer cell migration and metastasis.
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