Applications of atomic force microscopy in immunology

Area of Science:

• Cellular mechanics and biophysics
• Immunology and cell biology
• Nanotechnology and microscopy

Background:

• Cellular mechanics regulate cell architecture and biological functions.
• Mechanical forces influence immune responses, including cell migration and activation.
• The microenvironment's physical properties impact cellular behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce atomic force microscopy (AFM) for mechanical characterization of living cells.
• To highlight the utility of AFM's peak force tapping mode for high-resolution imaging and force analysis.
• To demonstrate AFM applications in studying key immunological processes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a focus on its peak force tapping mode.
• Acquired high-resolution morphological images and force curves of living cells.
• Applied AFM to investigate neutrophil extracellular trap release, macrophage functions, and membrane pore formation.

Main Results:

• Peak force tapping mode enables delicate, high-resolution imaging and force measurements.
• AFM successfully visualized dynamic neutrophil extracellular trap release.
• AFM provided insights into macrophage immunological functions and membrane pore formation mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• AFM, particularly peak force tapping mode, is a powerful tool for studying cellular mechanics.
• AFM elucidates the mechanical underpinnings of critical immune responses.
• This technique advances our understanding of cell-environment interactions and immune cell dynamics.