Mechanical stiffness softening and cell adhesion are coordinately regulated by ERM dephosphorylation in KG-1 cells

Mechanical stiffness is closely related to cell adhesion and rounding in some cells. In leukocytes, dephosphorylation of ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins is linked to cell adhesion events. To elucidate the relationship between surface stiffness, cell adhesion, and ERM dephosphorylation in leukocytes, we examined the relationship in the myelogenous leukemia line, KG-1, by treatment with modulation drugs. KG-1 cells have ring-shaped cortical actin with microvilli as the only F-actin cytoskeleton, and the actin structure constructs the mechanical stiffness of the cells. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and staurosporine, which induced cell adhesion to fibronectin surface and ERM dephosphorylation, caused a decrease in surface stiffness in KG-1 cells. Calyculin A, which inhibited ERM dephosphorylation and had no effect on cell adhesion, did not affect surface stiffness. To clarify whether decreasing cell surface stiffness and inducing cell adhesion are equivalent, we examined KG-1 cell adhesion by treatment with actin-attenuated cell softening reagents. Cytochalasin D clearly diminished cell adhesion, and high concentrations of Y27632 slightly induced cell adhesion. Only Y27632 slightly decreased ERM phosphorylation in KG-1 cells. Thus, decreasing cell surface stiffness and inducing cell adhesion are not equivalent, but these phenomena are coordinately regulated by ERM dephosphorylation in KG-1 cells.