The influence of cell morphology on microfluidic single cell analysis
Xuxin Zhang1, Yanzhao Li1, Hanshu Fang2
1Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University Dalian 116001 China.
RSC Advances
|May 6, 2022
Summary
Cell morphology impacts single-cell analysis. Round glioblastoma cells provide sharper distinctions in protein quantification using microfluidic image cytometry (MIC), improving cellular heterogeneity resolution.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Microfluidics is a key technology for single-cell analysis.
- Existing microfluidic methods analyze either spread or round cells.
- The influence of cell morphology on single-cell analysis outcomes is underappreciated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cell morphology in single-cell analysis.
- To simultaneously measure four key proteins (EGFR, PTEN, pAKT, pS6) in the EGFR signaling pathway.
- To assess protein quantification in glioblastoma U87 cells using microfluidic image cytometry (MIC).
Main Methods:
- Utilized microfluidic image cytometry (MIC) for simultaneous protein quantification.
- Analyzed glioblastoma U87 cells, considering both round and spread morphologies.
- Measured expression levels of EGFR, PTEN, pAKT, and pS6 proteins.
Main Results:
- MIC successfully identified distinct cell subsets based on protein expression, irrespective of cell shape.
- Round cells yielded sharper distinctions in protein expression compared to spread cells.
- Cellular heterogeneity was more effectively resolved in round cells during in situ imaging cytometry.
Conclusions:
- Cell morphology significantly influences the resolution of cellular heterogeneity in single-cell protein analysis.
- Round cell morphology enhances the precision of in situ protein quantification via imaging cytometry.
- Future research should explore how morphological differences affect biological interpretation in single-cell studies.
