Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilever-Based Nanoindentation: Mechanical Property Measurements at the Nanoscale in Air and Fluid
08:58

Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilever-Based Nanoindentation: Mechanical Property Measurements at the Nanoscale in Air and Fluid

Published on: December 2, 2022

Nanostructure and nanomechanics analysis of lymphocyte using AFM: from resting, activated to apoptosis

Mingqian Hu1, Jiongkun Wang2, Hongxia Zhao1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China.

Journal of Biomechanics
|May 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Atomic force microscopy revealed distinct surface and stiffness changes in lymphocytes during activation and apoptosis. Activated lymphocytes are significantly stiffer, offering insights into cell mechanics during differentiation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Lymphocytes play crucial roles in immune responses.
  • Understanding cellular mechanics is vital for studying cell function and disease.
  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows for high-resolution imaging and mechanical property measurements of cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the ultrastructural and mechanical properties of resting, activated, and apoptosis lymphocytes.
  • To correlate morphological changes with mechanical property variations during lymphocyte activation and apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) for topographic imaging of lymphocyte surfaces.
  • Employed spatially resolved force-distance curves to measure the Young's modulus (stiffness) of individual lymphocytes.

Main Results:

  • Resting lymphocytes exhibit smooth surfaces.
  • Lymphocyte activation and apoptosis are associated with significant morphological changes, with apoptosis lymphocytes appearing rougher and coated with particles.
  • Activated lymphocytes are 2-3 times stiffer (approx. 20 kPa) than resting and apoptosis lymphocytes (5-11 kPa).

Conclusions:

  • Lymphocyte activation and apoptosis induce distinct changes in cell morphology and mechanical properties.
  • The increased stiffness of activated lymphocytes suggests a significant cellular response.
  • These findings enhance the understanding of cell mechanics during critical cellular processes like growth and differentiation.

More Related Videos

Traction Force Microscopy to Study B Lymphocyte Activation09:28

Traction Force Microscopy to Study B Lymphocyte Activation

Published on: July 23, 2020

Functionalization of Atomic Force Microscope Cantilevers with Single-T Cells or Single-Particle for Immunological Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy10:06

Functionalization of Atomic Force Microscope Cantilevers with Single-T Cells or Single-Particle for Immunological Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy

Published on: July 10, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Atomic Force Microscopy01:08

Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a type of scanning probe microscopy that can analyze topographic details of various specimens like ceramics, glass, polymers, and biological samples. AFM offers over 1000 times more resolution than the optical imaging system. Images generated from AFM are three-dimensional surface profiles, offering an advantage over the flat, two-dimensional images from other imaging techniques.
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...
Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

Studying the Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...