BACKGROUND:Cancerous transformation of cells affects their mechanical behavior and cytoskeleton structure. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this research is to investigate a correlation between mechanical properties and cytoskeletal structure features in cancer cell formation. METHODS:Micropipette aspiration was used to compare mechanical properties of normal (MCF10A) and cancerous (T47D) epithelial breast cell lines. Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy were employed for staining and imaging F-actin and microtubules, and quantifying their fluorescent intensity, anisotropy and fiber distribution. RESULTS:Results indicated higher F-actin intensity (43%) and anisotropy (50%) in normal cells compared to cancer cells, although there was no difference in the microtubules intensity between cell lines. Furthermore, reductions of cortex thickness and actin layer index (60%) were observed in suspended cancer cells compared to normal cells. Changes in cell physical properties induced by cancer were attributed to microtubules. The arranged fibrous structure of microtubules in normal cells was replaced by a disorganized structure in cancer cells. Cancerous cells were about four times softer with higher creep compliance compared to normal cells. CONCLUSIONS:Results of this study confirmed that alterations in cell mechanical properties induced by cancer are highly correlated with changes in F-actin and microtubule content and arrangement. It is suggested that such changes can enhance our knowledge of cancer initiation and progression.

中文翻译：

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正常和癌性乳腺癌细胞系中细胞力学行为与定量细胞骨架参数的相关性。

背景：细胞的癌变会影响其机械行为和细胞骨架结构。目的：本研究的目的是研究癌细胞形成过程中力学性能与细胞骨架结构特征之间的相关性。方法：用微量移液管抽吸法比较正常（MCF10A）和癌性（T47D）上皮性乳腺癌细胞系的力学性能。使用免疫荧光和共聚焦显微镜对F-肌动蛋白和微管进行染色和成像，并定量其荧光强度，各向异性和纤维分布。结果：尽管癌细胞系之间的微管强度没有差异，但结果表明正常细胞中F-肌动蛋白强度（43％）和各向异性（50％）较高。此外，与正常细胞相比，在悬浮的癌细胞中观察到皮质厚度和肌动蛋白层指数降低（60％）。癌症诱导的细胞物理特性的变化归因于微管。正常细胞中微管排列的纤维结构被癌细胞中的杂乱结构所取代。与正常细胞相比，癌细胞具有更高的蠕变顺应性，其癌细胞大约软了四倍。结论：本研究结果证实，癌症诱导的细胞力学特性的改变与F-肌动蛋白，微管含量和排列的变化高度相关。提示这种变化可以增强我们对癌症发生和发展的认识。癌症诱导的细胞物理特性的变化归因于微管。正常细胞中微管排列的纤维结构被癌细胞中的杂乱结构所取代。与正常细胞相比，癌细胞具有更高的蠕变顺应性，其癌细胞大约软了四倍。结论：本研究结果证实，癌症诱导的细胞力学特性的改变与F-肌动蛋白，微管含量和排列的变化高度相关。提示这种变化可以增强我们对癌症发生和发展的认识。癌症诱导的细胞物理特性的变化归因于微管。正常细胞中微管排列的纤维结构被癌细胞中的杂乱结构取代。与正常细胞相比，癌细胞具有更高的蠕变顺应性，其癌细胞大约软了四倍。结论：本研究结果证实，癌症诱导的细胞力学特性的改变与F-肌动蛋白，微管含量和排列的变化高度相关。提示这种变化可以增强我们对癌症发生和发展的认识。与正常细胞相比，癌细胞具有更高的蠕变顺应性，其癌细胞大约软了四倍。结论：本研究结果证实，癌症诱导的细胞力学特性的改变与F-肌动蛋白，微管含量和排列的变化高度相关。提示这种变化可以增强我们对癌症发生和发展的认识。与正常细胞相比，癌细胞具有更高的蠕变顺应性，其癌细胞大约软了四倍。结论：这项研究的结果证实，癌症诱导的细胞力学特性的改变与F-肌动蛋白和微管含量和排列的改变高度相关。建议这种变化可以增强我们对癌症发生和发展的认识。