Quantitative investigation of calcimimetic R568 on beta cell adhesion and mechanics using AFM single-cell force spectroscopy

Abstract

In this study we use a novel approach to quantitatively investigate mechanical and interfacial properties of clonal b-cells using AFM-Single Cell Force Spectroscopy (SCFS). MIN6 cells were incu bated for 48 h with 0.5 mM Ca2+ ± the calcimimetic R568 (1 lM). AFM-SCFS adhesion and indentation experiments were performed by using modified tipless cantilevers. Hertz contact model was applied to analyse force–displacement (F–d) curves for determining elastic or Young’s modulus (E). Our results show CaSR-evoked increases in cell-to-cell adhesion parameters and E modulus of single cells, demonstrating that cytomechanics have profound effects on cell adhesion characterization.

2014 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.