A Novel Cell Traction Force Microscopy to Study Multi-Cellular System
Figure 8
Traction and force maps of single human colon cancer cell (HCT-8) cluster.
The cluster behaves as a single contractile unit. (a) - (c): Phase-contrast image, traction and nodal force map of a well-spread pre-MLP HCT-8 cancer cell cluster. The cells were cultured on 2 kPa hydrogel substrates. The distance between the nodes is about 5 µm. Scale bar: 60 µm. Colors of contour represent the magnitude of traction stress. Vectors indicate the direction of traction force at each node and arrow lengths represent the magnitude of node force. Dashed lines in orange outline the cluster boundary. (d) A free body diagram visualizes the mechanics of this long-distance force transmission. The cell cluster exerted contractile force on the substrate through the adhesion sites of the outer cells. The inner cells transmitted the force possibly through cell-cell junctions and cortical actin.