Effect of curcumin on malignant hepatocytes and mitochondria studied using atomic force microscopy

Shengli Zhang; Ying Wang; Bowei Wang; Yi Zeng; Jiani Li; Xingyue Wang; Cuihua Hu; Zhankun Weng; Zuobin Wang

doi:10.1016/j.micron.2023.103573

Effect of curcumin on malignant hepatocytes and mitochondria studied using atomic force microscopy

Micron. 2024 Feb:177:103573. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2023.103573. Epub 2023 Nov 22.

Authors

Shengli Zhang¹, Ying Wang², Bowei Wang¹, Yi Zeng², Jiani Li¹, Xingyue Wang¹, Cuihua Hu², Zhankun Weng³, Zuobin Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ International Research Centre for Nano Handling and Manufacturing of China, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China; Zhongshan Institute of Changchun University of Science and Technology, Zhongshan 528400, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Cross-Scale Micro and Nano Manufacturing, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China.
² International Research Centre for Nano Handling and Manufacturing of China, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Cross-Scale Micro and Nano Manufacturing, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China.
³ International Research Centre for Nano Handling and Manufacturing of China, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China; Zhongshan Institute of Changchun University of Science and Technology, Zhongshan 528400, China. Electronic address: wengzk@cust.edu.cn.
⁴ International Research Centre for Nano Handling and Manufacturing of China, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China; Zhongshan Institute of Changchun University of Science and Technology, Zhongshan 528400, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Cross-Scale Micro and Nano Manufacturing, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, China; JR3CN & IRAC, University of Bedfordshire, Luton LU1 3JU, UK. Electronic address: wangz@cust.edu.cn.

PMID: 38043195
DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2023.103573

Abstract

Mitochondria are emerging as potential targets for the cancer treatment. In this study, the effects of curcumin on the activity, migration, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of malignant hepatocytes (SMMC-7721 cells) were determined using cell viability, migration, and MMP assays. Changes in the morphology and biomechanics of SMMC-7721 cells and their mitochondria were studied using both optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The cell survival rate, migration and MMP depended on the concentration of curcumin. Optical microscopy studies showed that curcumin altered the cell morphology. AFM studies showed that the changes in the morphology and nanomechanics of SMMC-7721 cells and their mitochondria, were induced by curcumin. As the concentration of curcumin increased, the cell length, width, and adhesion decreased, but the height, roughness and Young's modulus increased. In contrast, the mitochondrial length, width, height and roughness increased, but the adhesion and Young's modulus decreased. There was a close relationship between mitochondria and cells in terms of function, morphology and biomechanics. This study shows the effects of curcumin on SMMC-7721 cells and their mitochondria from biology and biophysics perspectives. The findings aid in comprehensively understanding the interactions between mitochondria and malignant hepatocytes.

Keywords: Atomic force microscopy; Biomechanics; Malignant hepatocyte; Mitochondria; Morphology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Curcumin* / pharmacology
Elastic Modulus
Hepatocytes
Microscopy, Atomic Force
Mitochondria

Substances

Curcumin