Effects of substrate stiffness on mast cell migration

Yi Yu; Liu-Jie Ren; Xin-Yue Liu; Xiao-Bo Gong; Wei Yao

doi:10.1016/j.ejcb.2021.151178

Effects of substrate stiffness on mast cell migration

Eur J Cell Biol. 2021 Sep-Nov;100(7-8):151178. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2021.151178. Epub 2021 Sep 17.

Authors

Yi Yu¹, Liu-Jie Ren², Xin-Yue Liu³, Xiao-Bo Gong⁴, Wei Yao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fudan University, No.220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
² ENT Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, No.83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China.
³ Shanghai Institute of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, School of Mechanics and Engineering Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mechanics in Energy Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Hydrodynamics (Ministry of Education), Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
⁵ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fudan University, No.220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China. Electronic address: weiyao@fudan.edu.cn.

PMID: 34555639
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2021.151178

Abstract

Mast cells (MCs) play important roles in multiple pathologies, including fibrosis; however, their behaviors in different extracellular matrix (ECM) environments have not been fully elucidated. Accordingly, in this study, the migration of MCs on substrates with different stiffnesses was investigated using time-lapse video microscopy. Our results showed that MCs could appear in round, spindle, and star-like shapes; spindle-shaped cells accounted for 80-90 % of the total observed cells. The migration speed of round cells was significantly lower than that of cells with other shapes. Interestingly, spindle-shaped MCs migrated in a jiggling and wiggling motion between protrusions. The persistence index of MC migration was slightly higher on stiffer substrates. Moreover, we found that there was an intermediate optimal stiffness at which the migration efficiency was the highest. These findings may help to improve our understanding of MC-induced pathologies and the roles of MC migration in the immune system.

Keywords: Cell morphology; Mast cells; Migration; Stiffness; Trajectory.

MeSH terms

Cell Count
Cell Movement
Extracellular Matrix*
Fibrosis
Humans
Mast Cells*