Name: quantification of cell-substrate adhesion area and cell shape distributions in mcf7 cell monolayers
Uploaded: 2020-06-24T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantification of Cell-Substrate Adhesion Area and Cell Shape Distributions in MCF7 Cell Monolayers at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the Polish National Science Center under grant no. 2014/14/M/NZ1/00437.

1. Preparatory steps
<ol>
	<li>Cell seeding to obtain confluent monolayers
	<ol>
		<li>Before seeding, coat the wells of a 4-wells chamber slide with collagen I (or other ECM component of choice). For collagen I coating, follow a commercial protocol: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/technical-documents/articles/biofiles/collagen-product-protocols.html at a concentration of 8 &#956;g/cm2.</li>
		<li>Seed 400,000 cells to one well of a 4-well chamber slide.</li>
		<li>Culture the cells for 24 h (or longer, dependi...

<ol>
	<li>Li, D. S., Zimmermann, J., Levine, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modeling+closure+of+circular+wounds+through+coordinated+collective+motion.">Modeling closure of circular wounds through coordinated collective motion.</a> Search Results. 13 (1), 016006 (2016).</li><li>Ilina, O., Friedl, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanisms+of+collective+cell+migration+at+a+glance.">Mechanisms of collective cell migration at a glance.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 122, 3203-3208 (2009).</li><li>Ladoux, B., Mege, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanobiology+of+collective+cell+behaviours.">Mechanobiology of collective cell behaviours.</a> Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 18 (12), 743-757 (2017).</li><li>Stossi, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+throughput+microscopy+identifies+bisphenol+AP,+a+bisphenol+A+analog,+as+a+novel+AR+down-regulator.">High throughput microscopy identifies bisphenol AP, a bisphenol A analog, as a novel AR down-regulator.</a> Oncotarget. 7 (13), 16962-16974 (2016).</li><li>Legland, D., Arganda-Carreras, I., Andrey, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=MorphoLibJ:+integrated+library+and+plugins+for+mathematical+morphology+with+ImageJ.">MorphoLibJ: integrated library and plugins for mathematical morphology with ImageJ.</a> Bioinformatics. 32 (22), 3532-3534 (2016).</li><li>Balcerak, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=HAX1+impact+on+collective+cell+migration,+cell+adhesion,+and+cell+shape+is+linked+to+the+regulation+of+actomyosin+contractility.">HAX1 impact on collective cell migration, cell adhesion, and cell shape is linked to the regulation of actomyosin contractility.</a> Molecular Biology of the Cell. 30 (25), 3024-3036 (2019).</li><li>Buskermolen, A. B. C., Kurniawan, N. A., Bouten, C. V. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+automated+quantitative+analysis+of+cell,+nucleus+and+focal+adhesion+morphology.">An automated quantitative analysis of cell, nucleus and focal adhesion morphology.</a> PLoS One. 13 (3), 0195201 (2018).</li><li>Fokkelman, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+adhesome+screen+identifies+critical+modulators+of+focal+adhesion+dynamics,+cellular+traction+forces+and+cell+migration+behaviour.">Cellular adhesome screen identifies critical modulators of focal adhesion dynamics, cellular traction forces and cell migration behaviour.</a> Scientific Reports. 6, 31707 (2016).</li><li>Horzum, U., Ozdil, B., Pesen-Okvur, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Step-by-step+quantitative+analysis+of+focal+adhesions.">Step-by-step quantitative analysis of focal adhesions.</a> MethodsX. 1, 56-59 (2014).</li><li>Kim, D. H., Wirtz, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Focal+adhesion+size+uniquely+predicts+cell+migration.">Focal adhesion size uniquely predicts cell migration.</a> FASEB Journal. 27 (4), 1351-1361 (2013).</li><li>Pincus, Z., Theriot, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+quantitative+methods+for+cell-shape+analysis.">Comparison of quantitative methods for cell-shape analysis.</a> Journal of Microscopy. 227, 140-156 (2007).</li><li>Tsygankov, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CellGeo:+a+computational+platform+for+the+analysis+of+shape+changes+in+cells+with+complex+geometries.">CellGeo: a computational platform for the analysis of shape changes in cells with complex geometries.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 204 (3), 443-460 (2014).</li><li>Tiryaki, V. M., Adia-Nimuwa, U., Ayres, V. M., Ahmed, I., Shreiber, D. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Texture-based+segmentation+and+a+new+cell+shape+index+for+quantitative+analysis+of+cell+spreading+in+AFM+images.">Texture-based segmentation and a new cell shape index for quantitative analysis of cell spreading in AFM images.</a> Cytometry A. 87 (12), 1090-1100 (2015).</li><li>Tong, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+micropatterning+reveals+the+modulatory+effect+of+cell+shape+on+proliferation+through+intracellular+calcium+transients.">Cell micropatterning reveals the modulatory effect of cell shape on proliferation through intracellular calcium transients.</a> Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1864 (12), 2389-2401 (2017).</li><li>Vartanian, K. B., Kirkpatrick, S. J., Hanson, S. R., Hinds, M. 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Cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion constitute inherent attributes of the epithelial cells and play the critical role in tissue morphogenesis and embriogenesis. In adult tissues the proper regulation of mechanical properties of the cell layer is crucial in maintaining homeostasis and preventing pathological responses like tumor progression and metastasis. The size and number of focal adhesions depend on the strength of cell-substrate adhesion, while cell shape depends on contractile forces and is related to the status ...

Epithelial cell monolayers act as a collective in which cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion as well as contractile forces and tensions represent important parameters and their proper balance contributes to the overall integrity of the unit1,2,3. Thus, assessing these parameters represents a way to establish the current status of the cell layer.
The two methods described here represent a two-dimensional analysis of the confluent monolayers of adherent, epithelial cells (in this case MCF7 breast cancer cell line). The analysis is performed using confocal images (single Z-slices) from different regions on the Z-axis; basal region near a substrate for focal adhesion (FA) measurements and apical region for cell shape measurements. The presented methods are relatively simple and require standard laboratory techniques and open-source software. Confocal microscopy is sufficient for this protocol, so it can be performed without employing more specialized TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence) microscopy. Thus, the protocol could be implemented in a relatively standard laboratory setting. Although the accuracy of the methods is limited, they can distinguish basic differences in focal adhesion and cell shape.
Both methods described here consist of the standard experimental procedures such as cell culturing, immunostaining, confocal imaging and image analysis performed using ImageJ. However, any image processing software with the appropriate functions can be used. The presented methods can track and compare changes inflicted by pharmacological treatment or minimal genetic modification. Obtaining definite values is not recommended, due to the limited precision of these methods. Two automated macros were included, to facilitate the measurements of many images.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 594</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A32740</td>
			<td>goat anti-rabbit, 1:500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ammonium chloride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A9434</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BSA</td>
			<td>BioShop</td>
			<td>ALB001.500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagen from calf skin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C9791-10MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DAPI</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D9542</td>
			<td>1:10000 (stock 1 mg/mL in H2O), nucleic acid staining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM + GlutaMAX, 1 g/L D-Glucose, Pyruvate</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>21885-025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FBS</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10270-136</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Junction plakoglobin</td>
			<td>Cell Signaling</td>
			<td>2309S</td>
			<td>rabbit, 1:400</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laminar-flow cabinet class 2</td>
			<td>Alpina</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>standard equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MCF7-basedHAX1KD cell line</td>
			<td>Cell line established in the National Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, described in Balcerak et al., 2019</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>MCF7 cell line withHAX1knockdown</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MCF7 cell line (CONTROL)</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>ATCC HTB-22</td>
			<td>epithelial, adherent breast cancer cell line</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Olympus CK2 light microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paxillin</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab32084</td>
			<td>rabbit, 1:250, Y113</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10010023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phalloidin-TRITC conjugate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P1951</td>
			<td>1:400 (stock 5 mg/mL in DMSO), actin labeling</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PTX</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T7402-1MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TBST &#8211; NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S9888</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TBST &#8211; Trizma base</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T1503</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>9002-93-11</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zeiss LSM800 Confocal microscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

quantification of cell-substrate adhesion area and cell shape distributions in mcf7 cell monolayers

The methods presented here quantify some parameters of confluent adherent cell monolayers from multiple appropriately stained confocal images: adhesion to the substrate as a function of the number and size of focal adhesions, and cell shape, characterized by the cell shape index and other shape descriptors. Focal adhesions were visualized by paxillin staining and cell-cell borders were marked by junction plakoglobin and actin. The methods for cell culture and staining were standard; images represent single focal planes; image analysis was performed using publicly available image processing software. The presented protocols are used to quantify the number and size of focal adhesions and the differences in cell shape distribution in the monolayers, but they can be repurposed for the quantification of the size and shape of any other distinct cellular structure that can be stained (e.g., mitochondria or nuclei). Assessing these parameters is important in the characterization of the dynamic forces in adherent cell layer, including cell adhesion and actomyosin contractility that affects cell shape.

Focal adhesion analysis 
The knockdown of HAX1 gene was previously shown to affect focal adhesions6. Cells were cultured on collagen I-coated surface for 48 h. Images of the MCF7 control cells and MCF7 cells with a HAX1 knockdown (HAX1 KD) from three independent experiments stained with focal adhesion protein paxillin were obtained using a confocal microscope (image from single focal plane/Z-slice from basal region). FAs from about 2,000-2,500 cells...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantification of Cell-Substrate Adhesion Area and Cell Shape Distributions in MCF7 Cell Monolayers at JoVE.com

Quantification of Cell-Substrate Adhesion Area and Cell Shape Distributions in MCF7 Cell Monolayers

The article describes quantification of 1) the size and number of focal adhesions and 2) cell shape index and its distribution from confocal images of the confluent monolayers of MCF7 cells.

The methods presented here quantify some parameters of confluent adherent cell monolayers from multiple appropriately stained confocal images: adhesion to ...

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