BME Seminar Series: Dr. Richard E. Waugh, Ph.D.

Cell Surface Topography as a Regulator of Cell-Substrate Interactions

Professor and Chair
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Rochester

Abstract

Leukocytes, as well as other cells that live in suspension, have topographically complex surfaces covered with projections, ridges and valleys. This topographical complexity can limit the ability of surface bound molecules to come into contact and interact with molecules on other cells or on a substrate. Imposition of mechanical force alters membrane microtopography and can lead to increased opportunities for interaction between molecules. In addition, active surface remodeling by the cell can occur when cells receive proper stimulus. Experiments using TIRF microscopy reveal how the imposition of mechanical force can alter the accessibility of adhesion molecules on neutrophils, and also show that dramatically different changes in surface apposition can occur when cells interacting with immobilized chemokine undergo active surface reorganization. The results emphasize the importance of surface topography as a regulator of cell-substrate interaction, and indicate that physical reorganization of surface topography during cell spreading is a critical step during the inflammatory response. (Sponsored by NIH under award #PO1-HL018208.)