Speaker
Description
Cells generate traction forces to probe the mechanical properties of their surroundings and to maintain a basal equilibrium state of stress. These forces also play key roles in cell migration, adhesion, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and their dysregulation is frequently associated with pathological conditions such as cancer. Quantifying traction forces is therefore essential for understanding cell mechanics in cancer progression and metastasis.
In this work, we present a practical primer on two dimensional traction force microscopy (2D TFM), outlining the experimental workflow and data analysis methodology. As an application example, we measured traction forces generated by three human breast cancer cell lines with distinct metastatic potential (MCF10-A, MCF-7, and MDA MB 231) and examined how disruption of the actin cytoskeleton affects these forces. Contrary to common assumptions in the literature, we observed that cells with higher metastatic potential (MDA MB 231) exerted lower traction forces. We discuss how substrate stiffness and ECM protein concentration may contribute to these findings and influence the interpretation of traction force measurements in cancer research.