Dynamic movement and property changes in live mesangial cells by stimuli

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become an important device to visualize various cells and biological materials for non-invasive imaging. The major advantage of AFM compared to the conventional optical and electron microscopes is its convenience. Sample preparation for AFM does not need special coating or vacuum as a procedure. AFM can detect samples even under the aqueous condition. Although the AFM is originally used to obtain surface topography of sample, it can measure precisely the interactions between its probe tip and the sample surface from force-distance measurements. Glomerular mesangial cells (MC) occupied central position in the glomerulus. It is known that MC can control not only glomerular filtration, but also cell response to local injury including cell proliferation and basement membrane remodeling. It was reported the increment of angiotensin II by activation of rennin angiotensin aldosterone system (RASS) caused abnormal function of MC. In this study, we observed structural and mechanical changes to MC after Ang II treatment using AFM. Real time imaging of live cell suggested dynamical movement of cells was stimulated by angiotensin II injection. Simultaneously, the changes of stiffness and adhesion force of MC by angiotensin II and angiotension II inhibitor (telmisartan) was revealed by using force-distance curve measurement. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.