Tempo-Spatial Change of Cellular Stiffness and Geometry in the Process of Developing Epithelial Cell–Cell Adhesion Measured by Atomic Force Microscopy

Abstract

For sheet-like tissue, mechanical strength at cell–cell adhesion is important. However, it is unclear how long the mechanical strength is constructed. To clarify temporal change of the strength, we measured elasticity of epithelial cells during cellular migration to cover a vacancy by atomic force microscopy. Immediately after the construction of cell–cell contact, elasticity was low. However, elasticity increased following  min. Time-lapse observation of cellular morphology revealed that cells became spindle-shaped after the construction of cell–cell contact and then became round. The changes in elasticity and morphology would be multi-cellular dynamics in the epithelial wound healing process.