J0207-1-5 Observation of cell behavior on substrates with elasticity gradient

Abstract

To study cell response to substrate stiffness, we observed shape and migration of UV♀2 cells on polyacrylamide gel substrates with elasticity gradient. The substrates were fabricated with a photopolymerization method and had a soft (E=10 kPa) and a stiff (55 kPa) region connected with a transition region with elasticity gradient of ca. 100 kPa/mm. Cells on the stiff region showed an elongated shape and migrated actively, while those on the soft region were round and seldom migrate. On the transition region, cells tended to migrate toward the stiff region. Cells elongate and attach their pseudopod to substrate when they spread and migrate. The connection between pseudopod and substrate might be too weak on soft substrates to withstand intracellular tension developed during cell spreading and migration. We confirmed that difference of substrate stiffness affects cell behavior.