Manipulating Cilia Using the 3DFM
Abstract
Mucus flow generated by beating cilia projecting from epithelial cells is responsible for the removal of pathogens in the lungs. When the hydrodynamics of this mucociliary clearance system fails, as happens in the condition of Cystic Fibrosis, ensuing infections can destroy the lungs. A complex phenomenology includes the force generation of the cilia, the coupling of the cilia tips to the overlying mucus during the power stroke, and finally, it is speculated that the cilia act as force sensors to allow the control of the mucus viscosity and volume. We have designed a system that allows the measurement of 3 dimensional forces within an optical microscope using magnetic forces and superparamagnetic beads. We have functionalized the beads with antibodies and attached them to the cilia of human lung cell cultures. A laser is focused onto the bead whose motion is tracked using back focal plane detection of the forward scattered light. We have measured the 3 dimensional trajectory of beads attached to cilia beating up to 15Hz in human lung cell cultures with 10 nm, 1msec resolution. When forces are applied to the bead, we observe changes in the trajectory and velocity, implying a strong mechanoresponse of the cell as sensed by the cilia.
- Publication:
-
APS Southeastern Section Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003APS..SES.CB004F