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Three-dimensional traction force microscopy: a new tool for quantifying cell-matrix interactions.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Franck, C; Maskarinec, SA; Tirrell, DA; Ravichandran, G
Published in: PLoS One
March 29, 2011

The interactions between biochemical processes and mechanical signaling play important roles during various cellular processes such as wound healing, embryogenesis, metastasis, and cell migration. While traditional traction force measurements have provided quantitative information about cell matrix interactions in two dimensions, recent studies have shown significant differences in the behavior and morphology of cells when placed in three-dimensional environments. Hence new quantitative experimental techniques are needed to accurately determine cell traction forces in three dimensions. Recently, two approaches both based on laser scanning confocal microscopy have emerged to address this need. This study highlights the details, implementation and advantages of such a three-dimensional imaging methodology with the capability to compute cellular traction forces dynamically during cell migration and locomotion. An application of this newly developed three-dimensional traction force microscopy (3D TFM) technique to single cell migration studies of 3T3 fibroblasts is presented to show that this methodology offers a new quantitative vantage point to investigate the three-dimensional nature of cell-ECM interactions.

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Published In

PLoS One

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

March 29, 2011

Volume

6

Issue

3

Start / End Page

e17833

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Microscopy
  • Mice
  • General Science & Technology
  • Extracellular Matrix
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Communication
  • Animals
  • 3T3 Cells
 

Citation

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Franck, C., Maskarinec, S. A., Tirrell, D. A., & Ravichandran, G. (2011). Three-dimensional traction force microscopy: a new tool for quantifying cell-matrix interactions. PLoS One, 6(3), e17833. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0017833
Franck, Christian, Stacey A. Maskarinec, David A. Tirrell, and Guruswami Ravichandran. “Three-dimensional traction force microscopy: a new tool for quantifying cell-matrix interactions.PLoS One 6, no. 3 (March 29, 2011): e17833. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0017833.
Franck C, Maskarinec SA, Tirrell DA, Ravichandran G. Three-dimensional traction force microscopy: a new tool for quantifying cell-matrix interactions. PLoS One. 2011 Mar 29;6(3):e17833.
Franck, Christian, et al. “Three-dimensional traction force microscopy: a new tool for quantifying cell-matrix interactions.PLoS One, vol. 6, no. 3, Mar. 2011, p. e17833. Pubmed, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017833.
Franck C, Maskarinec SA, Tirrell DA, Ravichandran G. Three-dimensional traction force microscopy: a new tool for quantifying cell-matrix interactions. PLoS One. 2011 Mar 29;6(3):e17833.

Published In

PLoS One

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

March 29, 2011

Volume

6

Issue

3

Start / End Page

e17833

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Microscopy
  • Mice
  • General Science & Technology
  • Extracellular Matrix
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Communication
  • Animals
  • 3T3 Cells