Issue 10, 2011

Analysis of the paracrine loop between cancer cells and fibroblasts using a microfluidic chip

Abstract

We use a microfluidic cell culture chip equipped with pneumatic microvalves to analyze the paracrine loop between lung cancer cells and fibroblasts. In order to assess the cellular responses in the paracrine loop, we measure the migration speeds of cancer cells and the aspect ratios of fibroblasts which reflect the phenotype of myofibroblasts. With well-controlled interaction sequences between these two types of cells, we verify that the cytokines from cancer cells effectively stimulate the fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. The cytokines from myofibroblasts, rather than fibroblasts, increase the migration speeds of cancer cells. We confirm that the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is involved in the interaction between cancer cells and fibroblasts, and we also interrupt this paracrine loop in the cell culture chip by inhibiting the TGF-β1 receptors on fibroblasts.

Graphical abstract: Analysis of the paracrine loop between cancer cells and fibroblasts using a microfluidic chip

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Feb 2011
Accepted
11 Mar 2011
First published
14 Apr 2011

Lab Chip, 2011,11, 1808-1814

Analysis of the paracrine loop between cancer cells and fibroblasts using a microfluidic chip

T. Hsu, J. Xiao, Y. Tsao, Y. Kao, S. Huang, W. Liao and C. Lee, Lab Chip, 2011, 11, 1808 DOI: 10.1039/C1LC20090A

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