A study on Adipocyte Migration based on HoloMonitor single-cell level results
In yet another publication scientists report on how HoloMonitor was used to study cell motility and cell migration for deeper understanding of cell biological processes.
In Adipocytes Migration is Altered Through Differentiation, published in Microscopy and Microanalysis 2019, differences between the cell motility of nondifferentiated preadipocytes and differentiated mature adipocytes are evaluated for the first time. The work was performed by M. Lustig with colleagues who used HoloMonitor M4 for live-cell imaging and analysis. One rationale for using HoloMonitos was that:
“The technology does not require labelling or staining and allows acquisition of data directly from the culture, which is placed inside an incubator, thus capturing the cell growth process in its natural environment.”
Adipogenesis is a process where preadipocytes differentiate from elongated structures to rounded adipocytes, also known as lipocytes or fat cells. Adipocytes are the cells that primarily compose adipose tissue, specialized in storing energy as fat. During adipogenesis, the cytoskeleton undergoes changes, which in turn affects single-cell motility.
Here, HoloMonitor was used with the Hstudio software to get results on a single-cell level by tracking live cells without staining. Morphological difference between the preadipocytes and the mature adipocyte were shown, and cell motility speed and distance were analyzed. The results show that preadipocytes move faster and further than adipocytes, indicating that cell cytoskeleton is altered during cell differentiation.
The authors conclude:
“Research at single-cell level will have an important contribution to expanding our knowledge of the mechanisms by which cell´s motility is affected as the cells undergo differentiation”.
Single cell tracking using HoloMonitor® Track Cells
The cell tracking functionality, used in this study, is the most advanced and powerful feature of HoloMonitor and allows monitoring and analysis of cell motility, cell migration and morphology of selected cells. Details and changes over time are provided for each cell included in the analysis, and in mean values for the selected population.
Learn more
- Applications of the Track Cells module have been described in numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications.
- Cell tracking, and other available assays for cell motility and migrations studies, using HoloMonitor are outlined in this video.
