The phospholipolytically active neurotoxin Vipoxin induces changes of the mechanical properties of breast epithelial cells

Abstract

The investigation of how drugs or toxins alter cell mechanics is gaining significant traction in biomedical science, driven by the dual objectives of elucidating their mechanisms of action and enhancing drug screening processes. In this study, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), a prominent experimental technique in recent years, was employed to examine and analyze the mechanical responses of cells exposed to the neurotoxin Vipoxin. This method enables the precise measurement of key mechanical parameters such as cell stiffness and viscoelasticity before and after toxin introduction in the cell culture. It was demonstrated that the cells' stiffness and viscosity decreased with increasing Vipoxin concentration. Additionally, Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM) was utilized to monitor morphological changes in the cells over time. These morphological changes were quantitatively analyzed using fractal analysis of the acquired images. The observed changes in cell shapes implied the reorganization of the cell cytoskeleton, thus providing insight into a comprehensive understanding of cell mechanics under the influence of Vipoxin.