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- Title
Visualization and quantification of dynamic intercellular coupling in human embryonic stem cells using single cell sonoporation.
- Authors
Fan, Zhenzhen; Xue, Xufeng; Fu, Jianping; Deng, Cheri X.
- Abstract
Gap junctions (GJs), which are proteinaceous channels, couple adjacent cells by permitting direct exchange of intracellular molecules with low molecular weights. GJ intercellular communication (GJIC) plays a critical role in regulating behaviors of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), affecting their proliferation and differentiation. Here we report a novel use of sonoporation that enables single cell intracellular dye loading and dynamic visualization/quantification of GJIC in hESC colonies. By applying a short ultrasound pulse to excite single microbubbles tethered to cell membranes, a transient pore on the cell membrane (sonoporation) is generated which allows intracellular loading of dye molecules and influx of Ca2+ into single hESCs. We employ live imaging for continuous visualization of intercellular dye transfer and Ca2+ diffusion in hESC colonies. We quantify cell–cell permeability based on dye diffusion using mass transport models. Our results reveal heterogeneous intercellular connectivity and a variety of spatiotemporal characteristics of intercellular Ca2+ waves in hESC colonies induced by sonoporation of single cells.
- Subjects
GAP junctions (Cell biology); EMBRYONIC stem cells; TRANSCRIPTOMES; RNA sequencing; GENE expression
- Publication
Scientific Reports, 2020, Vol 10, Issue 1, pN.PAG
- ISSN
2045-2322
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41598-020-75347-4