Interaction of L1210 cells with sulfonated polystyrene in the absence of serum: adhesion and three-dimensional cell shape

Abstract

The early phase of adhesion of L1210 leukaemia cells to nonsulfonated and sulfonated polystyrene surfaces, in the absence of serum in the medium, was investigated. The effect of sulfonic groups bound to the polystyrene surface on the shape of the adhering cells and on the actin cytoskeleton organisation was studied. The distribution of F-actin and α-actinin in the adhering cells was determined in sequences of fluorescent images of cell optical slices with the use of a conventional light microscope and an image analysis method. In the case of F-actin, the contour of each slice was analysed. Based on the contour shapes and mean radii of the slices, a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the cell was accomplished by means of an original mathematical procedure. This approach made it possible to quantitatively determine the 3D shape of cells. It was found that the number of adhering cells and the strength of adhesion are high and similar for both the nonsulfonated and sulfonated polystyrene surfaces. As a result of adhesion to these surfaces, the cells undergo flattening compared with the shape of free cells, and this phenomenon is enhanced by sulfonic groups. These groups affect the F-actin and α-actinin distribution (in the region near the cell–substratum interface) in the adhering cells.