In Vitro Assessment of Migratory Behavior of Two Cell Populations in a Simple Multichannel Microdevice

Processes

Mahboubeh Kabiri³  William B. Lott³  Ehsan Kabiri²  Pamela J. Russell¹ 

[1] Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane 4102, Australia; E-Mail:;Department of Mechanical Engineering, Esfahan University of Technology, Esfahan, Iran; E-Mail:;Stem Cell Therapies Laboratory, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane 4102, Australia; E-Mails:

关键词: cancer cells;    MSC migration;    multichannel microdevice;    paracrine signaling;   

DOI  :  10.3390/pr1030349

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Recent literature suggests that mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) could be used as Trojan Horses to deliver “death-signals” to cancer cells. Herein, we describe the development of a novel multichannel cell migration device, and use it to investigate the relative migration rates of bone marrow-derived MSC and breast cancer cells (MCF-7) towards each other. Confluent monolayers of MSC and MCF-7 were established in adjacent chambers separated by an array of 14 microchannels. Initially, culture chambers were isolated by air bubbles (air-valves) contained within each microchannel, and then bubbles were displaced to initiate the assay. The MCF-7 cells migrated preferentially towards MSC, whilst the MSC did not migrate preferentially towards the MCF-7 cells. Our results corroborate previous literature that suggests MSC migration towards cancer cells in vivo is in response to the associated inflammation rather than directly to signals secreted by the cancer cells themselves.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.