science.editor
Posts 45
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Volume 24 | Issue 6 | Page 27
Date: 2010-06-01
KEY CONTENT: The role of dimensionality is a growing field in cell biology, but many labs cannot afford new tools that let cells grow in three dimensions—which could, in theory, better represent what happens in vivo. As a member of F1000’s Faculty of Cell Biology, Ken Yamada at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research flagged a recent PNAS study that described an easy alternative for scientists who want to explore 3D cell culture: paper (106:18457–62, 2009).
TS: Cells are normally grown in a single layer on a plastic surface or in suspension. What’s wrong with this approach?
KY: It’s obviously spatially artificial. You lose normal three-dimensional architecture and the normal interactions of cells with their surroundings, both with the matrix and other cells. The result is usually altered cell shape and gene expression. It seems that dimensionality by itself affects cell behavior.
The other thing about cells grown on a plastic surface is that there’s a major difference in stiffness. The substrate cannot be deformed, whereas in vivo you have elasticity of the matrix.
See article for remainder ....
Original Source: http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/57462/
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