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Altered Membrane Dynamics of Quantum Dot-Conjugated Integrins during Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Derived Progenitor Cells

Hongfeng Chen ^*, Igor Titushkin ^*, Michael Stroscio  and Michael Cho ^*

^* Department of Bioengineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60607

Correspondence: Address reprint requests to Dr. Michael Cho, Dept. of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Chicago, 851 S. Morgan St. (M/C 063), Chicago, IL 60607. Tel.: 312-413-9424; Fax: 312-996-5921; E-mail: mcho{at}uic.edu.

Functionalized quantum dots offer several advantages for tracking the motion of individual molecules on the cell surface, including selective binding, precise optical identification of cell surface molecules, and detailed examination of the molecular motion without photobleaching. We have used quantum dots conjugated with integrin antibodies and performed studies to quantitatively demonstrate changes in the integrin dynamics during osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow derived progenitor cells (BMPCs). Consistent with the unusually strong BMPC adhesion previously observed, integrins on the surface of undifferentiated BMPC were found in clusters and the lateral diffusion was slow (e.g., 10^–11 cm²/s). At times as early as those after a 3-day incubation in the osteogenic differentiation media, the integrin diffusion coefficients increased by an order of magnitude, and the integrin dynamics became indistinguishable from that measured on the surface of terminally differentiated human osteoblasts. Furthermore, microfilaments in BMPCs consisted of atypically thick bundles of stress fibers that were responsible for restricting the integrin lateral mobility. Studies using laser optical tweezers showed that, unlike fully differentiated osteoblasts, the BMPC cytoskeleton is weakly associated with its cell membrane. Based on these findings, it appears likely that the altered integrin dynamics is correlated with BMPC differentiation and that the integrin lateral mobility is restricted by direct links to microfilaments.

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