Quantifying the changes in cell morphology with changes in cell state

The shape of an adherent cell on a surface depends upon its active cytoskeletal properties and can change with a change in cell state. We have developed a large number of parameters to quantify cell shape and cytoskeletal morphology[1]. Using these to study different cell lines, as well as different experimental conditions, we show, with the help of statistical analysis and neural networks, that cell shape and cytoskeletal texture can discriminate between different states. Projections into lower-dimensional shape space allow us to distinguish between similar and dissimilar changes in shape, and identify similarities in shape changes between breast cancer and osteosarcoma cell lines accompanying the acquisition of invasive characteristics. We also discuss the similarities and differences between shape changes of different cell lines with similar experimental perturbations, as well as the heterogeneity in shape characteristics. Our data indicates that cellular morphology may be a powerful and sensitive window into the physiological state of the cell [2].
1. Alizadeh E., et. al., (2018) BioRxiv
2. Prasad, A. and Alizadeh, E. (2018) Cell Form and Function: Interpreting and Controlling the Shape of Adherent Cells. Trends Biotechnol