Macrophage phenotype bioengineered by magnetic field interference

Functionally different macrophages have different shape and molecular phenotype that depend on actin cytoskeleton. In all eukaryotic cells the cell shapes and the cell functions are reciprocally related. Thus, the mechanically/magnetically, genetically or biochemically enforced change in cell shape will profoundly reverberate at cell functions. Here we report that an exposure of macrophages to a nonuniform magnetic field causes extreme elongation of macrophages and has a profound effect on their molecular components and organelles. We observed that magnetic force rearranges the macrophage actin cytoskeleton, Golgi complex and cation channel receptor TRPM2 and modifies expression of macrophage molecular markers. We also analyzed magnetic-induced forces acting on macrophages and found that location and alignment of magnetic-field-elongated macrophages correlate very well with the simulated distribution and orientation of such magnetic-force lines. Such bioengineering of the macrophages properties has a potential to be used in development of novel anti-rejection therapies in clinical organ transplantation and anti-cancer and anti-metastatic therapies.