Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, 30-239 Krakow, Poland.
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Jagiellonian University, Golebia 24, 31-007 Krakow, Poland.
Cells. 2021 Jan 22;10(2):219. doi: 10.3390/cells10020219.
The endometrium lines the uterine cavity, enables implantation of the embryo, and provides an environment for its development and growth. Numerous methods, including microscopic and immunoenzymatic techniques, have been used to study the properties of the cells and tissue of the endometrium to understand changes during, e.g., the menstrual cycle or implantation. Taking into account the existing state of knowledge on the endometrium and the research carried out using other tissues, it can be concluded that the mechanical properties of the tissue and its cells are crucial for their proper functioning. This review intends to emphasize the potential of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the research of endometrium properties. AFM enables imaging of tissues or single cells, roughness analysis, and determination of the mechanical properties (Young's modulus) of single cells or tissues, or their adhesion. AFM has been previously shown to be useful to derive force maps. Combining the information regarding cell mechanics with the alternations of cell morphology or gene/protein expression provides deeper insight into the uterine pathology. The determination of the elastic modulus of cells in pathological states, such as cancer, has been proved to be useful in diagnostics.
子宫内膜衬于子宫腔，使胚胎着床，并为其发育和生长提供环境。已经使用了许多方法，包括显微镜和免疫酶技术，来研究子宫内膜的细胞和组织特性，以了解例如月经周期或着床期间的变化。考虑到现有的子宫内膜知识状态和使用其他组织进行的研究，可以得出结论，组织及其细胞的机械性能对其正常功能至关重要。本综述旨在强调原子力显微镜（AFM）在研究子宫内膜特性方面的潜力。AFM 可以对组织或单个细胞进行成像、粗糙度分析，并确定单个细胞或组织的机械性能（杨氏模量）或其粘附力。先前已经证明 AFM 有助于获得力图谱。将细胞力学信息与细胞形态或基因/蛋白质表达的改变相结合，可以更深入地了解子宫病理学。在癌症等病理状态下确定细胞的弹性模量已被证明在诊断中很有用。
