Measuring How Cells Communicate

University of Connecticut researchers have developed a new technology that records cellular communication in real time—providing a closer look into the dynamics of cell secretion and a greater understanding of how cells repair tissue.

Communication between cells is necessary to maintain most functions in the body and can also help the body properly respond to an external cue—such as an ailment or injury. Current technology only allows broad snapshots of these protein secretions. "This is akin to detecting what words were spoken in a sentence, but not really knowing their placement, the inflection, and tone of the message," says Kshitiz Gupta, first author on a PNAS paper published today. Prior to the current findings, he adds, understanding of the language of communication between cells has been very limited, and did not capture the complexity of messaging involved.

Using a combination of microfluidics and computer modeling, the researchers created a platform to record cell messages in depth, uncovering the precise ways in which the words and messages are arranged in these intercellular conversations.

They then looked at stem cells from bone marrow. Using the platform, the researchers recorded the proteins that were secreted by these stem cells, and how these secretions changed with time. The information was used to create a protein cocktail that led to a second discovery—the possibility of aiding an injury without the use of stem cells. Since the researchers recorded in depth the conversations between the stem cells, they were able to copy the stem cells' exact behavior.

"The findings solve a fundamental problem afflicting systems biology: measuring how cells communicate with each other," says Yashir Suhail, a co-author on the paper. "The platform technology will open new lines of inquiry into research, by providing a unique way to detect how cells talk to each other at a deeper level than what is possible today."