Multinucleation of Incubated Cells and Their Morphological Differences Compared to Mononuclear Cells

Abstract

Some cells cultured in vitro have multiple nuclei. Since cultured cells are used in various fields of science, including tissue engineering, the nature of the multinucleated cells must be determined. However, multinucleated cells are not frequently observed. In this study, a method to efficiently obtain multinucleated cells was established and their morphological properties were investigated. Initially, we established conditions to quickly and easily generate multinucleated cells by seeding a Xenopus tadpole epithelium tissue-derived cell line (XTC-YF) on less and more hydrophilic dishes, and incubating the cultures with medium supplemented with or without Y-27632—a ROCK inhibitor—to reduce cell contractility. Notably, 88% of the cells cultured on a less hydrophilic dish in medium supplemented with Y-27632 became multinucleate 48 h after seeding, whereas less than 5% of cells cultured under other conditions exhibited this morphology. Some cells showed an odd number (three and five) of cell nuclei 72 h after seeding. Multinucleated cells displayed a significantly smaller nuclear area, larger cell area, and smaller nuclear circularity. As changes in the morphology of the cells correlated with their functions, the proposed method would help researchers understand the functions of multinucleated cells.

The retinoic acid response is a minor component of the cardiac phenotype in H9c2 myoblast differentiation

“…It has been noted that 3D cultures may facilitate the formation of multinucleated H9c2 cells [ 21 ]. Thus, our observation can contribute to the study of multinuclear cell formation [ 22 ], in which RA seems to be an important accelerating factor. Another observation that corroborates the importance of time in cell differentiation is the increase of cell area that, in this case, can be considered a surrogate of increased cell size by fusion rather than hypertrophy, as differentiated cells acquired an elongated shape.…”

“…It has been noted that 3D cultures may facilitate the formation of multinucleated H9c2 cells [ 21 ]. Thus, our observation can contribute to the study of multinuclear cell formation [ 22 ], in which RA seems to be an important accelerating factor.…”

Chlorin Conjugates in Photodynamic Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

“…When the taxol-treated (Figure 19E) and PS co-treated (Figure 19F) TNBC cells were illuminated, smaller nuclei in multi-nucleated cells, indicating chromosomal condensation, were observed. Multinucleation is recognized as histopathological evidence of cells that are compromised, characterized by a smaller nuclear size and smaller nuclear circularity, and are associated with certain diseases [81,82]. The cytoplasm in the taxol-treated cells (Figure 19E) had split and fragmented, with many atypical vesicular components in the cytosolic compartment.…”

Chlorin Conjugates in Photodynamic Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

“…18F) TNBC cells were illuminated, smaller nuclei in multi-nucleated cells indicating chromosomal condensation are observed. Multinucleation is recognized as histopathological evidence of cells that are compromised, characterized with smaller nuclear size and smaller nuclear circularity, and are associated with certain diseases [95][96]. The cytoplasm in taxol-treated cells (Fig.…”