The role of CD4 on mechanical properties of live cell membrane

Abstract Although much progress has been made in the characterization and identification of CD4 functions, its role in mechanical properties of cell membrane remains largely unknown. Here an atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the roles of CD4 in the elasticity of the leukemic human Jurkat (clone E6‐1) cell membranes. Analysis of the approach force curves with Hertz model for a completely elastic soft sample measured on the selected CD4+ and CD4‐ cells showed that CD4+ cell membrane was softer than CD4‐ one. To confirm that CD4 plays a role in altering cell elasticity, human embryonic kidney 293T cells were transiently transfected with wild type (wt) CD4 plasmid before being used in AFM nanoindentation experiments. The results also demonstrated CD4‐ membrane was stiffer than CD4+ one suggesting that CD4 integrated into plasma membrane and altered its mechanical properties. The study gives insights into the role of CD4 on cell membrane mechanical characteristics and might be helpful for development of cell biology and medicine. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 239–244, 2016.