Mechano-node-pore sensing data for article figures

While
all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is an essential therapy in the treatment of
acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), nearly 20% of APL patients are resistant to
ATRA. As there are no biomarkers for ATRA resistance that yet exist, we
investigated whether cell mechanics could be associated with this pathological
phenotype. Using mechano-node-pore sensing, a single-cell mechanical
phenotyping platform, and patient-derived APL cell lines, we discovered that
ATRA-resistant APL cells are less mechanically pliable. By investigating how
different subcellular components of APL cells contribute to whole-cell
mechanical phenotype, we determined that nuclear mechanics strongly influence
an APL cell’s mechanical response. Moreover, decondensing chromatin with
trichostatin A is especially effective in softening ATRA-resistant APL cells.
RNA-Seq allowed us to compare the transcriptomic differences between
ATRA-resistant and ATRA-responsive APL cells and highlighted gene expression
changes that could be associated with mechanical changes. Overall, we have demonstrated
the potential of “physical” biomarkers in identifying APL resistance.