Invasive Cx43high sub-line of human prostate DU145 cells displays increased nanomechanical deformability

Connexin(Cx)43high cells are preferentially recruited to the invasive front of prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo. To address the involvement of Cx43 in the regulation of human prostate cancer DU145 cell invasiveness, we analysed the nanoelasticity of invasive Cx43high sub-sets of DU145 cells by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cx43high DU145 cells displayed considerably higher susceptibility to mechanical distortions than the wild type DU145 cells. Transient Cx43 silencing had no effect on their elastic properties. Our data confirm the relationship between invasive potential, Cx43 expression and nanomechanical elasticity of DU145 cells. However, they also show that Cx43 is not directly involved in the maintenance of DU145 invasive phenotype.