Fig. 1: Compressive forces induce melanoma cell state changes in a model microcapillary device.

A Device schematic consisting of a series of parallel constrictive channels of 30 µm (i), 20 µm (ii), 10 µm (iii), 5 µm (iv) diameter. B Images of melanoma cells passing through the micro constrictions and relaxation chambers. (C) Quantification of viable cells in control (CTRL) and squeezed (SQZD) groups. The results are expressed as the mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. Statistical significance assessed with two-sided unpaired t-test: p  =  0.003 (***), 95% CI: [−38.52, −23.48]. D-F Plot of deformation index (DI) of melanoma cells transiting the microfluidic device, demonstration of inverse relationship between channel diameter and median deformation, and quantification of the % median deformation. n = 20 cells for each plotted condition. The observed trend was confirmed with 3x biological repeat experiments performed on different days. G Representative fluorescence images of nuclei (Hoechst) for CTRL and SQZD cells. H Graph of nuclear area, expressed as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. Statistical significance assessed with two-sided unpaired t-test: p  =  0.0212 (*), 95% CI: [−56.12, −7.86]. I Graph of nuclear intensity (Hoechst), expressed as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. Statistical significance assessed with two-sided unpaired t-test: p  =  0.0261(*), 95% CI: [6.688, 62.11]. L and M Immunofluorescence images and quantification of H3K9ac in melanoma cells, expressed as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. Statistical significance assessed with two-sided unpaired t-test: p  =  0.00895 (ns), 95% CI: [−47.12, −5.131]. N and O Immunofluorescence images and quantification of H3K9me3 in melanoma cells, expressed as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. Statistical significance assessed with two-sided unpaired t-test: p  =  0.0382 (**), 95% CI: [5.805, 126.2]. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.