Single cell analysis on the role of TGF-β1 in autophagy of tumor cell-interacted stroma fibroblasts

The communication between carcinoma associated fibroblast cells (CAFs) and tumor cells and autophagy activation mechanism during this interaction are important in the survival, proliferation and metastasis of cancer. Here we introduce a single cell-based screening platform consisted of PDMS porous membrane. In this paper, single cell-based screening platform is used (1) to trap single tumor cells by using gravitation force and agitation, (2) to monitor the autophagy of fibroblasts after interaction, and (3) to study paracrine factors from the heterogenic tumor cells inducing autophagy activation in fibroblasts. Our study highlights the role of TGF-β1 secreted by tumor cells in the autophagy activation in fibroblast using a novel screening system.