Abstract
Cancer epithelial cells often migrate away from the primary tumor to invade into the surrounding tissues. Their migration is commonly assumed to be directed by pre-existent spatial gradients of chemokines and growth factors in the target tissues. Unexpectedly however, we found that the guided migration of epithelial cells is possible in vitro in the absence of pre-existent chemical gradients. We observed that both normal and cancer epithelial cells can migrate persistently and reach the exit along the shortest path from microscopic mazes filled with uniform concentrations of media. Using microscale engineering techniques and biophysical models, we uncovered a self-guidance strategy during which epithelial cells generate their own guiding cues under conditions of biochemical confinement. The self-guidance strategy depends on the balance between three interdependent processes: epidermal growth factor (EGF) uptake by the cells (U), the restricted transport of EGF through the structured microenvironment (T), and cell chemotaxis toward the resultant EGF gradients (C). The UTC self-guidance strategy can be perturbed by inhibition of signalling through EGF-receptors and appears to be independent from chemokine signalling. Better understanding of the UTC self-guidance strategy could eventually help devise new ways for modulating epithelial cell migration and delaying cancer cell invasion or accelerating wound healing.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 259-269 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Integrative biology : quantitative biosciences from nano to macro |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2012 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
Cite this
Epithelial cell guidance by self-generated EGF gradients. / Scherber, Cally; Aranyosi, Alexander J.; Kulemann, Birte; Thayer, Sarah P; Toner, Mehmet; Iliopoulos, Othon; Irimia, Daniel.
In: Integrative biology : quantitative biosciences from nano to macro, Vol. 4, No. 3, 01.01.2012, p. 259-269.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Epithelial cell guidance by self-generated EGF gradients.
AU - Scherber, Cally
AU - Aranyosi, Alexander J.
AU - Kulemann, Birte
AU - Thayer, Sarah P
AU - Toner, Mehmet
AU - Iliopoulos, Othon
AU - Irimia, Daniel
PY - 2012/1/1
Y1 - 2012/1/1
N2 - Cancer epithelial cells often migrate away from the primary tumor to invade into the surrounding tissues. Their migration is commonly assumed to be directed by pre-existent spatial gradients of chemokines and growth factors in the target tissues. Unexpectedly however, we found that the guided migration of epithelial cells is possible in vitro in the absence of pre-existent chemical gradients. We observed that both normal and cancer epithelial cells can migrate persistently and reach the exit along the shortest path from microscopic mazes filled with uniform concentrations of media. Using microscale engineering techniques and biophysical models, we uncovered a self-guidance strategy during which epithelial cells generate their own guiding cues under conditions of biochemical confinement. The self-guidance strategy depends on the balance between three interdependent processes: epidermal growth factor (EGF) uptake by the cells (U), the restricted transport of EGF through the structured microenvironment (T), and cell chemotaxis toward the resultant EGF gradients (C). The UTC self-guidance strategy can be perturbed by inhibition of signalling through EGF-receptors and appears to be independent from chemokine signalling. Better understanding of the UTC self-guidance strategy could eventually help devise new ways for modulating epithelial cell migration and delaying cancer cell invasion or accelerating wound healing.
AB - Cancer epithelial cells often migrate away from the primary tumor to invade into the surrounding tissues. Their migration is commonly assumed to be directed by pre-existent spatial gradients of chemokines and growth factors in the target tissues. Unexpectedly however, we found that the guided migration of epithelial cells is possible in vitro in the absence of pre-existent chemical gradients. We observed that both normal and cancer epithelial cells can migrate persistently and reach the exit along the shortest path from microscopic mazes filled with uniform concentrations of media. Using microscale engineering techniques and biophysical models, we uncovered a self-guidance strategy during which epithelial cells generate their own guiding cues under conditions of biochemical confinement. The self-guidance strategy depends on the balance between three interdependent processes: epidermal growth factor (EGF) uptake by the cells (U), the restricted transport of EGF through the structured microenvironment (T), and cell chemotaxis toward the resultant EGF gradients (C). The UTC self-guidance strategy can be perturbed by inhibition of signalling through EGF-receptors and appears to be independent from chemokine signalling. Better understanding of the UTC self-guidance strategy could eventually help devise new ways for modulating epithelial cell migration and delaying cancer cell invasion or accelerating wound healing.
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U2 - 10.1039/c2ib00106c
DO - 10.1039/c2ib00106c
M3 - Article
VL - 4
SP - 259
EP - 269
JO - Integrative Biology (United Kingdom)
JF - Integrative Biology (United Kingdom)
SN - 1757-9694
IS - 3
ER -