Multiple signaling interactions coordinate collective cell migration of the posterior lateral line primordium

Collective migration of adherent cohorts of cells is a common and crucial phenomenon during embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. The zebrafish posterior lateral line primordium has emerged as a powerful in vivo model to study collective migration due to its relative simplicity and accessibility. While it has become clear that chemokine signaling is the primary guidance system responsible for directing the primordium along its migratory path it is not clear what mechanisms downstream of chemokine signaling coordinate migration of individual cells within the primordium. In this review, we summarize the cell signaling interactions that underlie collective migration of the primordium and discuss proposed mechanisms for the function of chemokine signaling in this tissue.