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Cell Migration

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.

Cell Migration

Cell Migration

Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon towards...

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration

Published on: April 3, 2015

Plasticity of cell migration: a multiscale tuning model.

Peter Friedl¹, Katarina Wolf

¹Department of Cell Biology, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6500 HB Nijmegen, Netherlands. P.Friedl@ncmls.ru.nl

The Journal of Cell Biology

|December 3, 2009

Summary

Cell migration, crucial for tissue repair and cancer invasion, is controlled by a multiparameter tuning model. This model explains how tissue environment and cell properties interdependently regulate cell movement modes and efficiency.

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Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration

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Published on: April 3, 2015

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

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Published on: February 21, 2014

Quantitative Analysis of Random Migration of Cells Using Time-lapse Video Microscopy

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Published on: May 13, 2012

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics
Tissue Engineering

Background:

Cell migration is fundamental to tissue development, homeostasis, and disease, including cancer metastasis.
Understanding the mechanisms governing individual versus collective cell migration is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the interdependent factors controlling cell migration modes (amoeboid, mesenchymal) and efficiency.
To develop a multiparameter tuning model integrating tissue and cell determinants of migration.

Main Methods:

Utilized a multiparameter tuning model to analyze extracellular matrix properties (dimension, density, stiffness, orientation).
Incorporated cell-specific factors: cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion, cytoskeletal polarity and stiffness, and pericellular proteolysis.
Investigated the interplay between these parameters in dictating migration strategies.

Main Results:

Demonstrated that extracellular matrix characteristics and cellular properties interact to control migration mode and efficiency.
Showcased how motile cells integrate diverse inputs to modulate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.
Identified cell migration as an adaptive and interconvertible process influenced by a complex parameter matrix.

Conclusions:

The developed tuning model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding cell migration control.
This model has significant implications for physiological processes like tissue regeneration and pathological conditions like cancer invasion.
Cell migration is a dynamic, adaptive process regulated by the integrated response of cells to their microenvironment.