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Updated: May 21, 2026
07:47
Characterizing Epithelial Wound Healing In Vivo Using the Cnidarian Model Organism Clytia hemisphaerica
Published on: February 10, 2023
Cell crawling mediates collective cell migration to close undamaged epithelial gaps
Ester Anon1, Xavier Serra-Picamal, Pascal Hersen
1Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université Paris Diderot and Unité Mixte de Recherche 7057 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75205 Paris Cedex 13, France.
Summary
Epithelial gap closure primarily relies on collective cell migration and lamellipodium protrusion, especially in larger gaps. Smaller gaps exhibit passive closure mechanisms independent of common contractile pathways.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Epithelial gap closure is crucial for morphogenesis and wound healing.
- Two main mechanisms, actomyosin contraction and cell migration, are proposed but their relative roles are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate epithelial gap closure mechanisms without cell injury.
- To differentiate the contributions of cell migration versus contractile forces.
Main Methods:
- Developed a pillar stencil method to create defined epithelial gaps.
- Analyzed gap closure dynamics, lamellipodium extension, and molecular pathway involvement (Rac, MLCK, ROCK).
Main Results:
- Gap closure rate was linear, with two regimes based on gap size.
- Large gaps were dominated by lamellipodium-mediated cell migration.
- Small gaps (<20 µm) showed density-dependent, passive closure.
- Low-curvature areas promoted lamellipodia and faster closure.
Conclusions:
- Collective cell migration via lamellipodium protrusion is the primary driver of epithelial gap closure in uninjured epithelia.
- Passive physical mechanisms may contribute to closure in smaller gaps.
- Gap geometry influences migration dynamics.
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