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Updated: May 7, 2026
09:55
In vitro Cell Migration and Invasion Assays
Published on: June 1, 2014
Autophagy modulates cell migration and β1 integrin membrane recycling
Véronique Tuloup-Minguez1, Ahmed Hamaï, Anne Greffard
1INSERM UMR 984; University of Paris-Sud 11; Châtenay-Malabry, France.
Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|September 17, 2013
Summary
Autophagy regulates cell migration by controlling β1 integrin levels. Reduced autophagy enhances cell migration, impacting development and tumor progression.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cell migration is crucial for development, angiogenesis, and tumor progression.
- Integrin recycling is a key event in cell migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of autophagy in regulating cell migration.
- To understand how autophagy influences integrin membrane recycling.
Main Methods:
- Wound-healing assays were used to assess cell migration.
- Autophagy levels were modulated using genetic knockdown (ATG7) and pharmacological inhibition (rapamycin).
- Co-localization studies examined the relationship between β1 integrin, LC3, and autophagic vacuoles.
Main Results:
- Autophagy was reduced at the leading edge of migrating cells, correlating with MTOR activity.
- Inhibition of autophagy (rapamycin) decreased cell migration capacity.
- Knockdown of ATG7 and genetic deletion of ATG3/ATG5 enhanced cell migration.
- Autophagy inhibition slowed β1 integrin degradation and promoted its membrane recycling.
Conclusions:
- Autophagy regulates cell migration by controlling β1 integrin cell surface expression.
- Mitigating autophagy enhances cell migration, suggesting a role in pathological processes like tumor progression.
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