Single cell gene expression analysis in injury-induced collective cell migration

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Collective cell migration is crucial for tissue repair and disease.
• Understanding cellular responses to mechanical injury is key to controlling these processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spatiotemporal gene expression of epithelial cells during injury-induced collective migration.
• To differentiate responses to mechanical injury versus simple release of contact inhibition.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a double-stranded locked nucleic acid probe for real-time intracellular gene expression monitoring.
• Employed a blocker assay with minimal injury as a control.
• Analyzed single-cell gene expression patterns.

Main Results:

• Cells near wound edges showed a gradient response to injury, with gene expression varying by wounding process.
• Cell injury, beyond contact inhibition release, induced reactive oxygen species, Nrf2 protein, and stress response genes (HSP70, HMOX1) spatiotemporally.
• Nrf2 protein demonstrated an inhibitory role in injury-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Conclusions:

• Epithelial cells exhibit modular responses to mechanical injury.
• Nrf2 may be part of an autoregulatory mechanism in injury response.
• Targeting these cellular responses could offer new strategies for tissue repair and preventing tumor invasion.