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Podosomes in space: macrophage migration and matrix degradation in 2D and 3D settings

Christiane Wiesner1, Véronique Le-Cabec2, Karim El Azzouzi1

  • 1Institute for Medical Microbiology; Virology and Hygiene; University Medical Center Eppendorf; Hamburg, Germany.

Cell Adhesion & Migration
|April 10, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Macrophage migration is vital for health and disease, influencing pathogen clearance and tumor progression. This review details how cellular and environmental factors dictate macrophage migration modes and podosome formation in 2D and 3D settings.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Macrophage migration is crucial for physiological processes like pathogen clearance and tissue repair.
  • Aberrant macrophage migration contributes to pathological conditions, notably in tumor microenvironments.
  • Understanding macrophage migration dynamics is essential for both basic research and therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of macrophage migration modes.
  • To explore the influence of environmental and cellular parameters on migration and podosome formation.
  • To review current and novel assays for studying macrophage migration in 2D and 3D environments.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on macrophage migration.
  • Analysis of environmental factors (physical and chemical properties) affecting cell behavior.
  • Discussion of cellular parameters influencing migration and matrix degradation.
  • Evaluation of various in vitro assays for assessing macrophage migration.

Main Results:

  • Macrophage migration modes are highly adaptable to environmental constraints.
  • Both environmental and cellular factors significantly impact migration dynamics and podosome assembly.
  • Podosome formation, crucial for matrix degradation, is modulated by these parameters in 2D and 3D.
  • Existing assays offer valuable insights but have limitations in fully replicating in vivo complexity.

Conclusions:

  • Macrophage migration is a complex, context-dependent process governed by intricate interactions between the cell and its surroundings.
  • The choice of assay significantly influences the interpretation of macrophage migration data.
  • Further development of advanced 3D models is needed to better mimic in vivo conditions and advance therapeutic strategies targeting macrophage migration.
Keywords:
MMPcell migrationextracellular matrixmacrophagespodosomesproteases

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