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Related Concept Videos

Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

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Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
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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.
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Myosins are multimeric motor proteins involved in various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Myosin II is the most common type in animal cells, which binds and cross-links actin filaments.
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Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
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Membrane Blebbing Is Required for Mesenchymal Precursor Migration.

Beatriz de Lucas1,2, Aurora Bernal1, Laura M Pérez1

  • 1Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain.

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|March 2, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mesenchymal precursors (MPs) migrate using both lamellipodia and blebs. Bleb formation, driven by cell contractility, is a key mechanism enhancing MP migration for cell therapy applications.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Mesenchymal precursors (MPs) are valuable for cell therapy due to their differentiation and migration abilities.
  • Understanding MP migration mechanisms is crucial for optimizing cell delivery protocols.
  • Cell migration traditionally involves lamellipodia, but contractility-driven blebs are an emerging alternative motility mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of bleb formation in mesenchymal precursor (MP) migration.
  • To characterize the cellular mechanisms underlying MP motility.

Main Methods:

  • Observation of MP cytoplasmic projections in sub-confluent cultures.
  • Immunofluorescence staining for pERM, RhoA, and F-actin.
  • Migration assays using blebbistatin (myosin II inhibitor).

Main Results:

  • MPs exhibit dynamic cytoplasmic projections, a mix of lamellipodia and blebs at the leading edge.
  • Initial cell seeding predominantly shows bleb structures.
  • Bleb formation positively correlated with MP migratory capacity, as evidenced by blebbistatin treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Bleb formation is a significant mechanism contributing to mesenchymal precursor migration.
  • This contractility-driven motility offers a potential strategy to enhance cell migration in cell therapy.