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Asymmetric division coordinates collective cell migration in angiogenesis.
Guilherme Costa1, Kyle I Harrington2, Holly E Lovegrove1
1Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Michael Smith Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
Nature Cell Biology
|November 22, 2016
Summary
Asymmetric cell division creates differences between daughter cells, driving coordinated collective cell migration in blood vessel formation (angiogenesis). This process integrates cell division with migration, crucial for tissue development and cancer invasion.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Angiogenesis Research
Background:
- Asymmetric cell division is known to regulate cell fate and diversity in tissue morphogenesis.
- Its role in dynamic processes like cell migration has not been previously established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of asymmetric division in collective cell migration during angiogenesis.
- To understand how cell division heterogeneity influences multicellular polarity and coordinated migration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized zebrafish in vivo experimental models.
- Employed computational approaches to analyze cell behavior.
- Investigated endothelial tip cell division and downstream signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Asymmetric spindle positioning during endothelial tip cell division yields daughters with distinct sizes and pro-migratory signaling thresholds.
- Post-mitotic asymmetry in Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (Vegfr) signaling drives self-organization into tip and stalk cells.
- Disruption of asymmetry leads to randomized daughter cell fate selection.
Conclusions:
- Asymmetric cell division establishes multicellular polarity essential for coordinated collective cell migration in angiogenesis.
- This mechanism integrates cell proliferation with collective migration, potentially impacting tissue development, regeneration, and cancer invasion.
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