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Related Concept Videos

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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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Traction Microscopy Integrated with Microfluidics for Chemotactic Collective Migration
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A common framework for EMT and collective cell migration.

Kyra Campbell1,2, Jordi Casanova1,2

  • 1Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona (CSIC), C/Baldiri Reixac 10, Barcelona, Catalonia 08028, Spain kyra.campbell@irbbarcelona.org jcrbmc@ibmb.csic.es.

Development (Cambridge, England)
|December 1, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell migration during development is not strictly epithelial or mesenchymal. Instead, cells exhibit a spectrum of behaviors, blending features and migrating in diverse ways.

Keywords:
Collective migrationEMTEpithelialMesenchymal

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Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Developmental biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Cellular transitions between static and migratory states are crucial during development.
  • These transitions are implicated in pathological conditions.
  • Traditionally, epithelial cells were thought to migrate collectively or undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to migrate individually.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the dichotomy of collective epithelial migration versus individual mesenchymal migration.
  • To propose a unified model for in vivo cell migration.
  • To explore the continuum of cell migratory behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on in vivo cell migration.
  • Analysis of cellular morphology and migratory patterns.
  • Hypothesis generation based on current understanding.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests cell migration is not strictly binary (epithelial vs. mesenchymal).
  • Cells can exhibit intermediate phenotypes, combining epithelial and mesenchymal characteristics.
  • A continuum of migratory behaviors exists, rather than mutually exclusive categories.

Conclusions:

  • Cell migration during development represents a spectrum, not a simple choice.
  • Cells can possess varying degrees of epithelial and mesenchymal traits.
  • This continuum model offers a more comprehensive understanding of in vivo cell motility.