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Cell Migration

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.

Cell Migration

Cell Migration

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.

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon...

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection

Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection

Published on: June 23, 2023

Biomarkers to quantify cell migration characteristics.

Sangwoo Kwon¹, Woochul Yang², Donggerami Moon¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 04620 Republic of Korea.

Cancer Cell International

|June 11, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cell stiffness and adhesion strength are key to cell motility. F-actin and integrin densities correlate with these properties, serving as potential biomarkers for quantifying cell migration.

Keywords:

Adhesion strength Cell movement Cellular elasticity F-actin Integrin

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Last Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection

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Published on: June 23, 2023

Quantifying Three-Dimensional Cell Migration Within and Into Granular Hydrogel Biomaterials

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Analysis of Cell Migration within a Three-dimensional Collagen Matrix

Analysis of Cell Migration within a Three-dimensional Collagen Matrix

Published on: October 5, 2014

Area of Science:

Cellular biology
Biophysics
Biomaterials science

Background:

Cell movement relies on F-actin and integrin connections.
Cellular elasticity and adhesion strength are potential cell motility biomarkers.
A consistent set of cell motility biomarkers is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To characterize cell migration phenotypes based on cellular elasticity and adhesion strength.
To reveal the interdependence of subcellular systems in mediating optimal cell migration.

Main Methods:

Characterization of cell migration phenotypes.
Analysis of cellular elasticity and adhesion strength.
Assessment of F-actin and integrin distribution and density.

Main Results:

Stiff cells with weak adhesion exhibited superior motility.
Soft cells with strong adhesion showed inhibited migration.
F-actin and integrin densities correlated linearly with cellular elasticity and adhesion strength, respectively.

Conclusions:

Cellular elasticity and adhesion strength are critical determinants of cell migration.
F-actin and integrin densities can serve as quantifiable biomarkers for cell migration characteristics.