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Updated: Sep 25, 2025
05:50
Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy
Published on: November 1, 2021
2.5K
Leading-edge elongation by follower cell interruption in advancing epithelial cell sheets
Chika Okimura1, Misaki Iwanaga1, Tatsunari Sakurai2
1Department of Biology, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8512, Japan.
Summary
Collective cell migration involves follower cells joining the leading edge, becoming new leaders. This process, driven by actomyosin cables, explains how cell sheets elongate during migration.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Collective cell migration is crucial for development and disease, including morphogenesis, wound healing, and cancer metastasis.
- Epithelial keratocyte sheets migrating from fish scales form semicircular patterns, with leading edge cells possessing lamellipodia and interconnected by actomyosin cables.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism behind the elongation of the leading edge in collective cell migration.
- To understand how new leader cells emerge and integrate into the migrating sheet.
Main Methods:
- Observation of epithelial keratocyte sheets migrating from detached fish scales.
- Analysis of cell-cell connections and actomyosin cable dynamics during migration.
Main Results:
- Leading-edge elongation is achieved by follower cells interrupting the leading edge.
- New actomyosin cables form between follower cells and adjacent leader cells.
- Contractile forces pull follower cells forward, transforming them into leader cells, and stretching/tearing original inter-leader cables.
Conclusions:
- A novel mechanism of follower cell intercalation and actomyosin-cable reconnection drives collective cell migration and leading-edge elongation.
- This process provides insights into the dynamic regulation of cell-sheet expansion and tissue morphogenesis.
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