Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

4.7K
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...
4.7K
Cell Migration01:19

Cell Migration

4.8K
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.
4.8K
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

2.6K
In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue. 
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
2.6K
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

5.2K
Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
5.2K
Role of Myosin in Cell Migration01:18

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

2.3K
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.
Myosin II  is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction....
2.3K
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

2.5K
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...
2.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

IntAct-U-ExM enables super-resolution imaging of isoform-specific actin networks across species.

PLoS biology·2026
Same author

Dose-dependent effects and mechanisms of exercise-like stimulation on cardiac injury and contractile function: outcomes of the MICRO-ATHLETE study.

Basic research in cardiology·2026
Same author

The Landscape of Pediatric Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma and Predictors of Invasive Disease: A CATC Study.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2026
Same author

Tracking spatio-temporal dynamics of early immune responses to an intranasal OMV-based pneumococcal vaccine candidate in mice.

NPJ vaccines·2026
Same author

<i>KEAP1</i> mutations activate the NRF2 pathway to drive cell growth and migration, and attenuate drug response in thyroid cancer.

Frontiers in oncology·2026
Same author

Observing biological spatio-angular structures and dynamics with statistical image reconstruction and polarized fluorescence microscopy.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels
09:36

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

11.9K

Dendritic cell force-migration coupling on aligned fiber networks.

Christian Hernandez-Padilla1, Ben Joosten2, Aime Franco3

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.

Biophysical Journal
|July 12, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Immature dendritic cells (iDCs) exhibit unique migratory behaviors in 3D fibrous environments, transitioning between persistent and slow states. They utilize filamentous protrusions to navigate and exert forces on fibers, independent of alignment, revealing insights into in vivo immune cell movement.

More Related Videos

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis
11:28

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Published on: March 25, 2016

10.7K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration
06:42

Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration

Published on: May 24, 2024

1.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels
09:36

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

11.9K
Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis
11:28

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Published on: March 25, 2016

10.7K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration
06:42

Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration

Published on: May 24, 2024

1.4K

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial antigen-presenting cells initiating adaptive immunity.
  • DC migration through connective tissues is vital for immune surveillance.
  • Limited understanding exists on DC motility within 3D fibrous environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate immature dendritic cell (iDC) migration in 3D fibrous networks mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM).
  • To characterize iDC migratory behaviors, protrusion dynamics, and responses to topographical cues.
  • To explore the influence of fiber diameter and alignment on iDC motility.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized suspended fiber networks to simulate 3D ECM environments.
  • Observed and analyzed iDC migration patterns using live-cell imaging.
  • Investigated cellular protrusions and actin organization in response to fiber topography and inflammatory agents (PGE2).
  • Quantified iDC force-coupling and migration dynamics.

Main Results:

  • iDCs displayed migratory cycles, shifting between persistent and slow states in 3D fiber networks.
  • A subset of iDCs formed front-directed protrusions, which reversed upon PGE2 treatment.
  • iDCs exhibited force-coupling and lateral attachment to fibers, enabling migration irrespective of fiber alignment.
  • Increased fiber diameter (200-500 nm) did not alter migration but induced denser actin bundles.

Conclusions:

  • iDC migration in 3D fibrous environments is characterized by dynamic cycles and unique force-coupling mechanisms.
  • Topographical cues, including fiber alignment and diameter, influence iDC protrusion formation and actin organization.
  • These findings provide novel insights into how iDCs navigate complex in vivo tissue environments.