F-actin dynamics regulates collective cell migration by modulating cell shape and stress correlation

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biophysics
• Mechanobiology

Background:

• Actin filaments (F-actin) are crucial for cell contractility and collective cell migration.
• Subcellular F-actin dynamics' influence on large-scale cell cluster behavior is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how stress fiber and cryptic lamellipodia dynamics regulate collective cell migration using a mechanical model.
• To elucidate the mechanisms linking intracellular F-actin dynamics to collective cell behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Development of a mechanical model to simulate F-actin structures.
• Analysis of how stress fiber and cryptic lamellipodia dynamics affect cell rearrangements and migration.
• Modeling the influence of F-actin dynamics on cell movement inhibition and spatial correlation of stress.

Main Results:

• Strengthening stress fibers amplifies cell rearrangements and overcomes high-density migration inhibition.
• Tension-induced cell elongation facilitates movement in dense cell monolayers.
• Enhanced stress fibers improve collaborative cell movement and spatial stress correlation.
• Cryptic lamellipodia show similar regulatory effects on collective cell migration.

Conclusions:

• Intracellular F-actin dynamics, specifically stress fibers and cryptic lamellipodia, significantly impact collective cell migration.
• Findings provide insights into the mechanisms governing cell cluster behavior and its biological significance.