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An alternative model for cell sheet migration on fibronectin during heart formation
1Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls 50614, USA. wiens@cobra.uni.edu
Journal of Theoretical Biology
|March 7, 1996
Summary
Embryonic epithelial cells migrate using a novel mechanism where anterior cells attach to fibronectin, generating force to pull the entire cell layer. This challenges the gradient model for collective cell migration during development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cell biology
- Embryogenesis
Background:
- Animal form emerges from embryonic cell migrations.
- Individual cell migration is understood, but collective epithelial migration remains obscure.
- Precardiac mesoderm migration is crucial for heart formation in amniote embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of precardiac mesoderm epithelial migration.
- To challenge the proposed haptotactic gradient model of fibronectin-driven migration.
- To propose an alternative model for collective cell migration.
Main Methods:
- Immunostaining of fibronectin distribution in the early amniote embryo.
- Analysis of cell adhesion and cytoskeletal function in collective migration.
- Theoretical modeling of cell layer movement.
Main Results:
- Fibronectin is localized as an anterior patch, not an anterior-to-posterior gradient.
- An alternative model proposes anterior cell attachment to fibronectin.
- Cytoskeletal contractile activity in adhered anterior cells generates force propagating through the epithelial layer.
Conclusions:
- Collective epithelial migration may be driven by mechanical force propagation from adhered anterior cells.
- This mechanism explains directional movement following embryonic structure development.
- Challenges existing models based on individual cell haptotaxis to fibronectin gradients.