Effects of Migrating Cell-Induced Matrix Reorganization on 3D Cancer Cell Migration

The migration of cells is fundamental to a number of physiological/pathological processes, ranging from embryonic development, tissue regeneration to cancer metastasis. Current research on cell migration is largely based on simplified in vitro models that assume a homogeneous microenvironment and ov...

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Main Authors: Sun, W., Kurniawan, N., Kumar, Alan Prem, Rajagopalan, R., Lim, C.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer New York LLC 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32537
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author Sun, W.
Kurniawan, N.
Kumar, Alan Prem
Rajagopalan, R.
Lim, C.
author_facet Sun, W.
Kurniawan, N.
Kumar, Alan Prem
Rajagopalan, R.
Lim, C.
author_sort Sun, W.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The migration of cells is fundamental to a number of physiological/pathological processes, ranging from embryonic development, tissue regeneration to cancer metastasis. Current research on cell migration is largely based on simplified in vitro models that assume a homogeneous microenvironment and overlook the modification of extracellular matrix (ECM) by the cells. To address this shortcoming, we developed a nested three-dimensional (3D) collagen hydrogel model mimicking the connective tissue confronted by highly malignant breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231. Strikingly, our findings revealed two distinct cell migration patterns: a rapid and directionally persistent collective migration of the leader cells and a more randomized migration in the regions that have previously been significantly modified by cells. The cell-induced modifications, which typically include clustering and alignment of fibers, effectively segmented the matrix into smaller sub-regions. Our results suggest that in an elastic 3D matrix, the presence of adjacent cells that have modified the matrix may in fact become physical hurdle to a migrating cell. Furthermore, our study emphasizes the need for a micromechanical understanding in the context of cancer invasion that allows for cell-induced modification of ECM and a heterogeneous cell migration.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-325372018-03-29T09:08:13Z Effects of Migrating Cell-Induced Matrix Reorganization on 3D Cancer Cell Migration Sun, W. Kurniawan, N. Kumar, Alan Prem Rajagopalan, R. Lim, C. Cell contraction 3D extracellular matrix Collective cell migration Cancer invasion Matrix remodeling The migration of cells is fundamental to a number of physiological/pathological processes, ranging from embryonic development, tissue regeneration to cancer metastasis. Current research on cell migration is largely based on simplified in vitro models that assume a homogeneous microenvironment and overlook the modification of extracellular matrix (ECM) by the cells. To address this shortcoming, we developed a nested three-dimensional (3D) collagen hydrogel model mimicking the connective tissue confronted by highly malignant breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231. Strikingly, our findings revealed two distinct cell migration patterns: a rapid and directionally persistent collective migration of the leader cells and a more randomized migration in the regions that have previously been significantly modified by cells. The cell-induced modifications, which typically include clustering and alignment of fibers, effectively segmented the matrix into smaller sub-regions. Our results suggest that in an elastic 3D matrix, the presence of adjacent cells that have modified the matrix may in fact become physical hurdle to a migrating cell. Furthermore, our study emphasizes the need for a micromechanical understanding in the context of cancer invasion that allows for cell-induced modification of ECM and a heterogeneous cell migration. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32537 10.1007/s12195-014-0324-0 Springer New York LLC restricted
spellingShingle Cell contraction
3D extracellular matrix
Collective cell migration
Cancer invasion
Matrix remodeling
Sun, W.
Kurniawan, N.
Kumar, Alan Prem
Rajagopalan, R.
Lim, C.
Effects of Migrating Cell-Induced Matrix Reorganization on 3D Cancer Cell Migration
title Effects of Migrating Cell-Induced Matrix Reorganization on 3D Cancer Cell Migration
title_full Effects of Migrating Cell-Induced Matrix Reorganization on 3D Cancer Cell Migration
title_fullStr Effects of Migrating Cell-Induced Matrix Reorganization on 3D Cancer Cell Migration
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Migrating Cell-Induced Matrix Reorganization on 3D Cancer Cell Migration
title_short Effects of Migrating Cell-Induced Matrix Reorganization on 3D Cancer Cell Migration
title_sort effects of migrating cell-induced matrix reorganization on 3d cancer cell migration
topic Cell contraction
3D extracellular matrix
Collective cell migration
Cancer invasion
Matrix remodeling
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32537