Collective cell migration

rdf:langString Collective cell migration

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rdf:langString Chemotaxis of a cell up a fixed and cell-induced, or self-generated, gradient of chemoattractant. Lines show the concentration of chemoattractant along space , in which cells migrate. Darker shapes illustrate successive time-points.

rdf:langString Spectrum of cell–cell interactions, from repulsive interactions to volume exclusion . With repulsive interactions, cells move away from the point of contact with another cell . With volume exclusion, cells block each other's movement, but can move to any space not occupied by another cell.

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rdf:langString Chemotaxis of a cell up a fixed gradient.jpg

rdf:langString Spectrum of cell–cell interactions from repulsive to volume exclusion.jpg

rdf:langString Collective cell migration describes the movements of group of cells and the emergence of collective behavior from cell-environment interactions and cell-cell communication. Collective cell migration is an essential process in the lives of multicellular organisms, e.g. embryonic development, wound healing and cancer spreading (metastasis). Cells can migrate as a cohesive group (e.g. epithelial cells) or have transient cell-cell adhesion sites (e.g. mesenchymal cells). They can also migrate in different modes like sheets, strands, tubes, and clusters. While single-cell migration has been extensively studied, collective cell migration is a relatively new field with applications in preventing birth defects or dysfunction of embryos. It may improve cancer treatment by enabling doctors to prevent tumors from spreading and forming new tumors.