Abstract
Cell migration is a critical step of normal developmental processes and disease progression. Often, migrating cells interact and maintain contact with neighboring cells. However, the precise roles of cell-cell adhesion in cell migration have thus far been poorly defined. Often in aggressive cancers, N-cadherin is prominently upregulated, yet, these highly motile cells have limited cell-cell adhesion when plated on a stiff 2D substrate. But, the same cells in a 3D matrix migrate as a multicellular cluster. This new observation suggests that N-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion supports cell interactions between migrating cells in a more physiologically relevant 3D matrix, but not on a 2D substrate. While N-cadherin is an integral part of neural synapses, the ectopic expression of N-cadherin in transformed epithelial cells plays an equally important part in initiating pro-migratory signaling, and providing strong yet flexible cell cohesion essential for persistent cell migration in a 3D matrix. The 3D cell migration analysis for studying cell-to-cell interactions exposes the roles of N-cadherin in multicellular migration, and reveals novel insights into cell migration-dependent normal and pathological processes.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 513-517 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Cell Adhesion and Migration |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2012 |
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Keywords
- 3D matrix
- Cell migration
- Cell-cell adhesion
- Epithelial-to- mesenchymal transition
- N-cadherin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cell Biology
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Cite this
N-cadherin as a key regulator of collective cell migration in a 3D environment. / Shih, Wenting; Yamada, Soichiro.
In: Cell Adhesion and Migration, Vol. 6, No. 6, 11.2012, p. 513-517.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - N-cadherin as a key regulator of collective cell migration in a 3D environment
AU - Shih, Wenting
AU - Yamada, Soichiro
PY - 2012/11
Y1 - 2012/11
N2 - Cell migration is a critical step of normal developmental processes and disease progression. Often, migrating cells interact and maintain contact with neighboring cells. However, the precise roles of cell-cell adhesion in cell migration have thus far been poorly defined. Often in aggressive cancers, N-cadherin is prominently upregulated, yet, these highly motile cells have limited cell-cell adhesion when plated on a stiff 2D substrate. But, the same cells in a 3D matrix migrate as a multicellular cluster. This new observation suggests that N-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion supports cell interactions between migrating cells in a more physiologically relevant 3D matrix, but not on a 2D substrate. While N-cadherin is an integral part of neural synapses, the ectopic expression of N-cadherin in transformed epithelial cells plays an equally important part in initiating pro-migratory signaling, and providing strong yet flexible cell cohesion essential for persistent cell migration in a 3D matrix. The 3D cell migration analysis for studying cell-to-cell interactions exposes the roles of N-cadherin in multicellular migration, and reveals novel insights into cell migration-dependent normal and pathological processes.
AB - Cell migration is a critical step of normal developmental processes and disease progression. Often, migrating cells interact and maintain contact with neighboring cells. However, the precise roles of cell-cell adhesion in cell migration have thus far been poorly defined. Often in aggressive cancers, N-cadherin is prominently upregulated, yet, these highly motile cells have limited cell-cell adhesion when plated on a stiff 2D substrate. But, the same cells in a 3D matrix migrate as a multicellular cluster. This new observation suggests that N-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion supports cell interactions between migrating cells in a more physiologically relevant 3D matrix, but not on a 2D substrate. While N-cadherin is an integral part of neural synapses, the ectopic expression of N-cadherin in transformed epithelial cells plays an equally important part in initiating pro-migratory signaling, and providing strong yet flexible cell cohesion essential for persistent cell migration in a 3D matrix. The 3D cell migration analysis for studying cell-to-cell interactions exposes the roles of N-cadherin in multicellular migration, and reveals novel insights into cell migration-dependent normal and pathological processes.
KW - 3D matrix
KW - Cell migration
KW - Cell-cell adhesion
KW - Epithelial-to- mesenchymal transition
KW - N-cadherin
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U2 - 10.4161/cam.21766
DO - 10.4161/cam.21766
M3 - Article
VL - 6
SP - 513
EP - 517
JO - Cell Adhesion and Migration
JF - Cell Adhesion and Migration
SN - 1933-6918
IS - 6
ER -