Matrix confinement modulates 3D spheroid sorting and burst-like collective migration.

ABSTRACT: While it is known that cells with differential adhesion tend to segregate and preferentially sort, the physical forces governing sorting and invasion in heterogeneous tumors remain poorly understood. To investigate this, we tune matrix confinement, mimicking changes in the stiffness and confinement of the tumor microenvironment, to explore how physical confinement influences individual and collective cell migration in 3D spheroids. High levels of confinement lead to cell sorting while reducing matrix confinement triggers the collective fluidization of cell motion. Cell sorting, which depends on cell-cell adhesion, is crucial to this phenomenon. Burst-like migration does not occur for spheroids that have not undergone sorting, regardless of the degree of matrix confinement. Using computatio

SUBMITTER: Cai G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10401934 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature