Leader cell positioning drives wound-directed collective migration in TGFβ-stimulated epithelial sheets.

ABSTRACT: During wound healing and cancer metastasis, cells are frequently observed to migrate in collective groups. This mode of migration relies on the cooperative guidance of leader and follower cells throughout the collective group. The upstream determinants and molecular mechanisms behind such cellular guidance remain poorly understood. We use live-cell imaging to track the behavior of epithelial sheets of keratinocytes in response to transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), which stimulates collective migration primarily through extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) activation. TGFβ-treated sheets display a spatial pattern of Erk1/2 activation in which the highest levels of Erk1/2 activity are concentrated toward the leading edge of a sheet. We show that Erk1/2 activity is modulated by cellu

SUBMITTER: Chapnick DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4019490 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature