Intermediate filaments control collective migration by restricting traction forces and sustaining cell-cell contacts.

ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal cell migration relies on the coordinated regulation of the actin and microtubule networks that participate in polarized cell protrusion, adhesion, and contraction. During collective migration, most of the traction forces are generated by the acto-myosin network linked to focal adhesions at the front of leader cells, which transmit these pulling forces to the followers. Here, using an in vitro wound healing assay to induce polarization and collective directed migration of primary astrocytes, we show that the intermediate filament (IF) network composed of vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and nestin contributes to directed collective movement by controlling the distribution of forces in the migrating cell monolayer. Together with the cytoskeletal linker plectin, these IF

SUBMITTER: De Pascalis C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6122997 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature