A Relatively Small Gradient of Extracellular pH Directs Migration of MDA-MB-231 Cells In Vitro.

ABSTRACT: Hematogenous tumor metastasis begins with the invasion and spread of primary tumor cells in the local tissue leading to intravasation. We hypothesized that tumor cells might actively migrate toward intratumor vessels with the extracellular metabolic gradient acting as a guiding cue. Here, we determined in vitro whether the extracellular gradient of pH can act as a cue for directional migration in MDA-MB-231 cells. Cell migration was determined by the wound-healing assay under gradients of extracellular pH (~0.2 units/mm) and oxygen concentration (~6% O2/mm) that were produced by a microfluidic device, gap cover glass (GCG). Without GCG, the migration of cells was spatially homogeneous; the same number of cells migrated to the rectangular wound space from the left and right boundaries. In c

SUBMITTER: Takahashi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7177698 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature