Confinement and Low Adhesion Induce Fast Amoeboid Migration of Slow Mesenchymal Cells

International audienceT lymphocytes are highly motile cells that decelerate upon antigen recognition. These cells can either completely stop or maintain a low level of motility, forming contacts referred to as synapses or kinapses, respectively. Whether similar or distinct molecular mechanisms regulate T-cell deceleration during synapses or kinapses is unclear. Here, we used microfabricated channels and intravital imaging to observe and manipulate T-cell kinapses and synapses. We report that high-affinity antigen induced a pronounced deceleration selectively dependent on Ca 2+ signals and actin-related protein 2/3 complex (Arp2/3) activity. In contrast, low-affinity antigens induced a switch of migration mode that promotes T-cell exploratory behavior, characterized by partial deceleration and frequent direction changes. This switch depended on T-cell receptor binding but was largely independent of downstream signaling. We propose that distinct mechanisms of T-cell deceleration can be triggered during antigenic recognition to favor local exploration and signal integration upon suboptimal stimulus and complete arrest on the best antigen-presenting cells

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Signal strength regulates antigen-mediated T-cell deceleration by distinct mechanisms to promote local exploration or arrest

Moreau

Lemaı̂tre

Garrod

et al. 2015

“…Interestingly, it has been observed elsewhere that both cortical tension and confinement can promote blebbing (1,(30)(31)(32). Recent experiments on confined cells exhibiting spontaneous bleb-based migration indicate that local fluctuations in cortical contractility are amplified by physical confinement, thereby increasing the probability of symmetry breaking and polarization in the cortex (31,32). We hypothesize that two factors conspire to promote loss of cortical F-actin homogeneity at critical forces: (i) Cdk1-dependent up-regulation of myosin II contractility characteristic of mitosis (3), and (ii) thinning of limited cortical components as cell-surface area is dilated by mechanical confinement.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical control of mitotic progression in single animal cells

Cattin

Düggelin

Martínez-Martín

et al. 2015

Despite the importance of mitotic cell rounding in tissue development and cell proliferation, there remains a paucity of approaches to investigate the mechanical robustness of cell rounding. Here we introduce ion beam-sculpted microcantilevers that enable precise force-feedback-controlled confinement of single cells while characterizing their progression through mitosis. We identify three force regimes according to the cell response: small forces (∼5 nN) that accelerate mitotic progression, intermediate forces where cells resist confinement (50-100 nN), and yield forces (>100 nN) where a significant decline in cell height impinges on microtubule spindle function, thereby inhibiting mitotic progression. Yield forces are coincident with a nonlinear drop in cell height potentiated by persistent blebbing and loss of cortical F-actin homogeneity. Our results suggest that a buildup of actomyosin-dependent cortical tension and intracellular pressure precedes mechanical failure, or herniation, of the cell cortex at the yield force. Thus, we reveal how the mechanical properties of mitotic cells and their response to external forces are linked to mitotic progression under conditions of mechanical confinement.

“…These extracellular and intracellular links must detach at the base of OS, which, together with the continued arrival of new membrane via the connecting cilium, could create membrane tension conditions favorable for blebbing. In addition, strong confinement, shown to promote blebbing (36), is provided by the narrow space between the periciliary ridge and the OS. The disruption of such a peculiar configuration after mechanical stress (e.g., during sample preparation for cryopreservation) could result in uncontrolled blebbing and vesiculation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rod disc renewal occurs by evagination of the ciliary plasma membrane that makes cadherin-based contacts with the inner segment

Burgoyne

Meschede

Burden

et al. 2015

The outer segments of vertebrate rod photoreceptors are renewed every 10 d. Outer segment components are transported from the site of synthesis in the inner segment through the connecting cilium, followed by assembly of the highly ordered discs. Two models of assembly of discrete discs involving either successive fusion events between intracellular rhodopsin-bearing vesicles or the evagination of the plasma membrane followed by fusion of adjacent evaginations have been proposed. Here we use immuno-electron microscopy and electron tomography to show that rhodopsin is transported from the inner to the outer segment via the ciliary plasma membrane, subsequently forming successive evaginations that "zipper" up proximally, but at their leading edges are free to make junctions containing the protocadherin, PCDH21, with the inner segment plasma membrane. Given the physical dimensions of the evaginations, coupled with likely instability of the membrane cortex at the distal end of the connecting cilium, we propose that the evagination occurs via a process akin to blebbing and is not driven by actin polymerization. Disassembly of these junctions is accompanied by fusion of the leading edges of successive evaginations to form discrete discs. This fusion is topologically different to that mediated by the membrane fusion proteins, SNAREs, as initial fusion is between exoplasmic leaflets, and is accompanied by gain of the tetraspanin rim protein, peripherin.rod photoreceptors | disc renewal | rhodopsin | protocadherin R od photoreceptors are specialized neurons of the vertebrate retina responsible for vision in dim light. The cylindrical outer segment (OS) contains ∼1,000 stacked discontinuous membranous discs packed with the light-sensitive pigment rhodopsin. This contrasts with the cone OS, which consists of a series of evaginations of the plasma membrane that remain exposed to the extracellular space (1). OS constituents are synthesized in the inner segment (IS) and then transported to the OS via a nonmotile cilium (connecting cilium) that resembles the transition zone of the primary cilium. Because of the high metabolic demand of phototransduction, OS discs undergo daily renewal, whereby the tip (distal end) is shed and phagocytosed by the retinal pigment epithelium while new discs are formed at the base (proximal end) of the OS (2, 3). How these discs are generated and rhodopsin incorporated remains controversial. The evagination model proposes that the ciliary plasma membrane evaginates to form discs that are initially exposed to the extracellular space and then pinch off to form fully closed discs (4). In contrast, the fusion model proposes that discs originate from rhodopsincontaining vesicles, which undergo homotypic fusion to form new discs (5, 6). Conventional electron microscopic (EM) analyses of chemically fixed specimens have clearly shown discs open to the extracellular space at the base of the OS, supporting the evagination model (4,7,8). Furthermore, studies in amphibians have demonstrated that membrane imper...