Impact of cell shape on cell migration behavior on elastic substrate

Abstract

Cell shape is known to have profound effects on a number of cell behaviors. In this paper we have studied its role in cell migration through modeling the effect of cell shape on the cell traction force distribution, the traction force dependent stability of cell adhesion and the matrix rigidity dependent traction force formation. To quantify the driving force of cell migration, a new parameter called the motility factor, that takes account of the effect of cell shape, matrix rigidity and dynamic stability of cell adhesion, is proposed. We showed that the motility factor depends on the matrix rigidity in a biphasic manner, which is consistent with the experimental observations of the biphasic dependence of cell migration speed on the matrix rigidity. We showed that the cell shape plays a pivotal role in the cell migration behavior by regulating the traction force at the cell front and rear. The larger the cell polarity, the larger the motility factor is. The keratocyte-like shape has a larger motility factor than the fibroblast-like shape, which explains why keratocyte has a much higher migration speed. The motility factor might be an appropriate parameter for a quantitative description of the driving force of cell migration.

Dissecting Collective Cell Behavior in Polarization and Alignment on Micropatterned Substrates

“…Moreover, cells preferentially polarize and migrate toward or along the direction of stiffer substrates (19,29,30). In particular, cell migration speed depends on the substrate stiffness in a biphasic manner (31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36). Recent studies have demonstrated that increasing substrate stiffness enhances the persistence and directionality of collective cell migration and coordination among the cells (37).…”

Asymmetry in traction forces produced by migrating preadipocytes is bounded to 33%

“…Migration can be triggered by gap (wound) formation, addition of a chemoattractant, or in the case of highly migratory cells, such as fibroblasts, can occur naturally, as part of physiological processes [4] . The cells' migration cycle includes various complex processes that rely on mechanical interactions between the cell and the surrounding matrix, such as structural polarization of the adhered cell, extension of a protrusion at the leading edge, and retraction of the cell rear [5][6][7][8][9] . These types of mechanical processes require cells to apply forces between cells and on the surrounding matrix or substrate [10] .…”

Probing the mechanosensitivity in cell adhesion and migration: Experiments and modeling

“…Zhong and Ji [123,137] studied the role of cell shape in cell migration behaviors by modeling its effect on the traction force and the stability of cell adhesion using a multiscale approach at the molecular level. A new parameter, called "motility factor", was proposed to describe the driving force of cell migration for a quantitative understanding of cell migration behaviors.…”

“…(Reproduced from Ref. [137] with permission) Fig. 12 The value of motility factor as a function of degree of cell polarity (from the negative value of fibroblast to the positive value of keratocyte).…”

“…(Reproduced from Ref. [137] with permission) Besides the cell shape, the matrix rigidity and rigidity gradient also play important roles in regulating the cell migration behaviors. Given a specific cell shape, the cell migration speed is dependent on the matrix rigidity in a biphasic manner.…”