Cells are highly dynamic and mechanical automata powered by molecular motors that respond to external cues. Intracellular signaling pathways, either chemical or mechanical, can be activated and spatially coordinated to induce polarized cell states and directional migration. Physiologically, cells navigate through complex microenvironments, typically in three-dimensional (3D) fibrillar networks. In diseases, such as metastatic cancer, they invade across physiological barriers and remodel their local environments through force, matrix degradation, synthesis, and reorganization. Important external factors such as dimensionality, confinement, topographical cues, stiffness, and flow impact the behavior of migrating cells and can each regulate motility. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of single-cell migration in complex microenvironments.
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February 2016
Research-Article
Single-Cell Migration in Complex Microenvironments: Mechanics and Signaling Dynamics
Michael Mak,
Michael Mak
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139;
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139;
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215
Search for other works by this author on:
Fabian Spill,
Fabian Spill
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139;
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139;
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215
Search for other works by this author on:
Roger D. Kamm,
Roger D. Kamm
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Department of Biological Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139
e-mail: rdkamm@mit.edu
Department of Biological Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139
e-mail: rdkamm@mit.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Muhammad H. Zaman
Muhammad H. Zaman
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215;
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215;
Search for other works by this author on:
Michael Mak
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139;
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139;
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215
Fabian Spill
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139;
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139;
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215
Roger D. Kamm
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Department of Biological Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139
e-mail: rdkamm@mit.edu
Department of Biological Engineering,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02139
e-mail: rdkamm@mit.edu
Muhammad H. Zaman
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215;
Boston University,
44 Cummington Mall,
Boston, MA 02215;
1Contributed equally to this work.
2Corresponding author.
Manuscript received September 23, 2015; final manuscript received November 25, 2015; published online January 27, 2016. Editor: Victor H. Barocas.
J Biomech Eng. Feb 2016, 138(2): 021004 (8 pages)
Published Online: January 27, 2016
Article history
Received:
September 23, 2015
Revised:
November 25, 2015
Citation
Mak, M., Spill, F., Kamm, R. D., and Zaman, M. H. (January 27, 2016). "Single-Cell Migration in Complex Microenvironments: Mechanics and Signaling Dynamics." ASME. J Biomech Eng. February 2016; 138(2): 021004. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032188
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