One-dimensional topography underlies three-dimensional fibrillar cell migration

TLDR

Current concepts of cell migration were established in regular 2D cell culture, but the roles of topography are poorly understood for cells migrating in an oriented 3D fibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM). The study aims to identify functions of 1D fibrillar patterns in 3D cell migration. The authors employ microphotopatterning (μPP) to create 1D fibrillar patterns for studying 3D cell migration. Cell migration in 1D and 3D is rapid, uniaxial, independent of ECM ligand density, dependent on myosin II contractility and microtubules, and characterized by an anterior microtubule bundle with a posterior centrosome, suggesting a 1D migratory mechanism distinct from 2D.

Abstract

Current concepts of cell migration were established in regular two-dimensional (2D) cell culture, but the roles of topography are poorly understood for cells migrating in an oriented 3D fibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM). We use a novel micropatterning technique termed microphotopatterning (μPP) to identify functions for 1D fibrillar patterns in 3D cell migration. In striking contrast to 2D, cell migration in both 1D and 3D is rapid, uniaxial, independent of ECM ligand density, and dependent on myosin II contractility and microtubules (MTs). 1D and 3D migration are also characterized by an anterior MT bundle with a posterior centrosome. We propose that cells migrate rapidly through 3D fibrillar matrices by a 1D migratory mechanism not mimicked by 2D matrices.