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Classically, invadosomes are studied in vitro without regard to the microenvironment and the matrix on which the cells are plated. Several types of matrices are currently used, including gelatin, fibronectin, vitronectin, or high-density fibrillar collagen (HDFC)7,11; however, these are often not representative of the microenvironment in which cells reside and are not physiologically relevant. Here, a novel type of matrix, which consists of an association between gelatin and fibrillar type I collagen, was used. The use of type I collagen fibrils allows us to highlight a novel class of invadosomes, known as linear invadosomes, which specifically form on collagen I in its physiological architecture7. Labeling the collagen I allows us to observe linear invadosomes along the fibers and to quantify their formation using cellular markers such as Tks5 and cortactin. Using the mixed matrix, we have identified a new receptor, the discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), involved in the formation of linear invadosomes8.
The 2D mixed matrix allows us to quantify the matrix degradation activity of linear invadosomes via the zymography in situ assay. This assay reports the proteolysis activity of MMPs by analyzing the presence of black holes in the fluorescent gelatin layer. Interestingly, the organization of F-actin into linear invadosomes increases the matrix degradation activity compared to gelatin-only7. One limitation of this assay is that the gelatin is a non-physiological matrix, and it has been demonstrated that a more physiological matrix changes the cellular response to the microenvironment. An additional limitation exists in the way in which MMP activity is quantified on the gelatin-collagen I mixed matrices. Only the gelatin degradation that localizes under the collagen I fibril layer can be quantified; therefore, this is an indirect method to quantify collagen I matrix degradation. An alternative method to visualize the degradation activity of linear invadosomes is to label the collagen I fibers with a specific antibody against collagen cleavage sites (Col1-3/4C, immunoglobulin). This allows for the visualization of cleaved fibers by immunofluorescence. However, due to cell migration, this antibody is not very specific in 2D for degradation due to linear invadosome formation. Another way to visualize and quantify the degradation activity of the collagen I fibers is to use multiphoton microscopy and second harmonic generation8. This method allows for the imaging of collagen I fibers without any staining.
Our method of polymerizing type I collagen is different compared to other methods used in the literature12,13. For example, Artym et al. centrifuge coverslips coated with an alpha helix collagen I solution and allow for a brief polymerization of 30 min. This high-density fibrillar collagen (HDFC) is much stiffer and denser than our collagen I fibers but is less polymerized. This difference in matrix structure shifts the invadosome shape from linear to dot-like. The time, pH, concentration, and temperature are parameters that have to be controlled for ECM polymerization. For example, the lower the temperature of polymerization, the larger the fibers will be.
To study the involvement of linear invadosomes in cell invasion, the 3D collagen I plug assay was used. The 3D collagen I plug is already used by the scientific community in order to study invasive structures or the involvement of metalloproteinases in the invasion process14,15,16. These types of 3D matrices have limits regarding their rigidity-for example, the 3D collagen I plug is less rigid than the 2D matrix. Moreover, the type and origin of the collagen I is also important regarding the different organization of collagen fibers in vivo17. Finally, in regards to the microenvironment composition in vivo, only one element of the extracellular matrix, the type I collagen, was focused on. Further study is necessary to determine the relevance of linear invadosomes in vivo.
In addition to the study of linear invadosomes, the mixed matrix, described herein, could be used with other types of matrix components, such as fibronectin, vitronectin, and other types of collagens (e.g., type IV collagen). This protocol could be adapted, depending on the types of matrix elements that are of interest and the processes to be studied. However, it is clear that generating complex and physiological matrices will allow for the identification of new pathways involved in cell adhesion, migration, and invasion.