Migration Invasion Assays
Migration Invasion Assays - Related Videos
09:55
In vitro Cell Migration and Invasion Assays
0 Views •
Cited by 627 •
2014
Commonly used, highly accessible methods for examining cell migration and invasion in vitro are described. The first method is the cell wound closure assay that measures cell motility. The second method is the transwell migration and invasion assay that assesses the chemotactic and invasive capacity of cells.
08:24
The Transwell Migration Assay
0 Views •
2023
Cells migration in response to chemical cues is crucial to development, immunity and disease states such as cancer. To quantify cell migration, a simple assay was developed in 1961 by Dr. Stephen Boyden, which is now known as the transwell migration assay or Boyden chamber assay. This set-up consists an insert which separates the wells of a multiwell plate into top and bottom compartments. Cells whose migration is to be studied are seeded into the top compartment and the chemoattractant...
07:58
Invasion Assay Using 3D Matrices
0 Views •
2023
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a network of molecules that provide a structural framework for cells and tissues and helps facilitate intercellular communication. Three-dimensional cell culture techniques have been developed to more accurately model this extracellular environment for in vitro study. While many cell processes during migration through 3D matrices are similar to those required for movement across rigid 2D surfaces, including adherence, migration through ECM also requires cells...
07:53
An In vitro FluoroBlok Tumor Invasion Assay
0 Views •
Cited by 23 •
2009
This video demonstrates how to measure cell invasion through cell culture inserts using a fluorescence-based methodology.
07:42
Non-invasive Imaging of Leukocyte Homing and Migration in vivo
0 Views •
Cited by 8 •
2010
Here, we describe a non-invasive two-photon (2P) microscopy approach to study leukocyte homing in the mouse footpad. We discuss the technical aspects of our tissue imaging preparation and walk the reader through a typical experiment from initial set up to execution and data collection.
FAQs
The key distinction is the barrier that cells encounter. Migration is assessed as movement through open pores in a membrane or chamber, whereas invasion requires cells to penetrate an added extracellular matrix-like layer. Comparing these conditions helps determine whether a cell population can move generally or can also cross a surrounding barrier, which is especially relevant to tissue remodeling and disease progression.
The added layer creates a defined extracellular barrier that cells must penetrate, making the assay more informative than measuring movement through open pores alone. It models a physical interaction with surrounding material and allows researchers to examine how cells respond to barrier conditions. Differences between migration and invasion results can reveal barrier-specific changes in cellular behavior.
Researchers can compare cells under different genetic, chemical, or environmental conditions. These variables may alter how readily cells move through pores or penetrate an extracellular matrix-like layer. Because the assay provides controlled comparisons, changes in measured movement can be related to the tested condition and interpreted in the context of cellular motility, tissue remodeling, or disease progression.
A typical workflow places cells in a chamber or on a porous membrane, with the experimental setup selected according to whether movement through open pores or penetration of an added matrix-like layer is being examined. Researchers then assess cell movement across the defined barrier and compare the resulting measurements between conditions. The procedure provides a controlled way to quantify differences in behavior.
Cells exposed to different genetic, chemical, or environmental conditions can be tested using the same chamber or membrane-based setup. Researchers compare how much movement occurs through the pores or across the added barrier under each condition. Keeping the assay format consistent supports quantitative comparisons and helps identify conditions associated with altered motility or barrier penetration.
These assays are useful when researchers need controlled, quantitative information about how cells interact with surrounding barriers. Applications include studying cancer metastasis, immune-cell trafficking, wound repair, and developmental biology. In each context, the measured movement can help relate cellular behavior to tissue remodeling or disease progression while allowing comparisons across experimental conditions.