Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential in the development and viability of organisms throughout their life.

For example, in the case of an injury, the physical trauma to cells induces the release of chemicals like growth factors.

Fibroblasts respond to these external polarizing signals by protruding their membrane in the direction of the signal, called the leading edge.

These protrusions assist the cell in adhering to the extracellular matrix via several focal adhesion points. These points create tensional forces, facilitating the cell's forward movement.

At the opposite end or trailing edge, localized anti-adhesive signals initiate the retraction of the focal adhesions.

These cyclic adhesion and release events result in directional cell migration, pulling the fibroblast in the direction of injury.

Additionally, the epithelial cells at the injury site follow a collective migration pattern. The cells facing the wound site lead the migration of the rear-end cells to fill up the wound in a coordinated manner, loosely held together by the cell-cell junctions.