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Comment
. 2022 Jul 21:11:18.
doi: 10.12703/r-01-0000013. eCollection 2022.

Adhesion-independent topography-based leukocyte migration

Peter Friedl  1 , Konstantinos Konstantopoulos  2 , Erik Sahai  3 , Orion Weiner  4
Affiliations
Comment

Adhesion-independent topography-based leukocyte migration

Peter Friedl et al. Fac Rev. .

Abstract

Cells need to couple intracellular actin flows with the substrate to generate forward movement. This has traditionally been studied in the context of specific transmembrane receptors, particularly integrin adhesion receptors, which link extracellular adhesive molecules to the actin cytoskeleton. However, leukocytes and other cells can also migrate using integrin-independent strategies both in vivo and in vitro, though the cellular and environmental requirements for this mode are not fully understood. In seminal recent work, Reversat et al.1 develop a range of innovative 2D and 3D engineered microdevices and probe the biophysical mechanisms underlying T lymphocytes and dendritic cells in conditions of limited substrate adhesion. They identify a physical principle of mechano-coupling between retrograde actin flow and irregular extracellular confinement, which allows the cell to generate mechanical resistance and move in the absence of receptor-mediated adhesion. Through the combined use of experiments and theoretical modeling, this work resolves a long-standing question in cell biology and establishes mechanical interaction with an irregular-shaped 3D environment which may be relevant to cell migration in a range of tissue contexts.

Keywords: Actin; adhesion; cells; leukocyte.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Comment on

  • Cellular locomotion using environmental topography.
    Reversat A, Gaertner F, Merrin J, Stopp J, Tasciyan S, Aguilera J, de Vries I, Hauschild R, Hons M, Piel M, Callan-Jones A, Voituriez R, Sixt M. Reversat A, et al. Nature. 2020 Jun;582(7813):582-585. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2283-z. Epub 2020 May 13. Nature. 2020. PMID: 32581372

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    2. Faculty Opinions Recommendation