Epithelial bridges maintain tissue integrity during collective cell migration
Vedula SRK, Hirata H, Nai MH, Brugués A, Toyama Y, Trepat X, Lim CT, Ladoux B (2014)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2014
Journal
Book Volume: 13
Pages Range: 87-96
Journal Issue: 1
DOI: 10.1038/nmat3814
Abstract
The ability of skin to act as a barrier is primarily determined by the efficiency of skin cells to maintain and restore its continuity and integrity. In fact, during wound healing keratinocytes migrate collectively to maintain their cohesion despite heterogeneities in the extracellular matrix. Here, we show that monolayers of human keratinocytes migrating along functionalized micropatterned surfaces comprising alternating strips of extracellular matrix (fibronectin) and non-adherent polymer form suspended multicellular bridges over the non-adherent areas. The bridges are held together by intercellular adhesion and are subjected to considerable tension, as indicated by the presence of prominent actin bundles. We also show that a model based on force propagation through an elastic material reproduces the main features of bridge maintenance and tension distribution. Our findings suggest that multicellular bridges maintain tissue integrity during wound healing when cell-substrate interactions are weak and may prove helpful in the design of artificial scaffolds for skin regeneration. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Singapore (SG)
Universitat de Barcelona (UB) / University of Barcelona
Spain (ES)
Singapore (SG)
Universitat de Barcelona (UB) / University of Barcelona
Spain (ES)
How to cite
APA:
Vedula, S.R.K., Hirata, H., Nai, M.H., Brugués, A., Toyama, Y., Trepat, X.,... Ladoux, B. (2014). Epithelial bridges maintain tissue integrity during collective cell migration. Nature Materials, 13(1), 87-96. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3814
MLA:
Vedula, Sri Ram Krishna, et al. "Epithelial bridges maintain tissue integrity during collective cell migration." Nature Materials 13.1 (2014): 87-96.
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