title: Complement fragment C3a controls mutual cell attraction during collective cell migration.
abstract: Collective cell migration is a mode of movement crucial for morphogenesis and cancer metastasis. However, little is known about how migratory cells coordinate collectively. Here we show that mutual cell-cell attraction (named here coattraction) is required to maintain cohesive clusters of migrating mesenchymal cells. Coattraction can counterbalance the natural tendency of cells to disperse via mechanisms such as contact inhibition and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Neural crest cells are coattracted via the complement fragment C3a and its receptor C3aR, revealing an unexpected role of complement proteins in early vertebrate development. Loss of coattraction disrupts collective and coordinated movements of these cells. We propose that coattraction and contact inhibition act in concert to allow cell collectives to self-organize and respond efficiently to external signals, such as chemoattractants and repellents.
authors: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Carmona-Fontaine
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Theveneau
authors: Apostolia
authors: A
authors: Tzekou
authors: Masazumi
authors: M
authors: Tada
authors: Mae
authors: M
authors: Woods
authors: Karen M
authors: KM
authors: Page
authors: Maddy
authors: M
authors: Parsons
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: Lambris
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Mayor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015926:Complement C3a / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C085567:complement C3a receptor; D015926:Complement C3a