title: Ratchetaxis: Long-Range Directed Cell Migration by Local Cues.
abstract: Directed cell migration is usually thought to depend on the presence of long-range gradients of either chemoattractants or physical properties such as stiffness or adhesion. However, in vivo, chemical or mechanical gradients have not systematically been observed. Here we review recent in vitro experiments, which show that other types of spatial guidance cues can bias cell motility. Introducing local geometrical or mechanical anisotropy in the cell environment, such as adhesive/topographical microratchets or tilted micropillars, show that local and periodic external cues can direct cell motion. Together with modeling, these experiments suggest that cell motility can be viewed as a stochastic phenomenon, which can be biased by various types of local cues, leading to directional migration.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Physics ISIS/IGBMC, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Development and Stem Cells Program, IGBMC, CNRS, INSERM and University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Physics ISIS/IGBMC, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Development and Stem Cells Program, IGBMC, CNRS, INSERM and University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Comelles
authors.affiliation: Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 144, Bio6, F-75005, Paris, France. Electronic address: matthieu.piel@curie.fr.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piel
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée, CNRS UMR 7600, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France; Laboratoire Jean Perrin, CNRS UMR 8237, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. Electronic address: voiturie@lptmc.jussieu.fr.
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voituriez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Physics ISIS/IGBMC, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Development and Stem Cells Program, IGBMC, CNRS, INSERM and University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France. Electronic address: riveline@unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riveline
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060846:Cell Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D006801:Humans
keywords: active gels; directed cell motility; modeling; nucleus; protrusions; ratchet