title: The front and rear of collective cell migration.
abstract: Collective cell migration has a key role during morphogenesis and during wound healing and tissue renewal in the adult, and it is involved in cancer spreading. In addition to displaying a coordinated migratory behaviour, collectively migrating cells move more efficiently than if they migrated separately, which indicates that a cellular interplay occurs during collective cell migration. In recent years, evidence has accumulated confirming the importance of such intercellular communication and exploring the molecular mechanisms involved. These mechanisms are based both on direct physical interactions, which coordinate the cellular responses, and on the collective cell behaviour that generates an optimal environment for efficient directed migration. The recent studies have described how leader cells at the front of cell groups drive migration and have highlighted the importance of follower cells and cell-cell communication, both between followers and between follower and leader cells, to improve the efficiency of collective movement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3691, Cell Polarity, Migration and Cancer Unit, 25 Rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Etienne-Manneville
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002465:Cell Movement; D016764:Cell Polarity; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000235:genetics; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein