title: In vitro formation of neuroclusters in microfluidic devices and cell migration as a function of stromal-derived growth factor 1 gradients.
abstract: Central nervous system (CNS) cells cultured in vitro as neuroclusters are useful models of tissue regeneration and disease progression. However, the role of cluster formation and collective migration of these neuroclusters to external stimuli has been largely unstudied in vitro. Here, 3 distinct CNS cell types, medulloblastoma (MB), medulloblastoma-derived glial progenitor cells (MGPC), and retinal progenitor cells (RPC), were examined with respect to cluster formation and migration in response to Stromal-Derived Growth Factor (SDF-1). A microfluidic platform was used to distinguish collective migration of neuroclusters from that of individual cells in response to controlled concentration profiles of SDF-1. Cell lines were also compared with respect to expression of CXCR4, the receptor for SDF-1, and the gap junction protein Connexin 43 (Cx43). All cell types spontaneously formed clusters and expressed both CXCR4 and Cx43. RPC clusters exhibited collective chemotactic migration (i.e. movement as clusters) along SDF-1 concentration gradients. MGPCs clusters did not exhibit adhesion-based migration, and migration of MB clusters was inconsistent. This study demonstrates how controlled microenvironments can be used to examine the formation and collective migration of CNS-derived neuroclusters in varied cell populations.
authors.affiliation: a The City University of New York, City College of New York , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCutcheon
authors.affiliation: b The City University of New York, Lehman College , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Uchenna
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Unachukwu
authors.affiliation: a The City University of New York, City College of New York , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Ankush
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.affiliation: a The City University of New York, City College of New York , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Majeska
authors.affiliation: b The City University of New York, Lehman College , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Redenti
authors.affiliation: a The City University of New York, City College of New York , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Maribel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vazquez
mesh_terms: D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D018031:Connexin 43; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4
keywords: SDF-1; central nervous system; chemotaxis; collective migration; medulloblastoma; retinal progenitors; stromal-derived growth factor