title: Spatial and temporal coordination of traction forces in one-dimensional cell migration.
abstract: Migration of a fibroblast along a collagen fiber can be regarded as cell locomotion in one-dimension (1D). In this process, a cell protrudes forward, forms a new adhesion, produces traction forces, and releases its rear adhesion in order to advance itself along a path. However, how a cell coordinates its adhesion formation, traction forces, and rear release in 1D migration is unclear. Here, we studied fibroblasts migrating along a line of microposts. We found that when the front of a cell protruded onto a new micropost, the traction force produced at its front increased steadily, but did so without a temporal correlation in the force at its rear. Instead, the force at the front coordinated with a decrease in force at the micropost behind the front. A similar correlation in traction forces also occurred at the rear of a cell, where a decrease in force due to adhesion detachment corresponded to an increase in force at the micropost ahead of the rear. Analysis with a bio-chemo-mechanical model for traction forces and adhesion dynamics indicated that the observed relationship between traction forces at the front and back of a cell is possible only when cellular elasticity is lower than the elasticity of the cellular environment.
authors: a Department of Mechanical Engineering , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors: Sangyoon J
authors: SJ
authors: Han
authors: a Department of Mechanical Engineering , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors: Marita L
authors: ML
authors: Rodriguez
authors: a Department of Mechanical Engineering , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors: Zeinab
authors: Z
authors: Al-Rekabi
authors: a Department of Mechanical Engineering , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.|b Department of Bioengineering , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors: Nathan J
authors: NJ
authors: Sniadecki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002465:Cell Movement; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: cell elasticity; cell migration; microposts; migration model; traction forces