New paradigms in the establishment and maintenance of gradients during directed cell migration

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2014 Oct:30:33-40. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2014.05.010. Epub 2014 Jun 22.

Abstract

Directional guidance of migrating cells is relatively well explored in the reductionist setting of cell culture experiments. Here spatial gradients of chemical cues as well as gradients of mechanical substrate characteristics prove sufficient to attract single cells as well as their collectives. How such gradients present and act in the context of an organism is far less clear. Here we review recent advances in understanding how guidance cues emerge and operate in complex physiological settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Movement*
  • Diffusion
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Signal Transduction