Quantitative 3D analysis of complex single border cell behaviors in coordinated collective cell migration

Cliffe, Adam; Doupé, David P.; Sung, HsinHo; Lim, Isaac Kok Hwee; Ong, Kok Haur; Cheng, Li; Yu, Weimiao

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms of collective cell migration is crucial for cancer metastasis, wound healing and many developmental processes. Imaging a migrating cluster in vivo is feasible, but the quantification of individual cell behaviours remains challenging. We have developed an image analysis toolkit, CCMToolKit, to quantify the Drosophila border cell system. In addition to chaotic motion, previous studies reported that the migrating cells are able to migrate in a highly coordinated pattern. We quantify the rotating and running migration modes in 3D while also observing a range of intermediate behaviours. Running mode is driven by cluster external protrusions. Rotating mode is associated with cluster internal cell extensions that could not be easily characterized. Although the cluster moves slower while rotating, individual cells retain their mobility and are in fact slightly more active than in running mode. We also show that individual cells may exchange positions during migration.

Citation

Cliffe, A., Doupé, D. P., Sung, H., Lim, I. K. H., Ong, K. H., Cheng, L., & Yu, W. (2017). Quantitative 3D analysis of complex single border cell behaviors in coordinated collective cell migration. Nature Communications, 8, Article 14905. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14905

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 13, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Apr 4, 2017
• Publication Date: Apr 4, 2017
• Deposit Date: Aug 4, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 4, 2017
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Electronic ISSN: 2041-1723
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Article Number: 14905
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14905
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1350202