Cell Migration Dynamics Research Articles

Random Walks of a Cell With Correlated Speed and Persistence Influenced by the Extracellular Topography

Cell migration through extracellular matrices is critical to many physiological processes, such as tissue development, immunological response and cancer metastasis. Previous models including persistent random walk (PRW) and Lévy walk only explain the migratory dynamics of some cell types in a homogeneous environment. Recently, it was discovered that the intracellular actin flow can robustly ensure a universal coupling between cell migratory speed and persistence for a variety of cell types migrating in the in vitro assays and live tissues. However, effects of the correlation between speed and persistence on the macroscopic cell migration dynamics and patterns in complex environments are largely unknown. In this study, we developed a Monte Carlo random walk simulation to investigate the motility, the search ability and the search efficiency of a cell moving in both homogeneous and porous environments. The cell is simplified as a dimensionless particle, moving according to PRW, Lévy walk, random walk with linear speed-persistence correlation (linear RWSP) and random walk with nonlinear speed-persistence correlation (nonlinear RWSP). The coarse-grained analysis showed that the nonlinear RWSP achieved the largest motility in both homogeneous and porous environments. When a particle searches for targets, the nonlinear coupling of speed and persistence improves the search ability (i.e. find more targets in a fixed time period), but sacrifices the search efficiency (i.e. find less targets per unit distance). Moreover, both the convex and concave pores restrict particle motion, especially for the nonlinear RWSP and Lévy walk. Overall, our results demonstrate that the nonlinear correlation of speed and persistence has the potential to enhance the motility and searching properties in complex environments, and could serve as a starting point for more detailed studies of active particles in biological, engineering and social science fields.

Nonlinear dynamics of cell migration in anisotropic microenvironment* *Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11974066, 11674043, 11675134, and 11874310), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, China (Grant Nos. cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0477 and cstc2018jcyjA3679), and the Capital Health Development Research Project, China (Grant No. 2020-2-2072).

Cell migration in anisotropic microenvironment plays an important role in the development of normal tissues and organs as well as neoplasm progression, e.g., osteogenic differentiation of embryonic stem cells was facilitated on stiffer substrates, indicating that the mechanical signals greatly affect both early and terminal differentiation of embryonic stem cells. However, the effect of anisotropy on cell migration dynamics, in particular, in terms of acceleration profiles which is important for recognizing dynamics modes of cell migration and analyzing the regulation mechanisms of microenvironment in mechanical signal transmission, has not been systematically investigated. In this work, we firstly rigorously investigate and quantify the differences between persistent random walk and anisotropic persistent random walk models based on the analysis of cell migration trajectories and velocity auto-covariance function, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Secondly, we introduce the concepts of positive and negative anisotropy based on the motility parameters to study the effect of anisotropy on acceleration profiles, especially the nonlinear decrease and non-monotonic behaviors. We particularly elaborate and discuss the mechanisms, and physical insights of non-monotonic behaviors in the case of positive anisotropy, focusing on the force exerted on migrating cells. Finally, we analyze two types of in vitro cell migration experiments and verify the universality of nonlinear decrease and the consistence of non-monotonic behaviors with numerical results. We conclude that the anisotropy of microenvironment is the cause of the non-monotonic and nonlinear dynamics, and the anisotropic persistent random walk can be as a suitable tool to analyze in vitro cell migration with different combinations of motility parameters. Our analysis provides new insights into the dynamics of cell migration in complex microenvironment, which also has implications in tissue engineering and cancer research.

Shannon entropy for time-varying persistence of cell migration

Cell migration, which can be significantly affected by intracellular signaling pathways and extracellular matrix, plays a crucial role in many physiological and pathological processes. Cell migration is typically modeled as a persistent random walk, which depends on two critical motility parameters, i.e., migration speed and persistence time. It is generally very challenging to efficiently and accurately quantify the migration dynamics from noisy experimental data. Here, we introduce the normalized Shannon entropy (SE) based on the FPS of cellular velocity autocovariance function to quantify migration dynamics. The SE introduced here possesses a similar physical interpretation as the Gibbs entropy for thermal systems in that SE naturally reflects the degree of order or randomness of cellular migration, attaining the maximal value of unity for purely diffusive migration (i.e., SE = 1 for the most “random” dynamics) and the minimal value of 0 for purely ballistic dynamics (i.e., SE = 0 for the most “ordered” dynamics). We also find that SE is strongly correlated with the migration persistence but is less sensitive to the migration speed. Moreover, we introduce the time-varying SE based on the WPS of cellular dynamics and demonstrate its superior utility to characterize the time-dependent persistence of cell migration, which typically results from complex and time-varying intra- or extracellular mechanisms. We employ our approach to analyze experimental data of in vitro cell migration regulated by distinct intracellular and extracellular mechanisms, exhibiting a rich spectrum of dynamic characteristics. Our analysis indicates that the SE and wavelet transform (i.e., SE-based approach) offers a simple and efficient tool to quantify cell migration dynamics in complex microenvironment.

Leukocytes from Patients with Drug-Sensitive and Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Exhibit Distinctive Profiles of Chemokine Receptor Expression and Migration Capacity.

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains as a leading infectious cause of death worldwide. The increasing number of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases contributes to the poor control of the TB epidemic. Currently, little is known about the immunological requirements of protective responses against MDR-TB. This is of major relevance to identify immune markers for treatment monitoring and targets for adjuvant immunotherapies. Here, we hypothesized that MDR-TB patients display unique immunophenotypical features and immune cell migration dynamics compared to drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB). Hence, we prospectively conducted an extensive characterization of the immune profile of MDR-TB patients at different time points before and after pharmacological therapy. For this purpose, we focused on the leukocyte expression of chemokine receptors, distribution of different monocyte and lymphocyte subsets, plasma levels of chemotactic factors, and in vitro migration capacity of immune cells. Our comparative cohort consisted of DS-TB patients and healthy volunteer donors (HD). Our results demonstrate some unique features of leukocyte migration dynamics during MDR-TB. These include increased and prolonged circulation of CD3+ monocytes, CCR4+ monocytes, EM CD4+ T cells, EM/CM CD8+ T cells, and CXCR1+CXCR3+ T cells that is sustained even after the administration of anti-TB drugs. We also observed shared characteristics of both MDR-TB and DS-TB that include CCR2+ monocyte depletion in the blood; high plasma levels of MPC-1, CCL-7, and IP-10; and increased responsiveness of leukocytes to chemotactic signals in vitro. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the MDR-TB pathobiology and uncovers immunological readouts of treatment efficacy.

Enhanced substrate stress relaxation promotes filopodia-mediated cell migration.

Cell migration on two-dimensional substrates is typically characterized by lamellipodia at the leading edge, mature focal adhesions and spread morphologies. These observations result from adherent cell migration studies on stiff, elastic substrates, because most cells do not migrate on soft, elastic substrates. However, many biological tissues are soft and viscoelastic, exhibiting stress relaxation over time in response to a deformation. Here, we have systematically investigated the impact of substrate stress relaxation on cell migration on soft substrates. We observed that cells migrate minimally on substrates with an elastic modulus of 2 kPa that are elastic or exhibit slow stress relaxation, but migrate robustly on 2-kPa substrates that exhibit fast stress relaxation. Strikingly, migrating cells were not spread out and did not extend lamellipodial protrusions, but were instead rounded, with filopodia protrusions extending at the leading edge, and exhibited small nascent adhesions. Computational models of cell migration based on a motor-clutch framework predict the observed impact of substrate stress relaxation on cell migration and filopodia dynamics. Our findings establish substrate stress relaxation as a key requirement for robust cell migration on soft substrates and uncover a mode of two-dimensional cell migration marked by round morphologies, filopodia protrusions and weak adhesions.

The mechanics and dynamics of cancer cells sensing noisy 3D contact guidance

Contact guidance is a major physical cue that modulates cancer cell morphology and motility, and is directly linked to the prognosis of cancer patients. Under physiological conditions, particularly in the three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM), the disordered assembly of fibers presents a complex directional bias to the cells. It is unclear how cancer cells respond to these noncoherent contact guidance cues. Here we combine quantitative experiments, theoretical analysis, and computational modeling to study the morphological and migrational responses of breast cancer cells to 3D collagen ECM with varying degrees of fiber alignment. We quantify the strength of contact guidance using directional coherence of ECM fibers, and find that stronger contact guidance causes cells to polarize more strongly along the principal direction of the fibers. Interestingly, sensitivity to contact guidance is positively correlated with cell aspect ratio, with elongated cells responding more strongly to ECM alignment than rounded cells. Both experiments and simulations show that cell-ECM adhesions and actomyosin contractility modulate cell responses to contact guidance by inducing a population shift between rounded and elongated cells. We also find that cells rapidly change their morphology when navigating the ECM, and that ECM fiber coherence modulates cell transition rates between different morphological phenotypes. Taken together, we find that subcellular processes that integrate conflicting mechanical cues determine cell morphology, which predicts the polarization and migration dynamics of cancer cells in 3D ECM.

Investigating epithelial‐mesenchymal heterogeneity of tumors and circulating tumor cells with transcriptomic analysis and biophysical modeling

AbstractCellular heterogeneity along the epithelial‐mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) spectrum is a paramount feature observed in tumors and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). High‐throughput techniques now offer unprecedented details on this variability at a single‐cell resolution. Yet, there is no current consensus about how EMP in tumors propagates to that in CTCs. To investigate the relationship between EMP‐associated heterogeneity of tumors and that of CTCs, we integrated transcriptomic analysis and biophysical modeling. We apply three epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) scoring metrics to multiple tumor samples and CTC datasets from several cancer types. Moreover, we develop a biophysical model that couples EMT‐associated phenotypic switching in a primary tumor with cell migration. Finally, we integrate EMT transcriptomic analysis and in silico modeling to evaluate the predictive power of several measurements of tumor aggressiveness, including tumor EMT score, CTC EMT score, fraction of CTC clusters found in circulation, and CTC cluster size distribution. Analysis of high‐throughput datasets reveals a pronounced heterogeneity without a well‐defined relation between EMT traits in tumors and CTCs. Moreover, mathematical modeling predicts different phases where CTCs can be less, equally, or more mesenchymal than primary tumor depending on the dynamics of phenotypic transition and cell migration. Consistently, various datasets of CTC cluster size distribution from different cancer types are fitted onto different regimes of the model. By further constraining the model with experimental measurements of tumor EMT score, CTC EMT score, and fraction of CTC cluster in bloodstream, we show that none of these assays alone can provide sufficient information to predict the other variables. In conclusion, we propose that the relationship between EMT progression in tumors and CTCs can be variable, and in general, predicting one from the other may not be as straightforward as tacitly assumed.

Learning the dynamics of cell-cell interactions in confined cell migration.

The migratory dynamics of cells in physiological processes, ranging from wound healing to cancer metastasis, rely on contact-mediated cell-cell interactions. These interactions play a key role in shaping the stochastic trajectories of migrating cells. While data-driven physical formalisms for the stochastic migration dynamics of single cells have been developed, such a framework for the behavioral dynamics of interacting cells still remains elusive. Here, we monitor stochastic cell trajectories in a minimal experimental cell collider: a dumbbell-shaped micropattern on which pairs of cells perform repeated cellular collisions. We observe different characteristic behaviors, including cells reversing, following, and sliding past each other upon collision. Capitalizing on this large experimental dataset of coupled cell trajectories, we infer an interacting stochastic equation of motion that accurately predicts the observed interaction behaviors. Our approach reveals that interacting noncancerous MCF10A cells can be described by repulsion and friction interactions. In contrast, cancerous MDA-MB-231 cells exhibit attraction and antifriction interactions, promoting the predominant relative sliding behavior observed for these cells. Based on these experimentally inferred interactions, we show how this framework may generalize to provide a unifying theoretical description of the diverse cellular interaction behaviors of distinct cell types.

Role of cell polarity dynamics and motility in pattern formation due to contact-dependent signalling.

A key challenge in biology is to understand how spatio-temporal patterns and structures arise during the development of an organism. An initial aggregate of spatially uniform cells develops and forms the differentiated structures of a fully developed organism. On the one hand, contact-dependent cell-cell signalling is responsible for generating a large number of complex, self-organized, spatial patterns in the distribution of the signalling molecules. On the other hand, the motility of cells coupled with their polarity can independently lead to collective motion patterns that depend on mechanical parameters influencing tissue deformation, such as cellular elasticity, cell-cell adhesion and active forces generated by actin and myosin dynamics. Although modelling efforts have, thus far, treated cell motility and cell-cell signalling separately, experiments in recent years suggest that these processes could be tightly coupled. Hence, in this paper, we study how the dynamics of cell polarity and migration influence the spatiotemporal patterning of signalling molecules. Such signalling interactions can occur only between cells that are in physical contact, either directly at the junctions of adjacent cells or through cellular protrusional contacts. We present a vertex model which accounts for contact-dependent signalling between adjacent cells and between non-adjacent neighbours through long protrusional contacts that occur along the orientation of cell polarization. We observe a rich variety of spatiotemporal patterns of signalling molecules that is influenced by polarity dynamics of the cells, relative strengths of adjacent and non-adjacent signalling interactions, range of polarized interaction, signalling activation threshold, relative time scales of signalling and polarity orientation, and cell motility. Though our results are developed in the context of Delta-Notch signalling, they are sufficiently general and can be extended to other contact dependent morpho-mechanical dynamics.

LSP1-myosin1e bimolecular complex regulates focal adhesion dynamics and cell migration.

Several cytoskeleton-associated proteins and signaling pathways work in concert to regulate actin cytoskeleton remodeling, cell adhesion, and migration. Although the leukocyte-specific protein 1 (LSP1) has been shown to interact with the actin cytoskeleton, its function in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics is, as yet, not fully understood. We have recently demonstrated that the bimolecular complex between LSP1 and myosin1e controls actin cytoskeleton remodeling during phagocytosis. In this study, we show that LSP1 downregulation severely impairs cell migration, lamellipodia formation, and focal adhesion dynamics in macrophages. Inhibition of the interaction between LSP1 and myosin1e also impairs these processes resulting in poorly motile cells, which are characterized by few and small lamellipodia. Furthermore, cells in which LSP1-myosin1e interaction is inhibited are typically associated with inefficient focal adhesion turnover. Collectively, our findings show that the LSP1-myosin1e bimolecular complex plays a pivotal role in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton remodeling and focal adhesion dynamics required for cell migration.

Dynamics of Cell Shaping and Migration on the Matrix with Cell-scale Stiffness-heterogeneity

Dynamics of Cell Shaping and Migration on the Matrix with Cell-scale Stiffness-heterogeneity

Study of adhesion and migration dynamics in ubiquitin E3A ligase (UBE3A)-silenced SYSH5Y neuroblastoma cells by micro-structured surfaces

During neuronal development, neuronal cells read extracellular stimuli from the micro/nano-environment within which they exist, retrieving essential directionality and wiring information. Here, focal adhesions (FAs-protein clusters anchoring integrins to cytoskeleton) act as sensors, by integrating signals from both the extracellular matrix environment and chemotactic factors, contributing to the final neuronal pathfinding and migration. In the processes that orchestrate neuronal development, the important function of ubiquitin E3A ligase (UBE3A) is emerging. UBE3A has crucial functions in the brain and changes in its expression levels lead to neurodevelopmental disorders: the lack of UBE3A leads to Angelman syndrome (AS, OMIN 105830), while its increase causes autisms (Dup15q-autism). By using nano/micro-structured anisotropic substrates we previously showed that UBE3A-deficient neurons have deficits in contact guidance (Tonazzini et al, Mol Autism 2019).Here, we investigate the adhesion and migration dynamics of UBE3A-silenced SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in vitro by exploiting nano/micro-grooved substrates. We analyze the molecular processes regulating the development of FAs by transfection with EGFP-vector encoding for paxillin, a protein of FA clusters, and by live-cell total-internal-reflection-fluorescence microscopy. We show that UBE3A-silenced SH-SY5Y cells have impaired FA morphological development and pathway activation, which lead to a delayed adhesion and also explain the defective contact guidance in response to directional topographical stimuli. However, UBE3A-silenced SH-SY5Y cells show an overall normal migration behavior, in terms of speed and ability to follow the GRs directional stimulus. Only the collective cell migration upon cell gaps was slightly delayed for UBE3Ash SHs. Overall, the deficits of UBE3Ash SHS-SY5Y cells in FA maturation/sensing and in collective migration may have patho-physiological implications, in AS condition, considering the much more complex stimuli that neurons find in vivo during the neurodevelopment.

ATIP3 deficiency facilitates intracellular accumulation of paclitaxel to reduce cancer cell migration and lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients

Taxane-based chemotherapy is frequently used in neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer patients to reduce tumor growth and lymph node metastasis. However, few patients benefit from chemotherapy and predictive biomarkers of chemoresistance are needed. The microtubule-associated protein ATIP3 has recently been identified as a predictive biomarker whose low levels in breast tumors are associated with increased sensitivity to chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated whether ATIP3 deficiency may impact the effects of paclitaxel on cancer cell migration and lymph node metastasis. Expression levels of ATIP3 were analyzed in a cohort of 133 breast cancer patients and classified according to lymph node positivity following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results showed that low ATIP3 levels are associated with reduced axillary lymph node metastasis. At the functional level, ATIP3 depletion increases cell migration, front-rear polarity and microtubule dynamics at the plus ends, but paradoxically sensitizes cancer cells to the inhibitory effects of paclitaxel on these processes. ATIP3 silencing concomitantly increases the incorporation of fluorescent derivative of Taxol along the microtubule lattice. Together our results support a model in which alterations of microtubule plus ends dynamics in ATIP3-deficient cells may favor intracellular accumulation of paclitaxel, thereby accounting for increased breast tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy.

HIV-Captured DCs Regulate T Cell Migration and Cell-Cell Contact Dynamics to Enhance Viral Spread.

SummaryTrafficking of cell-associated HIV-1 from the genital mucosa to lymphoid organs represents a critical first step toward systemic infection. Mature DCs capture and transmit HIV-1 to T cells, but insights into DC-to-T cell viral spread dynamics within a 3-dimensional environment is lacking. Using live-cell imaging, we show that mature DCs rapidly compartmentalize HIV-1 within surface-accessible invaginations near the uropod. HIV-1 capture did not interfere with DC migration toward lymph node homing chemo-attractants and their ability to enter lymphatic vessels. However, HIV-captured DCs engaged in prolonged contacts with autologous CD4+ T cells, which led to high T cell infection. Interestingly, we show that surface bound, virion-associated Env induced signal transduction in motile T cells that facilitated prolonged DC:T cell interactions, partially through high-affinity LFA-1 expression. Together, we describe a mechanism by which surface bound HIV-1 particles function as signaling receptors that regulate T cell motility, cell-cell contact dynamics, and productive infection.

Abstract 470: Recording Cell Migration Dynamics in Mouse Tissues With Cells Secreting Fluorescence Protein-tagged Collagen

Background: Cell migration is an important step involved in heart regeneration and many cardiovascular diseases. However, cell migration dynamics in vivo is poorly understood due to the challenges from mammal hearts, which are opaque and fast beating, and thus individual cardiac cells cannot be imaged or tracked. Aims: In this study, cell migration dynamics in the heart is recorded with a novel strategy, in which fluorescence protein-tagged collagen is secreted from cells and deposited into extracellular matrix, forming visible trails when cells are moving in tissues. As a proof-of-concept, transplanted migration dynamics of cardiac progenitor cells in mouse hearts were investaged. Methods: Stable cell lines expressing mCherry-tagged type I collagen were generated from isolated cardiac progenitor cells, ABCG2 + CD45 - CD31 - cells (side populations), or c-kit + CD45 - CD31 - cells (c-kit + CPCs). The cell migration dynamics were monitored and measured based on the cell trails after cell transplantation into mouse tissues. Results: The stable cell lines form red cell trails both in vitro and in vivo (Fig. 1A & 1B, Green: GFP; Red: mCherry-collagen I, Blue: DAPI, bar: 50 microns). In culture dishes, the cells form visible cell trails of fluorescence protein. The cell moving directions are random, with a speed of 288 +/- 79 microns/day (side populations, n=3) or 143 +/-37 microns/day (c-kit + CPCs, n=3). After transplantation into wild-type mouse hearts, the cells form highly tortuous trails along the gaps between the heart muscle fibers. Angle between a cell trail and a muscle fiber is 16+/-16 degree (n=3). Side populations migrate twice as fast as c-kit+ CPCs in the heart (16.0 +/-8.7 microns/day vs. 8.1+/-0.0 microns/day, n=3, respectively), 18 time slower than the respective speeds in vitro . Additionally, side populations migrate significantly faster in the heart than in the skeletal muscles (26.4+/-5.8 microns/day, n=3). The side populations move significantly faster in immunodeficient mouse hearts (36.7+/-13.3 microns/day, n=3, typically used for studying cell therapies) than in wild-type mouse hearts. Conclusion: For the first time, cell migration dynamics in living hearts is monitored and examined with genetically modified cell lines. This study may greatly advance the fields of cardiovascular biology.

The SHCA adapter protein cooperates with lipoma-preferred partner in the regulation of adhesion dynamics and invadopodia formation

SHC adaptor protein (SHCA) and lipoma-preferred partner (LPP) mediate transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-induced breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Reduced expression of either protein diminishes breast cancer lung metastasis, but the reason for this effect is unclear. Here, using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, we found that TGFβ enhanced the assembly and disassembly rates of paxillin-containing adhesions in an SHCA-dependent manner through the phosphorylation of the specific SHCA tyrosine residues Tyr-239, Tyr-240, and Tyr-313. Using a BioID proximity labeling approach, we show that SHCA exists in a complex with a variety of actin cytoskeletal proteins, including paxillin and LPP. Consistent with a functional interaction between SHCA and LPP, TGFβ-induced LPP localization to cellular adhesions depended on SHCA. Once localized to the adhesions, LPP was required for TGFβ-induced increases in cell migration and adhesion dynamics. Mutations that impaired LPP localization to adhesions (mLIM1) or impeded interactions with the actin cytoskeleton via α-actinin (ΔABD) abrogated migratory responses to TGFβ. Live-cell TIRF microscopy revealed that SHCA clustering at the cell membrane preceded LPP recruitment. We therefore hypothesize that, in the presence of TGFβ, SHCA promotes the formation of small, dynamic adhesions by acting as a nucleator of focal complex formation. Finally, we defined a previously unknown function for SHCA in the formation of invadopodia, a process that also required LPP. Our results reveal that SHCA controls the formation and function of adhesions and invadopodia, two key cellular structures required for breast cancer metastasis.

HIV-Bearing DCs Regulate T Cell Migration and Cell-Cell Contact Dynamics to Enhance Viral Spread

The trafficking of cell-associated HIV from the genital mucosa to lymphoid organs represents a critical first step towards systemic infection. Mature DCs capture and transmit HIV to T cells, but insights into DC-to-T cell viral spread dynamics within a 3-dimensional environment is lacking. Using live-cell imaging, we show that mature DCs rapidly compartmentalize HIV within surface-accessible invaginations near the uropod. HIV capture did not interfere with DC migration towards lymph node homing chemo-attractants and their ability to enter lymphatic vessels. However, HIV-bearing DCs engaged in prolonged contacts with autologous CD4+ T cells which led to high T cell infection. Interestingly, we show that surface bound, virion-associated Env induced signal transduction in motile T cells that facilitated prolonged DC:T cell interactions, partially through high-affinity LFA-1 expression. Together, we describe a mechanism by which surface bound HIV particles function as signaling receptors that regulate T cell motility, cell-cell contact dynamics and productive infection.

Cellular dynamics of immune evasion during Leishmania major infection

Abstract Concomitant immunity against intracellular parasites is dictated by the immune response and parasite escape mechanisms that prevent clearance. Infection by Leishmania major generates a strong T cell response, yet parasite clearance is incomplete and leaves a small pool of persistently infected cells. T cell behaviours are augmented by the biochemical and spatial conditions of their immediate environments, and a gap in knowledge is the cellular and molecular mechanisms that prevent complete clearance of pathogen-infected cells in the skin. We combined MP-IVM with a novel T-cell receptor transgenic mouse model, where T cells recognize the immunodominant Leishmania-glycosomal phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) peptide, to provide insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of anti-Leishmania T cell responses during active disease and persistent infection. We show that monocyte-derived macrophage:T cell interaction dynamics were transient at steady-state, but prolonged upon antigen recognition. PEPCK-specific T cells produced high levels of IFNg in response to peptide or infection. We also show that in vitro expanded Treg cells can suppress effector T cell functions, and that greater suppression was observed by PEPCK-specific Treg cells. Ongoing studies that address the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Treg-mediated response blunting will be presented. Intravital microscopy studies characterizing PEPCK-specific T cell migration dynamics and tissue localization within skin lesions directly in live mice will also be presented. The goal of our study is to identify barriers to overcome in order to achieve complete parasite clearance and to better describe the dynamic aspects of concomitant immunity generation.

Examining the Role of p190RhoGAP on the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton in Breast Epithelial Cells

Angiogenesis (i.e. blood vessel formation) and metastasis of tumors are two of the most dangerous aspects of malignant cancer cells. Metastasis requires spatial and temporal coordination of protein complexes known to affect cell adhesiveness and migration/proliferative properties. These protein complexes include E‐cadherin, Rho GTPases (e.g., Rac1 and RhoA), and the actin cytoskeleton. Rho GTPases perform different functions in the cell and have been shown to affect cancer progression, wound healing, and inflammation through regulation of cadherin and actin. For Rho GTPases to function, additional proteins increase or decrease their activity in the cell. These include guanine‐nucleotide‐exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase‐activating proteins (GAPs). The current study aims to examine p190RhoGAP (GTPase activation protein (GAP) for RhoA) on cell adhesion and migration dynamics of normal Human Mammary Epithelial cells (HMECs) and the metastatic adenocarcinoma breast cancer cell line, MCF‐7. Cells were examined under endogenous conditions, as well as transfected with p190RhoGAP wild‐type and a catalytically inactive p190 RhoGAP‐R1283A mutant that locks RhoA into a constitutively active state. Overexpression of wild‐type and catalytically inactive p190RhoGAP had no major effect on actin stress fiber and cortical actin at cell‐cell contacts. However, HMEC cells overexpressing p190 RhoGAP‐R1283A showed reduced cytosolic RhoA protein, suggesting that loss of RhoA activity affects RhoA protein levels. Although no significant change in wound closure was observed, transwell cell invasion assays show a decreased rate of cell invasion in the presence of the chemo‐attractant, epidermal growth factor (EGF) in MCF‐7 cells. These data indicate a role for p190RhoGAP in the regulation of RhoA during cell migration and invasion. Loss of p190RhoGAP catalytic activity could affect the production of RhoA protein, leading to a decrease in the formation of actin structures (i.e., lamellipodia and filopodia) and a decrease in cell migration and invasion. Future work aims to determine how p190RhoGAP controls spatiotemporal regulation of protein complexes involved in metastatic cancer.Support or Funding InformationSaint Mary's School of Science Research Program and the Robert W. and Beverly J. Summers Scholarship

Nanofiber Alignment Mediates the Pattern of Single Cell Migration.

In natural tissue, nanofibrils in extracellular matrix (ECM), such as collagen fibrils, direct cell migration through contacting guidance. The contacting nanofibers on cell-ECM interface are reorganized from curl fibers to straightened fibers. However, how these nanofibers regulate single cell migration remains obscure. To investigate this issue, we fabricated collagen/polymer based biomimetic nanofiber sheets of varying topography. And we selected tumorigenic cell KGN and nontumorigenic cell 293T for comparison. We found KGN showed higher sensitivity to the nanofiber alignment rather than the nontumorigenic cell 293T, in morphological change, trajectory adaptation, and velocity variation. We also found aligned nanofibers shaped both KGN and 293T into elongated spindle morphology. Comparatively, KGN had greater perimeter and lower roundness than 293T. To study the dynamics of single cell migration of KGN and 293T, we conducted trajectory tracking and siRNA validation on regulatory proteins. We found nanofibers of varying topography regulated the patterns of single cell migration differently. For KGN cell, β-catenin, Rac1, and Cdc42 participated in its directional migration, but it was impervious to vimentin. Comparatively, epithelial cell 293T involved vimentin in its directional migration.