Leader Cells Define Directionality of Trunk, but Not Cranial, Neural Crest Cell Migration

TY - JOUR

T1 - Leader Cells Define Directionality of Trunk, but Not Cranial, Neural Crest Cell Migration

AU - Richardson, Jo

AU - Gauert, Anton

AU - Briones Montecinos, Luis

AU - Fanlo, Lucía

AU - Alhashem, Zainalabdeen Mohmammed

AU - Assar, Rodrigo

AU - Marti, Elisa

AU - Kabla, Alexandre

AU - Härtel, Steffen

AU - Linker, Claudia

PY - 2016/5/31

Y1 - 2016/5/31

N2 - Summary:Collective cell migration is fundamental for life and a hallmark of cancer. Neural crest (NC) cells migrate collectively, but the mechanisms governing this process remain controversial. Previous analyses in Xenopus indicate that cranial NC (CNC) cells are a homogeneous population relying on cell-cell interactions for directional migration, while chick embryo analyses suggest a heterogeneous population with leader cells instructing directionality. Our data in chick and zebrafish embryos show that CNC cells do not require leader cells for migration and all cells present similar migratory capacities. In contrast, laser ablation of trunk NC (TNC) cells shows that leader cells direct movement and cell-cell contacts are required for migration. Moreover, leader and follower identities are acquired before the initiation of migration and remain fixed thereafter. Thus, two distinct mechanisms establish the directionality of CNC cells and TNC cells. This implies the existence of multiple molecular mechanisms for collective cell migration.

AB - Summary:Collective cell migration is fundamental for life and a hallmark of cancer. Neural crest (NC) cells migrate collectively, but the mechanisms governing this process remain controversial. Previous analyses in Xenopus indicate that cranial NC (CNC) cells are a homogeneous population relying on cell-cell interactions for directional migration, while chick embryo analyses suggest a heterogeneous population with leader cells instructing directionality. Our data in chick and zebrafish embryos show that CNC cells do not require leader cells for migration and all cells present similar migratory capacities. In contrast, laser ablation of trunk NC (TNC) cells shows that leader cells direct movement and cell-cell contacts are required for migration. Moreover, leader and follower identities are acquired before the initiation of migration and remain fixed thereafter. Thus, two distinct mechanisms establish the directionality of CNC cells and TNC cells. This implies the existence of multiple molecular mechanisms for collective cell migration.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84971282337&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.04.067

DO - 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.04.067

M3 - Article

SN - 2211-1247

VL - 15

SP - 2076

EP - 2088

JO - Cell Reports

JF - Cell Reports

IS - 9

ER -