Crawling Cells Can Close Wounds without Purse Strings or Signaling
Author Information
Author(s): Lee Pilhwa, Wolgemuth Charles W.
Primary Institution: University of Connecticut Health Center
Hypothesis
The fundamental driving force behind wound healing is the generic migratory behavior of individual cells, specifically the active contractile stress generated within polarized epithelial cells coupled with cell-cell adhesion.
Conclusion
Wound healing is predominantly a mechanical process that is modified, but not produced, by cell-cell signaling.
Supporting Evidence
- Cells in wounded monolayers typically migrate in groups and maintain cell-cell contacts.
- Cells many cell diameters away from the wound edge are motile.
- The rate of migration away from the edge is inversely proportional to the distance from the margin.
- At the wound edge, cells do not always migrate perpendicular to the boundary.
- Cell division is not observed to play a strong role in closing the wound.
Takeaway
When cells get hurt, they can move around and work together to heal the wound without needing special signals or strings to pull them together.
Methodology
A mathematical model was developed to describe the collective migration of epithelial cells during wound healing, incorporating the basic motility of single cells and cell-cell interactions.
Limitations
The model does not account for all biochemical signaling processes that may influence wound healing.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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