Cells cell-alone” migration

Figure 7 Spheroid sprouting with cultured spheroids alone, in the presence of cancer-associated fibroblasts, or in the presence of normal tissue-associated fibrobiasts. Shortiy after polymerization of the reconstituted basement membrane, the device was imaged over 12 h. Cancer cells are GFP-expressing and fibroblasts were labeled with Cell Tracker Red. (A) Cancer cell spheroids alone did not exhibit sprouting. (B) Cancer cells sprouted into the surrounding matrix when cultured with CAFs. (C) When cultured with NAFs, cancer cells moved around the spheroid or within small clusters, but very little migration occurred outside of local movement. Originally published in Hockemeyer et al. (2014).

The effect of biomaterial scaffolds on NSCs has been investigated following TBl. Tate et al. (2002) transplanted mouse NSCs with or without fibronectin/collagen 1 (Fn) scaffolds 1 week after TBl in a mouse model. Cells transplanted with the Fn scaffolds showed increased survival and migration to the hippocampus compared to cells alone. They also examined using laminin scaffolds in a second study that both scaffolds improved cell survival at 8 weeks and the laminin scaffolds showed improved cognitive function at 5 weeks (Tate et al. 2009). These studies demonstrate that stem cell transplantation may hold a potential as a treatment for TBl and that biomaterials scaffolds may improve cell survival and functional outcomes. 

Cell lifeline number A dimensionless number that compares the relative magnitudes of chemical reaction and diffusion. This number, defined as S in Equation 82.3 above, can be used to compute the maximum path length, over which a cell can migrate in a scaffold while depending on diffusion alone for transport of critical nutrients that it consumes. When the critical length is exceeded, the cell requires transport of nutrients by angiogenesis in order to survive. 

Chen, J. and Thompson, L.U. 2003. Lignans and tamoxifen, alone or in combination, reduce human breast cancer cell adhesion, invasion and migration in vitro. Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 80, 163-170. 

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