Competing tumor cell migration mechanisms caused by interstitial fluid flow

In the seminal work by Swartz and collaborators [Shields, et al. (2007) Cancer Cell 11:526 –538] it was discovered that autologously secreted or activated (ECM-bound) chemokine forms local pericellular diffusion gradients skewed by fluid convection, and the cells subsequently chemotact up the flow-directed gradient. However, in [Polacheck, et al. (2011) PNAS 108:11115-11120] Kamm and co llaborators found that there is a competing downstream and upstream migration transport mechanism. Their study showed that both mechanisms are present at the same time and the relative strength of these two stimuli governs the directional bias in migration for a cell population and is a function of cell density, interstitial flow rate, and CCR7 receptor availability.
Source: Journal of Biomechanics - Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Source Type: research