Velocity fields in a collectively migrating epithelium

Petitjean L, Reffay M, Grasland-Mongrain E, Poujade M, Ladoux B, Buguin A, Silberzan P (2010)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2010

Journal

Biophysical Journal Biophysical Society

Book Volume: 98

Pages Range: 1790-1800

Journal Issue: 9

DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.01.030

Abstract

We report quantitative measurements of the velocity field of collectively migrating cells in a motile epithelium. The migration is triggered by presenting free surface to an initially confluent monolayer by using a microstencil technique that does not damage the cells. To avoid the technical difficulties inherent in the tracking of single cells, the field is mapped using the technique of particle image velocimetry. The main relevant parameters, such as the velocity module, the order parameter, and the velocity correlation function, are then extracted from this cartography. These quantities are dynamically measured on two types of cells (collectively migrating Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and fibroblastic normal rat kidney (NRK) cells), first as they approach confluence, and then when the geometrical constraints are released. In particular, for MDCK cells filling up the patterns, we observe a sharp decrease in the average velocity after the point of confluence, whereas the densificaron of the monolayer is much more regular. After the peeling off of the stencil, a velocity correlation length of ∼200 μm is measured for MDCK cells versus only ∼40 μm for the more independent NRK cells. Our conclusions are supported by parallel single-cell tracking experiments. By using the biorthogonal decomposition of the velocity field, we conclude that the velocity field of MDCK cells is very coherent in contrast with the NRK cells. The displacements in the fingers arising from the border of MDCK epithelia are very oriented along their main direction. They influence the velocity field in the epithelium over a distance of ∼200 μm. © 2010 by the Biophysical Society.

Authors with CRIS profile

Benoit Ladoux

Involved external institutions

University of Paris 7 - Denis Diderot / Université Paris VII Denis Diderot FR France (FR) Institut Curie FR France (FR)

How to cite

APA:

Petitjean, L., Reffay, M., Grasland-Mongrain, E., Poujade, M., Ladoux, B., Buguin, A., & Silberzan, P. (2010). Velocity fields in a collectively migrating epithelium. Biophysical Journal, 98(9), 1790-1800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2010.01.030

MLA:

Petitjean, L., et al. "Velocity fields in a collectively migrating epithelium." Biophysical Journal 98.9 (2010): 1790-1800.

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