About Cell Migration

Cell adhesion and migration are crucial for many diverse physiological processes such as embryonic development, immunity, angiogenesis, wound healing and tissue regeneration. Dysregulation of adhesive and migratory properties of cells is associated with cancer metastasis and birth defects. Cells can migrate individually but also collectively, and in both modes, a wide variety of molecular players are involved: membrane receptors and their ligands, signalling molecules, actin cytoskeleton components as well as extracellular matrix molecules.

The high number of molecular interactions and signalling pathways makes it difficult to test, document and integrate all of their effects experimentally. Computational modelling provides a unique opportunity for testing hypotheses and performing experiments in silico much faster than in vivo experiments. Mathematical methods have proven to be excellent tools to deal with the large number of biological interactions within biological systems as they provide predictions (i.e., simulations) that can aid the interpretation of complex data and the design of new experiments.

This article collection aims at promoting the latest interdisciplinary research that is advancing our understanding of collective and individual cell migration combining experimental, mathematical modelling and biophysical approaches.

Keywords: cell migration; cytoskeleton; cell adhesion; chemotaxis; agent-based models; continuum models; biomechanics 

This collection is part of the Cell & Molecular Biology Gateway.

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