Abstract
Directed cell migration is essential for tissue formation, inflammation, and wound healing. Chemotaxis plays a major role in these situations and is underpinned by asymmetric intracellular signaling. Endogenous electric fields (EFs) are common where cell movement occurs, such as in wound healing, and cells respond to electric field gradients by reorienting and migrating directionally (galvanotaxis/electrotaxis). We show that a physiological EF redistributed both EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptors and detergent-insoluble membrane lipids asymmetrically, leading to cathodal polarization and enhanced activation of the MAP kinase, ERK1/2. This induced leading-edge actin polymerization in directionally migrating mammalian epithelial cells. Inhibiting the EGF receptor-MAP kinase signaling pathway significantly decreased leading edge actin asymmetry and directional migration. We propose a model in which EF-polarized membrane lipid domains and EGF receptors cause asymmetric signaling through MAP kinase, which drives directional cell migration. A comparison is made with the mechanisms underpinning chemotaxis.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 857-859 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | The FASEB Journal |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2002 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Butadienes
- Cattle
- Cell Movement
- Cell Polarity
- Cells, Cultured
- Chromones
- Electricity
- Enzyme Activation
- Enzyme Inhibitors
- Epithelial Cells
- Membrane Lipids
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
- Morpholines
- Nitriles
- Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
- Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
- Signal Transduction