Cited by 749Cellular Mechanics and InteractionsCell Adhesion Molecules ResearchForce Microscopy Techniques and Applications

Mechanobiology of collective cell behaviours

Ladoux, Benoit, Mège, René-Marc·2017·Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

Abstract

The way in which cells coordinate their behaviours during various biological processes, including morphogenesis, cancer progression and tissue remodelling, largely depends on the mechanical properties of the external environment. In contrast to single cells, collective cell behaviours rely on the cellular interactions not only with the surrounding extracellular matrix but also with neighbouring cells. Collective dynamics is not simply the result of many individually moving blocks. Instead, cells coordinate their movements by actively interacting with each other. These mechanisms are governed by mechanosensitive adhesion complexes at the cell-substrate interface and cell-cell junctions, which respond to but also further transmit physical signals. The mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction at adhesion complexes are important for regulating tissue cohesiveness and thus are important for collective cell behaviours. Recent studies have shown that the physical properties of the cellular environment, which include matrix stiffness, topography, geometry and the application of external forces, can alter collective cell behaviours, tissue organization and cell-generated forces. On the basis of these findings, we can now start building our understanding of the mechanobiology of collective cell movements that span over multiple length scales from the molecular to the tissue level.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrm.2017.98

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    “This problem can be partially resolved using shaking cultures23 93, spinning bioreactors or suspension under continuous agitation23, or in continuously stirred bioreactors93.”

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Authors
Ladoux, B., & Mège, R.-M.
Affiliations
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
Corresponding author
Mège, René-Marc
Venue
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Published
2017-11-08
Volume
18
Issue
12
Pages
743-757
ISSN
  • 1471-0072 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0080
OpenAlex
W2767369251
Cited by
749
References
174
Citations by year
2026: 65 · 2025: 92 · 2024: 97 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 84 · 2021: 120 · 2020: 98 · 2019: 72 · 2018: 42
FWCI
6.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-11-LABX-0071)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
collective cell behavior, mechanobiology, mechanosensitivity, mechanotransduction, adherens junctions, cell-cell contact, cell-substrate adhesion, extracellular matrix stiffness, extracellular matrix topography, morphogenesis, tissue regeneration, cancer cell dissemination, cell-generated forces, tissue remodeling
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Communication, Cell Movement, Extracellular Matrix, Humans, Mechanotransduction, Cellular, Cellular Microenvironment

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