About this Research Topic
The motility of cells relies on structural cues of the microenvironment of tissues, such as the extracellular matrix scaffold. Thereby the dimensionality of the migration assays fulfills a crucial role. However, the dynamic process of matrix remodeling through accumulation, degradation and cross-linking is still underestimated in many studies. Apart from the structural mature of the microenvironment of cells, the mechanical characteristics of extracellular matrices contributes heavily to the migratory capacity of cells and their own morphological and mechanical phenotypes. The more holistic the experimental approach, the more intriguing the outcome, which means that both directions of interference between cells and their microenvironment needs to be investigated. Thereby, also the effect of other cell types on the migration of the focused cell type can be included.
A focus is set on the future scientific frontiers of cell adhesion and migration with emphasis on the microenvironmental cues and their structural and mechanical impact of individual cells or clustered cells. Thereby the migration and invasion of cells can be addressed under physiological or pathological conditions. The aim of this Research Topic is to open the discussion on the importance of the structural and mechanical characteristics on cell migration and invasion. Thereby knowledge of the role of the interplay between cells and their microenvironment is increased, by raising the distribution of recent findings on how structural and mechanical cues of the microenvironment impact on cells and cell cluster and in turn, the structural and mechanical cues of cells on the structural and mechanical phenotype of the extracellular matrix environment.
The scope of this research focus encompasses experimental and theoretical approaches in the fields of biology, physics, biochemistry, biophysics, oncology and medicine and similar. All kinds of articles, such as original articles, short communications, perspectives, reviews and minireviews can be submitted. Manuscripts dealing with the analysis of specific molecules, such as integrins, proteoglycans, cell-cell adhesion receptors, growth factors, focal adhesion proteins, cytoskeletal proteins, matrix-metalloproteinases, sheddases, extracellular matrix components and many more in this process, as well as theoretical analysis of the elements involved, are welcome. Finally, the development of biophysical techniques to determine the mechanical properties of cells and matrices are also included.
Keywords: Stiffness, tension, degradation, cytoskeleton, nucleus
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
