[HTML][HTML] Membrane blebbing is required for mesenchymal precursor migration

B de Lucas, A Bernal, L M. Pérez, N San Martin… - PLoS …, 2016 - journals.plos.org
B de Lucas, A Bernal, L M. Pérez, N San Martin, BG Galvez
PLoS One, 2016journals.plos.org
Mesenchymal precursors (MPs) present some advantageous features, such as
differentiation and migration, which make them promising candidates for cell therapy. A
better understanding of MP migration characteristics would aid the development of cell
delivery protocols. Traditionally, cell migration is thought to occur only through the formation
of lamellipodia. More recently, contractility-driven bleb formation has emerged as an
alternative mechanism of motility. Here we report that MPs derived from different tissues …
Mesenchymal precursors (MPs) present some advantageous features, such as differentiation and migration, which make them promising candidates for cell therapy. A better understanding of MP migration characteristics would aid the development of cell delivery protocols. Traditionally, cell migration is thought to occur only through the formation of lamellipodia. More recently, contractility-driven bleb formation has emerged as an alternative mechanism of motility. Here we report that MPs derived from different tissues present spontaneously dynamic cytoplasmic projections in sub-confluent culture, which appear as a combination of lamellipodia with blebs in the leading edge. Upon initial seeding, however, only bleb structures could be observed. Immunofluorescence revealed the presence of pERM, RhoA and F-actin during the blebbing process. Results from migration assays in the presence of blebbistatin, a myosin II inhibitor, showed that bleb formation correlated with migratory capacity, suggesting a functional role for blebs in migration. Bleb formation might be a useful mechanism to improve cell migration in cellular therapy protocols.
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