During embryonic development, cells often move in groups to assemble into tissues and organs. They are guided by attractant gradients and coordinate their migration to move in a directed manner. How attractant gradients are maintained and how cells in migrating groups coordinate their movements is unclear. To address these questions, we use the posterior lateral line primordium migration in zebrafish as a model. The primordium is a group of about 100 cells, which express the chemokine receptor Cxcr4 and follow a trail of Sdf1 chemokine. We have used this system to show that the primordium generates an Sdf1 gradient across itself by sequestering Sdf1 in its rear through the alternate Sdf1 receptor Cxcr7, a chemokine scavenger receptor.
In Aim 1, we will determine how Sdf1 levels are controlled by the chemokine clearance receptor Cxcr7 using an Sdf1 signaling sensor that we developed. The cells in the primordium also express cadherins and adhere to each other tightly.
In Aim 2, we will analyze the role of cadherins in coordinating collective migration and use cadherin-based tension sensors to measure the tension forces between the cells in the primordium. Our approach combines the optical accessibility of the zebrafish primordium with quantitative imaging, embryonic and genetic manipulations, and novel sensors for chemokine signaling and tension forces to provide a quantitative understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying collective cell migration. We anticipate that our proposed studies will have two broad impacts on the field of cell migration. First, they will provide a quantitative understanding of how attractant gradients are regulated. Second, they will unravel the mechanics of cell-cell adhesion in a migrating tissue. These insights are key to understanding major biological and medical problems including defects in embryogenesis, organogenesis, and cancer metastasis.

Public Health Relevance

The development of the nervous system requires extensive cell migration to assemble neurons into layers and clusters. We are using a group of neuronal progenitor cells that migrates together in zebrafish as a model to understand how groups of cells migrate together. These studies will provide a quantitative understanding of collective cell migration, which will inform us how to address medical problems such as neurological disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS102322-04
Application #
10098349
Study Section
Intercellular Interactions Study Section (ICI)
Program Officer
Riddle, Robert D
Project Start
2018-02-01
Project End
2023-01-31
Budget Start
2021-02-01
Budget End
2022-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2021
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
121911077
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016