Altering Polarization Dynamics in Cell Collectives

Megha Jhunjhunwala¹, Rong-Shing Chang¹, Chi-Shuo Chen^1*

¹Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

* Presenter:Chi-Shuo Chen, email:chen.cs@mx.nthu.edu.tw

Cell polarity presents the asymmetric distribution of the participating proteins. Diverse biological phenomena such as tissue morphogenesis and cancer metastasis highly associates with cells acquiring polarization. In this study, we propose that the collective polarization of cells imparts them a momentum which allows them to preserve their polarization state. We term this property of cell collectives as their polarization persistence. This inherent resistance to change in the cytoskeleton rearrangement can be altered through biophysical stimulations from the microenvironment. Here, using microglia and glioma as the cell model, we have studied the role of microglia association in altering collective polarization persistence of glioma cells, and the changes of mechanotransduction signaling. The outcomes of this project are expected to provide an alternative model to depict the collective migration and the subsequently influences on the physiological functions.

Keywords: Cell Mechanics, Polarization, Mechanotransduction