Dynamics of Tissue-Induced Alignment of Fibrous Extracellular Matrix. Author Alexandra Piotrowski-Daspit, Bryan Nerger, Abraham Wolf, Sankaran Sundaresan, Celeste Nelson Publication Year 2017 Type Journal Article Abstract Aligned fibers of extracellular matrix (ECM) affect the direction, efficiency, and persistence of migrating cells. To uncover the mechanisms by which multicellular tissues align their surrounding ECM before migration, we used an engineered three-dimensional culture model to investigate the dynamics of ECM alignment around tissues of defined geometry. Analysis of ECM alignment over time revealed that tissues rapidly reorganize their surrounding matrix, with a characteristic time that depends on the type of cell and the initial tissue geometry. We found that matrix metalloproteinase activity is not required for matrix alignment before cell migration. Instead, alignment is driven by Rho-mediated cytoskeletal contractility and accelerated by propagation of tension through intercellular adhesions. Our data suggest that multicellular tissues align their surrounding matrix by pulling collectively to exert strain, which is primarily a physical process. Consistently, the pattern of matrix alignment depends on tissue geometry and the resulting distribution of mechanical strain, with asymmetric tissues generating a higher degree of matrix alignment along their longest axes. The rapid ability of multicellular tissues to physically remodel their matrix enables their constituent cells to migrate efficiently along aligned fibers and to quickly change their direction according to other microenvironmental cues, which is important for both normal and disease processes. Keywords Animals, Mice, Extracellular Matrix, Models, Biological, Cell Line, Tumor, Cell Movement, Cytoskeleton, Neoplasm Invasiveness, Matrix Metalloproteinases Journal Biophys J Volume 113 Issue 3 Pages 702-713 Date Published 2017 Aug 08 ISSN Number 1542-0086 DOI 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.06.046 Alternate Journal Biophys J PMCID PMC5550306 PMID 28793224 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML