Abnormal Aggregation of Invasive Cancer Cells Induced by Collective Polarization and ECM-Mediated Mechanical Coupling in Coculture Systems
Xiaochen Wang,
Shaohua Chen,
Hanqing Nan,
Ruchuan Liu,
Yu Ding,
Kena Song,
Jianwei Shuai,
Qihui Fan,
Yu Zheng,
Fangfu Ye,
Yang Jiao,
Liyu Liu
Affiliations
Xiaochen Wang
Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matte Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
Shaohua Chen
Materials Science and Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
Hanqing Nan
Materials Science and Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
Ruchuan Liu
Chongqing Key Laboratory of Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Smart Materials, College of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
Yu Ding
Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matte Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Kena Song
Chongqing Key Laboratory of Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Smart Materials, College of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
Jianwei Shuai
Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Qihui Fan
Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matte Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Yu Zheng
Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
Fangfu Ye
Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matte Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
Yang Jiao
Materials Science and Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA; Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
Liyu Liu
Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Smart Materials, College of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
Studies on pattern formation in coculture cell systems can provide insights into many physiological and pathological processes. Here, we investigate how the extracellular matrix (ECM) may influence the patterning in coculture systems. The model coculture system we use is composed of highly motile invasive breast cancer cells, initially mixed with inert nonmetastatic cells on a 2D substrate and covered with a Matrigel layer introduced to mimic ECM. We observe that the invasive cells exhibit persistent centripetal motion and yield abnormal aggregation, rather than random spreading, due to a “collective pulling” effect resulting from ECM-mediated transmission of active contractile forces generated by the polarized migration of the invasive cells along the vertical direction. The mechanism we report may open a new window for the understanding of biological processes that involve multiple types of cells.
