What is migration in wound healing?

In essential physiological processes including morphogenesis, wound healing and tissue regeneration, cells often move as a tightly or loosely associated cohesive group. This type of migration, during which cells are influenced by the interaction with their neighbors, is known as ‘collective cell migration’.

What is the function of a gap junction?

Gap junctions are channels that physically connect adjacent cells, mediating the rapid exchange of small molecules, and playing an essential role in a wide range of physiological processes in nearly every system in the body, including the nervous system.

What is the main advantage of a gap junction?

Gap junction-mediated transfer between cells avoids the extracellular space and its associated limitations. Because of these advantages cell based delivery via gap junctions has emerged as a viable alternative for siRNA or miRNA delivery.

What is transported through gap junctions?

Gap junctions are aggregates of intercellular channels that permit direct cell–cell transfer of ions and small molecules. Initially described as low-resistance ion pathways joining excitable cells (nerve and muscle), gap junctions are found joining virtually all cells in solid tissues.

What is Skin migration?

Human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts are two primary cell types in skin that must undergo migration for skin wounds to heal. In this cell migration, ECMs play an “active” role by providing the cells with both focal adhesions and a migration-initiating signal, even in the absence of GFs.

What causes cell migration?

Cells often migrate in response to specific external signals, including chemical signals and mechanical signals. Due to the highly viscous environment (low Reynolds number), cells need to continuously produce forces in order to move. Cells achieve active movement by very different mechanisms.

Is Gap Junction significant?

Gap junctions are particularly important in cardiac muscle: the signal to contract is passed efficiently through gap junctions, allowing the heart muscle cells to contract in unison.

What are gap junctions and why are they important?

Gap junctions are specialized intercellular connections between a multitude of animal cell-types. They directly connect the cytoplasm of two cells, which allows various molecules, ions and electrical impulses to directly pass through a regulated gate between cells.

Are gap junctions active transport?

Gap junctions are composed of two hemi-channels (one per cell), each with six connexin subunits. They enable the passive diffusion of compounds up to 1 kDa between the two cells connected by the gap junction. So, they are rather unspecific.

Which cells are motile?

Motility denotes the capability of cells to exhibit self-generated, purposeful movement. Motile cells are ubiquitous in living organisms and play a crucial role in the fate and functions of human beings. Life begins thanks to sperm cells successfully swimming their way until they reach and fertilize an egg cell.

How are wound closure and cell migration assays performed?

Wound closure and cell migration are monitored by taking pictures at different time points or live cell imaging. The gap width is highly dependent on the pressure applied to the pipet tip and on its size. Scratching removes the surface coating in a non-reproducible way. This alters cell adherence and migration in this area.

How are gap inserts used in wound healing?

Integr Biol 2012, 10.1039/c2ib20154b ibidi offers three different Culture-Inserts for gap creation: the ibidi Culture-Insert 2 Well, 3 Well, and 4 Well. Due to the specially designed bottom, the Culture-Inserts stick to the surface, preventing any cell growth beneath the walls.

What are the advantages of wound healing assays?

The advantages of an impedance-based wound healing assay include: The possibility to perform up to 96 simultaneous wound healing experiments. The direct derivation of time constants and wound healing velocity. The cost-efficiency of screening applications, from low to high throughput.

How is the ECIS system used in wound healing?

Instead of mechanically disrupting the cell layer with a pipet tip, and then following the migration of cells with a microscope, the ECIS System uses electric signals to both wound and then monitor the healing process. The advantages of an impedance-based wound healing assay include: