Dr. Wanda Strychalski, Case Western Reserve University
Abstract: Cell migration is critical for many vital processes, such as wound healing, as well as harmful processes, like cancer metastasis. Recent experiments of cells migrating in 3D fibrous matrices reminiscent of biological tissue show some cells experience large shape changes and are thought to utilize cytoplasmic streaming and intracellular pressure in generating leading edge protrusions. It has been hypothesized that adhesion of the cell to its external environment does not play an important role in this type of motility in contrast to cell migration on flat surfaces. It is not well understood how cells generate forces to facilitate migration in using this amoeboid mode. In this talk, dynamic computational models of single-cell migration are presented in a fibrous extracellular matrix and in a confined channel. The models are formulated using the method of regularized Stokeslets to simulate fluid-structure interactions. Results show the non-trivial relationship between cell rheology and its external environment during migration with cytoplasmic streaming.