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Cell Migration in Confinement: A Micro-Channel-Based Assay

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Cell Migration

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 769))

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Abstract

This chapter describes a method to study cells migrating in micro-channels, a confining environment of well-defined geometry. This assay is a complement to more complex 3D migration systems and provides several advantages even if it does not recapitulate the full complexity of 3D migration. Important parameters such as degree of adhesion, degree of confinement, mechanical properties, and geometry can be varied independently of each other. The device is fully compatible with almost any type of light microscopy and the simple geometry makes automated analysis very easy to perform, which allows screening strategy. The chapters is divided into five parts describing the design of different types of migration chambers, the fabrication of a mold by photolithography, the assembly of the chamber, the loading of cells, and finally the imaging on live or fixed cells.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by ANR Grant ANR-09-PIRI-0027 and by a grant of the Fondation InNaBioSanté, to M.P. and A.M.L. M.L.H was supported by Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Subcellular Structure and Cellular Dynamics, Institut Curie, Paris, Cedex, France

    Matthieu Piel

Authors
  1. Mélina L. Heuzé
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  2. Olivier Collin
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  3. Emmanuel Terriac
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  4. Ana-Maria Lennon-Duménil
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  5. Matthieu Piel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthieu Piel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Division of Cancer Studies, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom

    Claire M. Wells

  2. Randall Division of Cell and, Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom

    Maddy Parsons

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Heuzé, M.L., Collin, O., Terriac, E., Lennon-Duménil, AM., Piel, M. (2011). Cell Migration in Confinement: A Micro-Channel-Based Assay. In: Wells, C., Parsons, M. (eds) Cell Migration. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 769. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-207-6_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-207-6_28

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-206-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-207-6

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