Cell mechanics and energetic costs of collective cell migration under confined microchannels

Mechanical force between cells relates to many biological processes of cell development. The cellular col-lective migration comes from cell-cell cooperation, and studying the intercellular mechanical properties helps elucidate collective cell migration. Herein, we studied cell-cell junctions, intercellular tensile force and the related cellular energetic costs in confined microchannels. Using the intercellular force sensor, we found that cells adapt to different confinement environments by regulating intercellular force, and thereby the relationship between collective cell migration and cell-cell junction were verified. Through the observation of cell orientation, actomyosin contractility, energetic costs, and glucose uptake, we can make a reasonable explanation of cell-force driven migration in different confined environments. Under highly confined conditions, the intercellular force and energetic costs are greater, and the cell orientation is more orderly. The collective migration behavior in confined spaces is closely related to the intercellular force and energetic costs, which is helpful to understand the collective migration behaviors in various confined spaces.(c) 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.