Emergence and Persistence of Collective Cell Migration on Small Circular Micropatterns

TL;DR

This study investigates how collective cell migration behaviors, specifically vortex formation and persistence, depend on the number of cells confined in small circular patterns, revealing a critical transition linked to cell arrangement.

Contribution

It uncovers a discontinuous transition in collective cell migration states related to cell number and configuration, supported by experimental and simulation data.

Findings

Persistence of collective angular motion increases with cell number

A critical transition involves formation of a central cell in the pattern

Computer simulations replicate vortex emergence and stability

Abstract

The spontaneous formation of vortices is a hallmark of collective cellular activity. Here, we study the onset and persistence of coherent angular motion (CAMo) as a function of the number of cells $N$ confined in circular micropatterns. We find that the persistence of CAMo increases with $N$ but exhibits a pronounced discontinuity accompanied by a geometric rearrangement of cells to a configuration containing a central cell. Computer simulations based on a generalized Potts model reproduce the emergence of vortex states and show in agreement with experiment that their stability depends on the interplay of spatial arrangement and internal polarization of neighboring cells. Hence, the distinct migrational states in finite size ensembles reveal significant insight into the local interaction rules guiding collective migration.