Mechanism of cell migration in confined channels

Cells may experience physical confinement when migrating through extracellular matrices.  In confinement, processes typically associated with 2D migration e.g. actin polymerization are inhibited.  Now, a chemotaxis-based microfluidic device containing microchannels of varying cross-sectional areas reveals an alternative mechanism of migration in confinement: water permeation and active and passive ion transport.

http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(14)00340-7

Water Permeation Drives Tumor Cell Migration in Confined Microenvironments; K.M. Stroka et al, Cell 157, 611–623, April 24, 2014