Dynamics of Tissue-Induced Alignment of Fibrous Extracellular Matrix

Aligned fibers of extracellular matrix (ECM) affect the direction, efficiency, and persistence of migrating cells. To uncover the mechanisms by which multicellular tissues align their surrounding ECM before migration, we used an engineered three-dimensional culture model to investigate the dynamics of ECM alignment around tissues of defined geometry. Analysis of ECM alignment over time revealed that tissues rapidly reorganize their surrounding matrix, with a characteristic time that depends on the type of cell and the initial tissue geometry.

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