Figure - PMC

Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

View full-text article in PMC

. 2021 Jul 6;9:682414. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.682414

Search in PMC
Search in PubMed
View in NLM Catalog
Add to search

Copyright © 2021 Pfisterer, Shaw, Symmank and Weninger.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

PMC Copyright notice

Different modes of cell migration in three-dimensional (3D) matrix. Cells can migrate through 3D matrix using different ways of motility, such as mesenchymal, amoeboid and lobopodial migration. (A) Mesenchymal migration is characterized by high adhesions and cell protrusions at the leading edge that align along collagen fibers. Cells that mainly use mesenchymal migration leave behind a tunnel in the ECM that can be utilized by following cells as tracks. (B) In contrast, amoeboid cell migration is less dependent on matrix adhesions. Cells show strong cell body and nucleus deformation during migration through tight spaces and generally choose the path of least resistance. (C) Lobopodial migration shows features of mesenchymal and amoeboid migration and typically has bleb protrusions at the migration front. Cells using one form of migration can change to using another form dependent on the environment.