近日，比利时蒙斯大学Sylvain Gabriele团队揭示了肌动蛋白皮层在受限的迁移细胞中充当形态的机械记忆。2025年8月25日，《自然—物理学》杂志发表了这一成果。

细胞在狭窄微环境中的迁移发生在许多生理过程中。它包括连续的封闭和释放循环，驱动重要的形态变化。然而，目前尚不清楚的是，迁移细胞是否能够保留过去形态状态的记忆，从而有可能促进它们在有限空间中的导航。

研究组证明了局部几何控制着两种细胞形态之间的切换，从而促进细胞通过长而窄的间隙。他们将标准化微系统上的细胞迁移实验与生物物理建模和生化扰动相结合，表明迁移细胞对过去的限制事件具有长期记忆。形态细胞状态通过肌动蛋白皮层重塑相互关联。这些发现表明，迁移细胞的机械记忆在受限环境下的迁移潜力中起着积极的作用。

附：英文原文

Title: The actin cortex acts as a mechanical memory of morphology in confined migrating cells

Author: Kalukula, Yohalie, Luciano, Marine, Simanov, Gleb, Charras, Guillaume, Brckner, David B., Gabriele, Sylvain

Issue&Volume: 2025-08-25

Abstract: Cell migration in narrow microenvironments occurs in numerous physiological processes. It involves successive cycles of confinement and release that drive important morphological changes. However, it remains unclear whether migrating cells can retain a memory of their past morphological states that could potentially facilitate their navigation through confined spaces. We demonstrate that local geometry governs a switch between two cell morphologies, thereby facilitating cell passage through long and narrow gaps. We combined cell migration assays on standardized microsystems with biophysical modelling and biochemical perturbations to show that migrating cells have a long-term memory of past confinement events. The morphological cell states correlate across transitions through actin cortex remodelling. These findings indicate that mechanical memory in migrating cells plays an active role in their migratory potential in confined environments.

DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02980-z

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-025-02980-z