Cells pulse together as they grow—and malignant cells pulse the longest
Epithelial cells are the tiny shields that line and protect our bodies. In a developing embryo, epithelial cells grow, divide and move into positions to form the outer layers of our skin and the surfaces of our organs and blood vessels. When we scrape our skin, suffer an internal tear or undergo surgery, epithelial cells migrate to the site of injury to heal a wound. And when epithelial cells go…
The study, published in the journal Newton, reveals that malignant epithelial cells synchronize and pulse more persistently than healthy cells during growth. Epithelial cells are the protective lining that covers our bodies and play a crucial role in healing wounds and forming skin and organ surfaces. When healthy, these cells grow, divide, and move to form layers, but when they become cancerous, they can spread throughout the body, causing cancer.
MIT researchers observed groups of epithelial cells repeatedly moving in and out of position, like a circle of dancers in a synchronized routine. This collective rhythmic pulsing was measured in various types of epithelial cells, including healthy cells, benign tumor cells, and cancerous cells. The researchers found that malignant epithelial cells displayed a more prolonged synchronization, pulsing twice as long as healthy cells.
Although the reason behind this cellular dance remains unclear, the researchers believe that this coordination could potentially serve as an early warning sign of how likely a tumor is to spread. This finding could also help in understanding the development and healing of wounds, as well as the organization of cells during embryonic development.
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