Receptors, enzymes and self-attraction as autocrine generators and amplifiers of chemotaxis and cell steering

Cells create their own steering cues, or modify cues from their outside, for a number of reasons. These include generating optimal, legible directional information; probing their environments for information to help decide an optimal route; symmetry breaking; generating new patterns and complexity; and bringing together collectives such as neutrophil swarms. Recent advances include more mechanisms of self-steering, in particular by using cell-generated mechanical cues, and gradients of respired oxygen. An increasing number of cell types are being found to use self-steering, in particular immune cells responding to chemokines and mesodermal cells during gastrulation. Finally, receptor modification has emerged as an important limit on the range of neutrophil swarming, allowing cells to monitor other areas as well as coming together. Selfsteering is thus emerging as a dominant feature of cell motility.

Automated summary

Cells create their own steering cues or modify cues from the outside for various reasons, including generating optimal directional information, probing the environment for information, symmetry breaking, generating new patterns and complexity, and bringing collectives together. Recent advances include more mechanisms of self-steering, particularly using cell-generated mechanical cues and oxygen gradients. An increasing number of cell types, such as immune cells and mesodermal cells, have been found to utilize self-steering. Receptor modification has also been identified as a key factor in limiting neutrophil swarming, allowing cells to monitor other areas. Self-steering is emerging as a dominant feature of cell motility.