Advances in imaging cell–matrix adhesions

Adhesion is fundamental to the survival and function of many different cell types, and regulates basic events such as mitosis, cell survival and migration, in both embryonic and adult organisms. Cell-matrix adhesion also regulates the dynamic interplay between cells and surrounding tissues during processes such as immune cell recruitment, wound healing and cancer cell metastasis. The study of cell adhesion has gained momentum in recent years, in large part because of the emergence of imaging techniques that have facilitated detailed analysis of the molecular composition and dynamics of the structures involved. In this Commentary, we discuss the recent application of different imaging techniques to study cell-matrix adhesions, emphasising common strategies used for the analysis of adhesion dynamics both in cells in culture and in whole organisms.