The epitheliome: agent-based modelling of the social behaviour of cells

Authored by DC Walker, J Southgate, G Hill, A Holcombe, DR Hose, SM Wood, S Mac Neil, RH Smallwood

DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2004.05.025

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: MATLAB

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

We have developed a new computational modelling paradigm for predicting the emergent behaviour resulting from the interaction of cells in epithelial tissue. As proof-of-concept, an agent-based model, in which there is a one-to-one correspondence between biological cells and software agents, has been coupled to a simple physical model. Behaviour of the computational model is compared with the growth characteristics of epithelial cells in monolayer culture, using growth media with low and physiological calcium concentrations. Results show a qualitative fit between the growth characteristics produced by the simulation and the in vitro cell models. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tags

Agent-based modelling Self-Organizing Systems calcium cell culture epithelium