An agent-based and FE approach to simulate cell jamming and collective motion in epithelial layers
Authored by Ismael Gonzalez-Valverde, Garcia-Aznar Jose Manuel
Date Published: 2019
DOI: 10.1007/s40571-018-0199-2
Sponsors:
European Research Council (ERC)
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
The collective cell motion in epithelial layers is still poorly
understood, despite this phenomenon being fundamental to explain several
biological processes. Indeed, it has been experimentally observed that
epithelial cells can behave either as a fluid or as a solid in the
tissue. The transition between both states is related to cell-cell
adhesions and cell morphology. In fact, cell motility can be limited by
the interaction with its neighboring cells. Moreover, cells can even
enter in a frozen state, and in that case, the system behaves as a
solid. However, this state is reversible under certain circumstances,
and cells may return to a fluidized state. This phenomenon is known as
cell jamming. Here, we propose a hybrid approach that couples a discrete
agent-based model and a continuum finite element-based model to simulate
cell dynamics and cell jamming in epithelial monolayers. Our hybrid
approach is able to simulate cell motion individually, but it also
reproduces the mechanical properties at tissue level that emerge from
cell-cell interactions. This study helps to understand how cell-cell
interactions regulate the cell jamming phenomenon and provides a deeper
insight into the role of the passive mechanics in collective cell
motion.
Tags
Migration
Dynamics
emergence
finite element method
mechanics
Hybrid model
Cell mechanics
Tissue mechanics