Jamming and force distribution in growing epithelial tissue

We investigate morphologies of proliferating cellular tissues using a numerical simulation model for mechanical cell division and migration in two dimensions. The model is applied to a bimodal mixture consisting of stiff cells with a low growth potential and soft cells with a high growth potential;...

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Main Authors: Pranav Madhikar, Jan Åström, Björn Baumeier, Mikko Karttunen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2021-05-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023129
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author Pranav Madhikar
Jan Åström
Björn Baumeier
Mikko Karttunen
author_facet Pranav Madhikar
Jan Åström
Björn Baumeier
Mikko Karttunen
author_sort Pranav Madhikar
collection DOAJ
description We investigate morphologies of proliferating cellular tissues using a numerical simulation model for mechanical cell division and migration in two dimensions. The model is applied to a bimodal mixture consisting of stiff cells with a low growth potential and soft cells with a high growth potential; cancer cells are typically considered to be softer than healthy cells. In an even mixture, the soft cells develop into a tissue matrix and the stiff cells into a dendritelike network structure. When soft cells are placed inside a tissue consisting of stiff cells (to model cancer growth), the soft cells develop into a fast-growing tumorlike structure that gradually evacuates the stiff cell matrix. The model also demonstrates (1) how soft cells orient themselves in the direction of the largest effective stiffness as predicted by the theory of Bischofs and Schwarz [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100, 9274 (2003)PNASA60027-842410.1073/pnas.1233544100] and (2) that the orientation and force generation continue a few cell rows behind the soft-stiff interface. With increasing intercell friction, tumor growth slows down, and cell death occurs. The contact force distribution between cells is demonstrated to be highly sensitive to cell type mixtures and cell-cell interactions, which indicates that local mechanical forces can be useful as a regulator of tissue formation. The results shed light on established experimental data.
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spelling doaj.art-76f1a5899b2340a1bd4b7ef0778b87372024-04-12T17:09:59ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642021-05-013202312910.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023129Jamming and force distribution in growing epithelial tissuePranav MadhikarJan ÅströmBjörn BaumeierMikko KarttunenWe investigate morphologies of proliferating cellular tissues using a numerical simulation model for mechanical cell division and migration in two dimensions. The model is applied to a bimodal mixture consisting of stiff cells with a low growth potential and soft cells with a high growth potential; cancer cells are typically considered to be softer than healthy cells. In an even mixture, the soft cells develop into a tissue matrix and the stiff cells into a dendritelike network structure. When soft cells are placed inside a tissue consisting of stiff cells (to model cancer growth), the soft cells develop into a fast-growing tumorlike structure that gradually evacuates the stiff cell matrix. The model also demonstrates (1) how soft cells orient themselves in the direction of the largest effective stiffness as predicted by the theory of Bischofs and Schwarz [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100, 9274 (2003)PNASA60027-842410.1073/pnas.1233544100] and (2) that the orientation and force generation continue a few cell rows behind the soft-stiff interface. With increasing intercell friction, tumor growth slows down, and cell death occurs. The contact force distribution between cells is demonstrated to be highly sensitive to cell type mixtures and cell-cell interactions, which indicates that local mechanical forces can be useful as a regulator of tissue formation. The results shed light on established experimental data.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023129
spellingShingle Pranav Madhikar
Jan Åström
Björn Baumeier
Mikko Karttunen
Jamming and force distribution in growing epithelial tissue
Physical Review Research
title Jamming and force distribution in growing epithelial tissue
title_full Jamming and force distribution in growing epithelial tissue
title_fullStr Jamming and force distribution in growing epithelial tissue
title_full_unstemmed Jamming and force distribution in growing epithelial tissue
title_short Jamming and force distribution in growing epithelial tissue
title_sort jamming and force distribution in growing epithelial tissue
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023129
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AT janastrom jammingandforcedistributioningrowingepithelialtissue
AT bjornbaumeier jammingandforcedistributioningrowingepithelialtissue
AT mikkokarttunen jammingandforcedistributioningrowingepithelialtissue