Using a probabilistic approach to derive a two-phase model of flow-induced cell migration

Interstitial fluid flow is a feature of many solid tumors. In vitro experiments have shown that such fluid flow can direct tumor cell movement upstream or downstream depending on the balance between the competing mechanisms of tensotaxis (cell migration up stress gradients) and autologous chemotaxis...

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Main Authors: Ben-Ami, Y, Pitt-Francis, JM, Maini, PK, Byrne, HM
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Cell Press 2024
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author Ben-Ami, Y
Pitt-Francis, JM
Maini, PK
Byrne, HM
author_facet Ben-Ami, Y
Pitt-Francis, JM
Maini, PK
Byrne, HM
author_sort Ben-Ami, Y
collection OXFORD
description Interstitial fluid flow is a feature of many solid tumors. In vitro experiments have shown that such fluid flow can direct tumor cell movement upstream or downstream depending on the balance between the competing mechanisms of tensotaxis (cell migration up stress gradients) and autologous chemotaxis (downstream cell movement in response to flow-induced gradients of self-secreted chemoattractants). In this work we develop a probabilistic-continuum, two-phase model for cell migration in response to interstitial flow. We use a kinetic description for the cell velocity probability density function, and model the flow-dependent mechanical and chemical stimuli as forcing terms that bias cell migration upstream and downstream. Using velocity-space averaging, we reformulate the model as a system of continuum equations for the spatiotemporal evolution of the cell volume fraction and flux in response to forcing terms that depend on the local direction and magnitude of the mechanochemical cues. We specialize our model to describe a one-dimensional cell layer subject to fluid flow. Using a combination of numerical simulations and asymptotic analysis, we delineate the parameter regime where transitions from downstream to upstream cell migration occur. As has been observed experimentally, the model predicts downstream-oriented chemotactic migration at low cell volume fractions, and upstream-oriented tensotactic migration at larger volume fractions. We show that the locus of the critical volume fraction, at which the system transitions from downstream to upstream migration, is dominated by the ratio of the rate of chemokine secretion and advection. Our model also predicts that, because the tensotactic stimulus depends strongly on the cell volume fraction, upstream, tensotaxis-dominated migration occurs only transiently when the cells are initially seeded, and transitions to downstream, chemotaxis-dominated migration occur at later times due to the dispersive effect of cell diffusion.
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spelling oxford-uuid:6a10bed1-3c88-41e4-9347-c51ecd834ae12024-04-22T08:03:08ZUsing a probabilistic approach to derive a two-phase model of flow-induced cell migrationJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:6a10bed1-3c88-41e4-9347-c51ecd834ae1EnglishSymplectic ElementsCell Press2024Ben-Ami, YPitt-Francis, JMMaini, PKByrne, HMInterstitial fluid flow is a feature of many solid tumors. In vitro experiments have shown that such fluid flow can direct tumor cell movement upstream or downstream depending on the balance between the competing mechanisms of tensotaxis (cell migration up stress gradients) and autologous chemotaxis (downstream cell movement in response to flow-induced gradients of self-secreted chemoattractants). In this work we develop a probabilistic-continuum, two-phase model for cell migration in response to interstitial flow. We use a kinetic description for the cell velocity probability density function, and model the flow-dependent mechanical and chemical stimuli as forcing terms that bias cell migration upstream and downstream. Using velocity-space averaging, we reformulate the model as a system of continuum equations for the spatiotemporal evolution of the cell volume fraction and flux in response to forcing terms that depend on the local direction and magnitude of the mechanochemical cues. We specialize our model to describe a one-dimensional cell layer subject to fluid flow. Using a combination of numerical simulations and asymptotic analysis, we delineate the parameter regime where transitions from downstream to upstream cell migration occur. As has been observed experimentally, the model predicts downstream-oriented chemotactic migration at low cell volume fractions, and upstream-oriented tensotactic migration at larger volume fractions. We show that the locus of the critical volume fraction, at which the system transitions from downstream to upstream migration, is dominated by the ratio of the rate of chemokine secretion and advection. Our model also predicts that, because the tensotactic stimulus depends strongly on the cell volume fraction, upstream, tensotaxis-dominated migration occurs only transiently when the cells are initially seeded, and transitions to downstream, chemotaxis-dominated migration occur at later times due to the dispersive effect of cell diffusion.
spellingShingle Ben-Ami, Y
Pitt-Francis, JM
Maini, PK
Byrne, HM
Using a probabilistic approach to derive a two-phase model of flow-induced cell migration
title Using a probabilistic approach to derive a two-phase model of flow-induced cell migration
title_full Using a probabilistic approach to derive a two-phase model of flow-induced cell migration
title_fullStr Using a probabilistic approach to derive a two-phase model of flow-induced cell migration
title_full_unstemmed Using a probabilistic approach to derive a two-phase model of flow-induced cell migration
title_short Using a probabilistic approach to derive a two-phase model of flow-induced cell migration
title_sort using a probabilistic approach to derive a two phase model of flow induced cell migration
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