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Contact response of cells can mediate morphogenetic pattern formation
L Edelstein-Keshet1, G B Ermentrout
1Mathematics Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Differentiation; Research in Biological Diversity
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Direct cell-to-cell contact can create multicellular patterns, challenging previous theories. This study models how cells reorienting upon contact form parallel arrays without global controls.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Mathematical modeling
- Cell biology
Background:
- Morphogenesis theories often rely on long-range signaling (e.g., Turing patterns) or mechanochemical interactions.
- Direct cell-cell interactions as a sole driver of pattern formation remain underexplored in mathematical models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of direct cell-cell contact responses in forming multicellular patterns.
- To model and simulate how cell reorientation upon contact can lead to ordered structures.
Main Methods:
- Developed a mathematical model simulating cell motion and interactions.
- Utilized computer simulations to observe pattern formation based on contact-induced reorientation.
Main Results:
- Contact responses alone, without global controls, can promote the formation of parallel arrays.
- Simulations demonstrate that cells reorienting and aligning upon contact can generate multicellular patterns.
Conclusions:
- Direct cell-cell communication through contact responses is a viable mechanism for morphogenesis.
- This mechanism offers an alternative explanation for patterns like fibroblast parallel arrays in tissue cultures.