Collective cell motion in an epithelial sheet can be quantitatively described by a stochastic interacting particle...

Area of Science:

• Cell biology
• Biophysics
• Computational biology

Background:

• Collective cell migration is crucial for numerous biological processes, including development and wound healing.
• Understanding cell-cell interactions and individual cell behavior is key to modeling tissue-level dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simple model for collective cell migration in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) epithelia.
• To investigate the role of individual cell behavior and leader cells in epithelial sheet dynamics.
• To quantitatively explain the progression and morphology of the epithelial border.

Main Methods:

• Modeling cells as point particles with stochastic motion and neighbor-adaptation dynamics.
• Comparing model predictions with experimental data of MDCK cell sheets.
• Incorporating modified 'leader' cell characteristics to simulate interface dynamics.

Main Results:

• The model accurately describes cell motion in the epithelium bulk at early stages.
• The model reproduces the digitated shape of the epithelial interface over time.
• Leader cell behavior, including easier invasion of free surface and coordination with followers, explains interface morphology.

Conclusions:

• A simple stochastic model with neighbor adaptation quantitatively explains collective cell migration in MDCK epithelia.
• Leader cells play a critical role in shaping the epithelial border through distinct invasion and coordination behaviors.
• The model provides a framework for understanding tissue morphogenesis and dynamics.