Modelling wound closure in an epithelial cell sheet using the cellular Potts model.

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Epithelial cell layers form critical barriers in tissues.
• Wound healing involves complex cellular behaviors and mechanical forces.
• Understanding the interplay of cell adhesion and tension is crucial for tissue repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model epithelial monolayer dynamics in response to wounding.
• To investigate the role of cell-cell adhesion and junctional tension in wound closure.
• To identify mechanical regimes governing cell morphology and wound healing outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a two-dimensional cellular Potts model.
• Employed an energy function to describe cell properties and interactions.
• Performed theoretical approximations and computational simulations.

Main Results:

• Cell-cell adhesion and junctional tension significantly impact cell dynamics, morphology, and wound closure.
• Two mechanical regimes ('hard' and 'soft') were identified, influencing cell organization.
• In the 'hard' regime, wounds may close or initially expand before reaching equilibrium.

Conclusions:

• The balance between contraction and adhesion at injury sites dictates wound closure dynamics.
• Specific thresholds for cell-cell adhesion and wound size predict successful wound closure.
• Mechanical properties of the cell monolayer are key determinants of tissue repair outcomes.