Mechanocellular models of epithelial morphogenesis.

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Computational Biology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Embryonic epithelia undergo complex morphogenetic movements (reshaping, bending, folding) driven by cellular actions.
• Advances in live-imaging and molecular studies generate large datasets on epithelial dynamics.
• Interpreting these datasets requires sophisticated analytical approaches, including computational modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of cell-based computational models in understanding epithelial morphogenesis.
• To explore how these models can elucidate cell-level processes driving tissue-scale rearrangements.
• To discuss the potential of modeling for investigating experimentally challenging questions in developmental biology.

Main Methods:

• Review of various cell-based modeling approaches (vertex, finite-element, immersed boundary, subcellular element models).
• Analysis of how these models represent cell geometry and cell-cell mechanical interactions.
• Discussion of the integration of computational modeling with experimental approaches.

Main Results:

• Cell-based models provide insights into the mechanisms underlying epithelial morphogenesis.
• Different modeling approaches offer varying levels of detail in representing cell shape and interactions.
• Models facilitate the exploration of forces and feedbacks governing cell and tissue behavior.

Conclusions:

• Computational modeling is crucial for interpreting complex epithelial dynamics and advancing our understanding of morphogenesis.
• Future modeling efforts can help decipher the mechanical and biochemical cues guiding tissue development.
• Challenges remain in developing quantitative and predictive computational models for morphogenetic processes.