Intercellular forces driving stratification in a two-layer corneal epithelium: Insight from a Voronoi cell-based...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Cell Biology
• Biophysics

Background:

• The corneal epithelium renews via stem cell migration and cell delamination.
• Mechanisms governing epithelial stratification remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model corneal epithelial stratification dynamics.
• To investigate the interplay between cellular processes and mechanical forces.

Main Methods:

• A two-dimensional Voronoi cell-based model was developed.
• The model incorporated basal and suprabasal layers, cell-substrate adhesion, and intercellular forces.

Main Results:

• Cell delamination, crucial for stratification, is strongly linked to transit amplifying cell (TAC) proliferation.
• Weakened cell-substrate interactions enhance epithelial cell turnover.
• Increased shedding promotes cell division and delamination, with excessive shedding causing cell stretching.

Conclusions:

• TAC proliferation buffers limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC) activity.
• Physical forces tightly couple cell size, migration, and turnover for epithelial integrity.
• The model provides insights into corneal wound healing and stratification mechanisms.