Mechanics-driven emergence of mesenchymal migration features

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biophysics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Cell migration is crucial for physiological and pathological processes, involving complex interactions between intracellular forces, adhesion, and the environment.
• A mechanistic understanding is needed to differentiate cell-intrinsic and environmental influences on migration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a minimal, mechanistically grounded computational model for mesenchymal cell migration.
• To identify key parameters and conditions governing cell translocation, stalling, and morphology.
• To establish a baseline framework for studying mechanically driven cell guidance.

Main Methods:

• A two-dimensional in silico model simulating cell motility driven by intracellular traction forces.
• Explicit modeling of adhesion dynamics: nucleation, maturation, force buildup, and rupture.
• Systematic mechanical analysis to identify parameter regimes for effective cell movement.

Main Results:

• The model reproduces diverse cell morphologies and migratory behaviors, including persistent random walk trajectories.
• Cell trajectories show a ballistic-to-diffusive motion crossover driven solely by adhesion dynamics and force balance.
• Cell morphology significantly impacts migration speed, persistence, and pausing behavior.

Conclusions:

• The developed model provides a minimal reference for cell migration on non-deformable substrates.
• It establishes a baseline for future research on mechanically guided cell movement and substrate interactions.
• The model is suitable for extensions to deformable substrates, relevant to tissue morphogenesis and anastomosis.