Multiple scale model for cell migration in monolayers: Elastic mismatch between cells enhances motility.

ABSTRACT: We propose a multiscale model for monolayer of motile cells that comprise normal and cancer cells. In the model, the two types of cells have identical properties except for their elasticity; cancer cells are softer and normal cells are stiffer. The goal is to isolate the role of elasticity mismatch on the migration potential of cancer cells in the absence of other contributions that are present in real cells. The methodology is based on a phase-field description where each cell is modeled as a highly-deformable self-propelled droplet. We simulated two types of nearly confluent monolayers. One contains a single cancer cell in a layer of normal cells and the other contains normal cells only. The simulation results demonstrate that elasticity mismatch alone is sufficient to increase the motil

SUBMITTER: Palmieri B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5155609 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature