Mathematical modeling of the capillary‐like pattern generated by adrenomedullin‐treated human vascular endothelial cells in vitro

A cellular Potts model analyzing differentiated cell behavior during in vivo vascularization of a hypoxic tissue

“…Such phenotypic transitions, along with chemotactic mechanisms and a proper directionality of stalk cell mitotic events, have been here provided to be fundamental for the emergence of a functional capillary network, i.e., able to effectively supply oxygen to the tissue. In this respect, the proposed model represents a refinement of a series of published CPMs, that deal with different scenarios of vascular progression, i.e., in vitro tubulogenesis [25,37,38], endothelial cell collective migration and patterning [66,67,68], tumor-induced angiogenesis [62]. However, our CPMbased framework can be further improved in several directions: for instance, it would be interesting to analyze the effect on vascular extension of selected mechanical and chemical stimuli that may derive both from the extracellular environment (i.e., insoluble matrix components) and from other diffusive substances (i.e., other growth factors or VEGF isoforms).…”

A fractal analysis of the spatial distribution of tumoral mast cells in lymph nodes and bone marrow

“…In fact, the formation of a cell pattern is the result of a complex set of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions [21] and the analysis of its morphology can provide valuable information to generate hypotheses on the essential cell behaviors leading to the observed tissue appearance and to validate (or refuse) models of the occurring physiological or pathological mechanisms [22]. Among others, examples of this approach were provided in studies concerning the endothelial cell self-organization under anti-or pro-angiogenic stimuli [23] or the role of astrocytes in diseases and injuries of the retina [24]. As far as cancer biology is concerned, Simon et al [25] recently reported that LGR5 is differentially expressed in gastrointestinal cancers and that the spatial distribution of LGR5 þ cells has to be considered when their tumor biological significance is sought.…”

Simulation Frameworks for Morphogenetic Problems

“…Computer simulations using CompuCell3D were indeed successful in achieving self-organizing patterns. Many authors studied angiogenesis and vasculogenesis [107,108], lumen formation during blood vessel formation [109], and the interplay between angiogenesis and tumorogenesis [110]. CompuCell3D has also been used to study tumor and cancer growth [110][111][112].…”