The role of mechanical interactions in EMT

Abstract

The detachment of cells from the boundary of an epithelial tissue and the subsequent invasion of these cells into surrounding tissues is important for cancer development and wound healing, and is strongly associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Chemical signals, such as TGF-β, produced by surrounding tissue can be up-taken by cells and induce EMT. In this work, we present a novel cell-based discrete mathematical model of mechanical cellular relaxation, cell proliferation, and cell detachment driven by chemically-dependent EMT in an epithelial tissue. A continuum description of the model is then derived in the form of a novel nonlinear free boundary problem. Using the discrete and continuum models we explore how the coupling of chemical transport and mechanical interactions influences EMT, and postulate how this could be used to help control EMT in pathological situations.

Computational systems‐biology approaches for modeling gene networks driving epithelial–mesenchymal transitions

“…[50] modeled, with a landscape approach, a 16‐node metabolism‐EMT‐metastasis network that integrates metabolism circuit [48], EMT core circuit [15, 51, 52], and metastasis circuit [53]. Some recent mathematical models focused on mechanical interactions to understand the gene regulation of cells losing cellular cohesion during EMT [54–56].…”

Diffusion through permeable interfaces: Fundamental equations and their application to first-passage and local time statistics

“…In many instances these heterogeneities are due to the presence of permeable interfaces, often referred to as semi or partially permeable barriers. They appear at microscopic scales in different porous media such as biological tissue [1][2][3][4][5][6], but also at larger scales when whole organisms interact with chemical or physical cues [7][8][9].…”