RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The role of mechanical interactions in EMT
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.12.09.418434
DO 10.1101/2020.12.09.418434
A1 Ryan J. Murphy
A1 Pascal R. Buenzli
A1 Tamara A. Tambyah
A1 Erik W. Thompson
A1 Honor J. Hugo
A1 Ruth E. Baker
A1 Matthew J. Simpson
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/03/03/2020.12.09.418434.abstract
AB 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.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.