A computational model of chemotaxis-based cell aggregation

We present a computational model that successfully captures the cell behaviors that play important roles in 2-D cell aggregation. A virtual cell in our model is designed as an independent, discrete unit with a set of parameters and actions. Each cell is defined by its location, size, rates of chemoattractant emission and response, age, life cycle stage, proliferation rate and number of attached cells. All cells are capable of emitting and sensing a chemoattractant chemical, moving, attaching to other cells, dividing, aging and dying. We validated and fine-tuned our in silico model by comparing simulated 24-hour aggregation experiments with data derived from in vitro experiments using PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Quantitative comparisons of the aggregate size distributions from the two experiments are produced using the Earth Mover's Distance (EMD) metric. We compared the two size distributions produced after 24 hours of in vitro cell aggregation and the corresponding computer sim...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: BIOSYSTEMS
• Authors: Manolya Eyiyurekli, Prakash Manley, Peter I. Lelkes, David E. Breen
• Keywords: 2-D Cell Aggregation, BIOSYSTEMS 2008, Cell, Cell Aggregation