One-dimensional collective migration of a proliferating cell monolayer

TL;DR

This paper presents a mechanical model explaining how cell proliferation and protrusive activity drive the collective migration of cell monolayers, linking tissue expansion to measurable rheological parameters.

Contribution

It introduces a simple viscoelastic model that identifies key parameters controlling tissue expansion and predicts monolayer velocity based on rheological properties.

Findings

Identified a key parameter governing tissue expansion.

Derived the dependence of monolayer velocity on rheological parameters.

Discussed effects of pharmacological perturbations on tissue dynamics.

Abstract

The importance of collective cellular migration during embryogenesis and tissue repair asks for a sound understanding of underlying principles and mechanisms. Here, we address recent in vitro experiments on cell monolayers which show that the advancement of the leading edge relies on cell proliferation and protrusive activity at the tissue margin. Within a simple viscoelastic mechanical model amenable to detailed analysis, we identify a key parameter responsible for tissue expansion, and we determine the dependence of the monolayer velocity as a function of measurable rheological parameters. Our results allow us to discuss the effects of pharmacological perturbations on the observed tissue dynamics.