From cells to tissue: A continuum model of epithelial mechanics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a continuum model for epithelial tissue mechanics that integrates cellular processes and mechanical properties, enabling analysis of tissue morphogenesis and comparison with experimental data.

Contribution

It presents a novel continuum framework incorporating cellular shape changes and rearrangements to understand epithelial tissue morphogenesis.

Findings

Model captures passive relaxation and active contraction-elongation behaviors.

Includes stress and deformation tensors for experimental comparison.

Elucidates mechanisms of tissue shear flow and morphogenetic processes.

Abstract

A continuum model of epithelial tissue mechanics was formulated using cellular-level mechanical ingredients and cell morphogenetic processes, including cellular shape changes and cellular rearrangements. This model can include finite deformation, and incorporates stress and deformation tensors, which can be compared with experimental data. Using this model, we elucidated dynamical behavior underlying passive relaxation, active contraction-elongation, and tissue shear flow. This study provides an integrated scheme for the understanding of the mechanisms that are involved in orchestrating the morphogenetic processes in individual cells, in order to achieve epithelial tissue morphogenesis.