Emergent structures and dynamics of cell colonies by contact inhibition of locomotion

TL;DR

This study uses simulations of self-propelled particles to explore how contact inhibition of locomotion influences the organization and collective behavior of cell colonies, revealing its role in tissue structure formation and dynamics.

Contribution

It provides analytical predictions and simulation results showing how contact inhibition of locomotion affects tissue morphology and cell dispersal, linking cell interactions to emergent tissue structures.

Findings

CIL promotes cell dispersal and inhibits cohesive tissue formation.

CIL induces collective cell motion and tensile stresses in monolayers.

Various tissue-like structures emerge depending on cell interactions and CIL.

Abstract

Cells in tissues can organize into a broad spectrum of structures according to their function. Drastic changes of organization, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transitions or the formation of spheroidal aggregates, are often associated either to tissue morphogenesis or to cancer progression. Here, we study the organization of cell colonies by means of simulations of self-propelled particles with generic cell-like interactions. The interplay between cell softness, cell-cell adhesion, and contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL) yields structures and collective dynamics observed in several existing tissue phenotypes. These include regular distributions of cells, dynamic cell clusters, gel-like networks, collectively migrating monolayers, and 3D aggregates. We give analytical predictions for transitions between noncohesive, cohesive, and 3D cell arrangements. We explicitly show how CIL yields an effective repulsion that promotes cell dispersal, thereby hindering the formation of cohesive tissues. Yet, in continuous monolayers, CIL leads to collective cell motion, ensures tensile intercellular stresses, and opposes cell extrusion. Thus, our work highlights the prominent role of CIL in determining the emergent structures and dynamics of cell colonies.