Collective cell migration of epithelial cells driven by chiral torque generation

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model linking cellular chiral torque to multicellular tissue chirality, demonstrating unidirectional cell migration driven by chiral torque gradients and identifying key mechanical parameters influencing migration speed.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel model connecting cellular chiral torque to tissue morphogenesis, providing insights into the mechanical basis of chiral tissue development.

Findings

Cells migrate unidirectionally under chiral torque gradients

Migration speed depends on tissue's mechanical parameters

Speed is scaled by a structural order parameter for phase transition

Abstract

Various multicellular tissues show chiral morphology. Experimental studies have shown this can originate from cell chirality. However, no theory has been proposed to connect the cellular chiral torque and multicellular chiral morphogenesis. We propose a model of confluent tissue dynamics with cellular chiral torque. We found that cells migrate unidirectionally under a gradient of cellular chiral torque. While the migration speed varies depending on the tissue's mechanical parameters, it is scaled solely by a structural order parameter for liquid-to-solid transition in confluent tissues.