Correlated cell movements drive epithelial finger formation

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that correlated active cell motion alone can generate epithelial finger-like protrusions during collective cell migration, without the need for specialized leader cells or biochemical cues, using a physics-based active matter framework.

Contribution

It reveals that physical interactions and correlated motion are sufficient to produce epithelial fingers, challenging the idea that specialized cells or signals are necessary.

Findings

Correlated cell motion can produce finger-like protrusions.

Leader cells and signals modulate but do not initiate finger formation.

A physics-based active matter model explains epithelial patterning.

Abstract

Epithelia form protective barriers in multicellular organisms. To maintain homeostasis, they must be able to regenerate and heal damaged areas. This occurs through collective cell migration, during which finger-like protrusions commonly appear. Whether these protrusions are driven by specialised leader cells, biochemical cues, or generic physical interactions remains unclear. Integrating in vitro imaging, agent-based simulations, and continuum modelling, we show that correlated active cell motion alone suffices to produce fingers. Leader cells, signalling, and proliferation modulate, but do not trigger, this pattern. Our results show that the key mechanism underlying a complex biological process can be understood using a general framework of the physics of dense active matter.