title: Modeling the finger instability in an expanding cell monolayer.
abstract: Collective motion occurs in many biological processes, such as wound healing, tumor invasion and embryogenesis. Experiments of cell monolayer migration have revealed the spontaneous formation of finger-like instabilities, with leader cells at their tips. We present a particle-based model for collective cell migration, based on several elements that have been found experimentally to influence cellular movement. Inside the bulk we include velocity alignment interactions between neighboring cells. At the border contour of the layer we introduce the following additional forces: surface-elasticity restoring force, curvature-dependent positive feedback, and contractile acto-myosin cables. We find that the curvature-driven instability at the layer edge is necessary and sufficient for the formation of cellular fingers, which are in good agreement with experimental observations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tarle
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ravasio
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: Nir S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Gov
mesh_terms: D000205:Actomyosin / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000503:physiopathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000205:Actomyosin