Computational model of mechanical forces effects on epithelial cell proliferation

ORAL

Abstract

Epithelia are sheets of cells that line the surfaces of organs and carry out important functional and structural roles for the multicellular organisms, including as barriers protecting internal cells from mechanical damage or infection. Understanding the regulation of epithelial cell mechanics is critical in defining the underlying basis of cancer development as well as for wound healing. In computational models, cells are typically approximated as polygons to simplify computation efforts, often resulting in incomplete descriptions of many morphogenetic processes including mitotic rounding during cellular division. Here we have developed a cell-based subcellular element (SCE) computational model implemented on high performance Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) clusters. The model represents mechanical properties of both the internal cytoplasm and outer membrane with subcellular nodes. The numerical results are compared with experimental data obtained from developing Drosophila wing imaginal discs, a genetic model system used to investigate the regulation of epithelial tissue growth. This work provides a computational framework that can be extended toward investigation the underlying mechanics of tissue size control at unprecedented levels of geometric detail.

Authors

  • Ali Nematbakhsh

    Postdoctoral Researcher

  • Matt Bowers

    University of Notre Dame, University of Bari, Gran Sasso Science Institute, JINA and UND, UTK, LLNL, OU, INFN, TAMU, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Division of Nuclear Physics, National Centre for Nuclear Research, Warsaw, Notre Dame University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Univ of Notre Dame, Weizmann Institute, Univ of Birmingham, Univ of Michigan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, The Hebrew University Jerusalem, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Professor, University of Notre Dame, Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame, PhD student, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame, University of Richmond, University of Surrey, University of Richmond, University of Oslo, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Department of Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics, IUPUI Department of Physics, Indianapolis, IN, Ohio Northern University, Northern Kentucky University, Physics Department, Unversity of Missouri, Physics Department, REU Summer Intern, Sichuan University, Purdue University, Princeton University, Monmouth College, ETH, Switzerland, EPFL, Switzerland, Institut Laue-Langevin, France, Kent State University, University of Tennessee, Indiana University South Bend, University Of Notre Dame

  • Matt Bowers

    University of Notre Dame, University of Bari, Gran Sasso Science Institute, JINA and UND, UTK, LLNL, OU, INFN, TAMU, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Division of Nuclear Physics, National Centre for Nuclear Research, Warsaw, Notre Dame University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Univ of Notre Dame, Weizmann Institute, Univ of Birmingham, Univ of Michigan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, The Hebrew University Jerusalem, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Professor, University of Notre Dame, Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame, PhD student, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame, University of Richmond, University of Surrey, University of Richmond, University of Oslo, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Department of Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics, IUPUI Department of Physics, Indianapolis, IN, Ohio Northern University, Northern Kentucky University, Physics Department, Unversity of Missouri, Physics Department, REU Summer Intern, Sichuan University, Purdue University, Princeton University, Monmouth College, ETH, Switzerland, EPFL, Switzerland, Institut Laue-Langevin, France, Kent State University, University of Tennessee, Indiana University South Bend, University Of Notre Dame

  • Matt Bowers

    University of Notre Dame, University of Bari, Gran Sasso Science Institute, JINA and UND, UTK, LLNL, OU, INFN, TAMU, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Division of Nuclear Physics, National Centre for Nuclear Research, Warsaw, Notre Dame University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Univ of Notre Dame, Weizmann Institute, Univ of Birmingham, Univ of Michigan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, The Hebrew University Jerusalem, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Professor, University of Notre Dame, Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame, PhD student, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame, University of Richmond, University of Surrey, University of Richmond, University of Oslo, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Department of Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics, IUPUI Department of Physics, Indianapolis, IN, Ohio Northern University, Northern Kentucky University, Physics Department, Unversity of Missouri, Physics Department, REU Summer Intern, Sichuan University, Purdue University, Princeton University, Monmouth College, ETH, Switzerland, EPFL, Switzerland, Institut Laue-Langevin, France, Kent State University, University of Tennessee, Indiana University South Bend, University Of Notre Dame

  • Matt Bowers

    University of Notre Dame, University of Bari, Gran Sasso Science Institute, JINA and UND, UTK, LLNL, OU, INFN, TAMU, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Division of Nuclear Physics, National Centre for Nuclear Research, Warsaw, Notre Dame University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Univ of Notre Dame, Weizmann Institute, Univ of Birmingham, Univ of Michigan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, The Hebrew University Jerusalem, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Professor, University of Notre Dame, Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame, PhD student, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame, University of Richmond, University of Surrey, University of Richmond, University of Oslo, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Department of Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics, IUPUI Department of Physics, Indianapolis, IN, Ohio Northern University, Northern Kentucky University, Physics Department, Unversity of Missouri, Physics Department, REU Summer Intern, Sichuan University, Purdue University, Princeton University, Monmouth College, ETH, Switzerland, EPFL, Switzerland, Institut Laue-Langevin, France, Kent State University, University of Tennessee, Indiana University South Bend, University Of Notre Dame

  • Matt Bowers

    University of Notre Dame, University of Bari, Gran Sasso Science Institute, JINA and UND, UTK, LLNL, OU, INFN, TAMU, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Division of Nuclear Physics, National Centre for Nuclear Research, Warsaw, Notre Dame University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Univ of Notre Dame, Weizmann Institute, Univ of Birmingham, Univ of Michigan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, The Hebrew University Jerusalem, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Professor, University of Notre Dame, Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame, PhD student, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame, University of Richmond, University of Surrey, University of Richmond, University of Oslo, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of Notre Dame, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Department of Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics, IUPUI Department of Physics, Indianapolis, IN, Ohio Northern University, Northern Kentucky University, Physics Department, Unversity of Missouri, Physics Department, REU Summer Intern, Sichuan University, Purdue University, Princeton University, Monmouth College, ETH, Switzerland, EPFL, Switzerland, Institut Laue-Langevin, France, Kent State University, University of Tennessee, Indiana University South Bend, University Of Notre Dame