Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a fundamental process in developmental biology, cancer progression, and wound healing. This blog post explores how computational models, specifically Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE) and cellular vertex models, help us understand the complex dynamics of EMT.
The first paper we discuss presents a multiscale simulation model that integrates YAP signaling pathways into cell behavior during EMT. YAP, or Yes-associated protein, is a key transcriptional regulator involved in cell growth and apoptosis. The model uses ODEs to simulate intracellular dynamics and embeds these into a larger tissue-scale model to study changes during EMT.
\[ \text{ODE Model:} \quad \frac{d[YAP]}{dt} = \alpha \cdot \text{Activation} - \beta \cdot \text{Degradation} \]
The second paper introduces a dynamic cellular vertex model to study the morphomechanics of growing epithelial tissues influenced by EMT. This model considers individual cells as vertices in a dynamic network, simulating how mechanical stresses and cellular interactions drive morphological changes.
\[ \text{Vertex Model:} \quad \text{Minimize} \; U = \sum \left( \text{Elastic Energy} + \text{Interaction Energy} \right) \]
These computational models provide insights into the critical roles of biochemical signals and mechanical forces in EMT. Applications range from understanding cancer metastasis to improving wound healing therapies and designing better anti-cancer drugs.
Video: Effect of cell-cell E-cadherin-dependent adhesion (here A2 = 12) and Rac1-dependent cell speed (here C2 = 4).
Morpheus is a great open source software that contains simulation results visualizing cell behavior during EMT under various conditions, highlighting the impact of YAP signaling and cellular stress responses.
Morpheus Model/ MDCK EMT CThe integration of ODE and vertex models in computational biology allows for a deeper understanding of complex biological processes like EMT. By simulating the interplay between molecular pathways and physical forces, researchers can uncover new insights into cellular dynamics and potential therapeutic targets.