Computational modelling of angiogenesis: The importance of cell rearrangements during vascular growth

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Stepanova, Daria, Byrne, Helen M., Maini, Philip K., Alarcón, Tomás
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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_version_ 1866917566948048896
author Stepanova, Daria
Byrne, Helen M.
Maini, Philip K.
Alarcón, Tomás
author_facet Stepanova, Daria
Byrne, Helen M.
Maini, Philip K.
Alarcón, Tomás
contents Angiogenesis is the process wherein endothelial cells (ECs) form sprouts that elongate from the pre-existing vasculature to create new vascular networks. In addition to its essential role in normal development, angiogenesis plays a vital role in pathologies such as cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Mathematical and computational modelling has contributed to unravelling its complexity. Many existing theoretical models of angiogenic sprouting are based on the 'snail-trail' hypothesis. This framework assumes that leading ECs positioned at sprout tips migrate towards low-oxygen regions while other ECs in the sprout passively follow the leaders' trails and proliferate to maintain sprout integrity. However, experimental results indicate that, contrary to the snail-trail assumption, ECs exchange positions within developing vessels, and the elongation of sprouts is primarily driven by directed migration of ECs. The functional role of cell rearrangements remains unclear. This review of the theoretical modelling of angiogenesis is the first to focus on the phenomenon of cell mixing during early sprouting. We start by describing the biological processes that occur during early angiogenesis, such as phenotype specification, cell rearrangements and cell interactions with the microenvironment. Next, we provide an overview of various theoretical approaches that have been employed to model angiogenesis, with particular emphasis on recent in silico models that account for the phenomenon of cell mixing. Finally, we discuss when cell mixing should be incorporated into theoretical models and what essential modelling components such models should include in order to investigate its functional role.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2307_10297
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Computational modelling of angiogenesis: The importance of cell rearrangements during vascular growth
Stepanova, Daria
Byrne, Helen M.
Maini, Philip K.
Alarcón, Tomás
Tissues and Organs
Cell Behavior
92-10
Angiogenesis is the process wherein endothelial cells (ECs) form sprouts that elongate from the pre-existing vasculature to create new vascular networks. In addition to its essential role in normal development, angiogenesis plays a vital role in pathologies such as cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Mathematical and computational modelling has contributed to unravelling its complexity. Many existing theoretical models of angiogenic sprouting are based on the 'snail-trail' hypothesis. This framework assumes that leading ECs positioned at sprout tips migrate towards low-oxygen regions while other ECs in the sprout passively follow the leaders' trails and proliferate to maintain sprout integrity. However, experimental results indicate that, contrary to the snail-trail assumption, ECs exchange positions within developing vessels, and the elongation of sprouts is primarily driven by directed migration of ECs. The functional role of cell rearrangements remains unclear. This review of the theoretical modelling of angiogenesis is the first to focus on the phenomenon of cell mixing during early sprouting. We start by describing the biological processes that occur during early angiogenesis, such as phenotype specification, cell rearrangements and cell interactions with the microenvironment. Next, we provide an overview of various theoretical approaches that have been employed to model angiogenesis, with particular emphasis on recent in silico models that account for the phenomenon of cell mixing. Finally, we discuss when cell mixing should be incorporated into theoretical models and what essential modelling components such models should include in order to investigate its functional role.
title Computational modelling of angiogenesis: The importance of cell rearrangements during vascular growth
topic Tissues and Organs
Cell Behavior
92-10
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.10297