Cell Shape and Durotaxis Explained from Cell-Extracellular Matrix Forces and Focal Adhesion Dynamics

iScience, vol. 23, pp. 101488

Abstract

Many cells are small and rounded on soft extracellular matrices (ECM), elongated on stiffer ECMs, and flattened on hard ECMs. Cells also migrate up stiffness gradients (durotaxis). Using a hybrid cellular Potts and finite-element model extended with ODE-based models of focal adhesion (FA) turnover, we show that the full range of cell shape and durotaxis can be explained in unison from dynamics of FAs, in contrast to previous mathematical models. In our 2D cell-shape model, FAs grow due to cell traction forces. Forces develop faster on stiff ECMs, causing FAs to stabilize and, consequently, cells to spread on stiff ECMs. If ECM stress further stabilizes FAs, cells elongate on substrates of intermediate stiffness. We show that durotaxis follows from the same set of assumptions. Our model contributes to the understanding of the basic responses of cells to ECM stiffness, paving the way for future modeling of more complex cell-ECM interactions.

Authors 2

1. Elisabeth G. Rens

   University of British Columbia · Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica

   Affiliation as printed

   Mathematics Department, University of British Columbia, Mathematics Road 1984, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada

   Scientific Computing, CWI, Science Park 123, 1098 XG Amsterdam, the Netherlands

2. Roeland M. H. Merks corresponding Aachen Mathematical Institute

   Leiden University · Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica

   Affiliation as printed

   Mathematical Institute, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 1, 2333 CA Leiden, the Netherlands

   Scientific Computing, CWI, Science Park 123, 1098 XG Amsterdam, the Netherlands