Crosstalk of cells and signaling processes during tissue regeneration: a data-driven modelling approach

CURA COSTA, EMANUEL; MILOCCO, LISANDRO; TANAKA ELLY M; CHARA OSVALDO

Buenos Aires

Conferencia; Latin American Conference on Mathematical Modelling of Biological Systems; 2015

Sociedad Argentina de Biofisica (SAB)

Homeostasis is compromised when a tissue is wounded or amputated. The vast majority of animals respond to these injures by means of scarformation. Nevertheless, some organisms are able to show different levels of tissue regeneration. Well-known examples are the axolotl or Mexican salamander (A. mexicanum), Hydra (H. vulgaris), the fresh-water polyp, and Planaria. Although a number of studies have been carried out to understand why these animals can regenerate their tissues, we still lack a mechanistic understanding of this amazing phenomenon. In this project we try to phenomenologically reproduce the process of tissue regeneration by means of a mathematical modelling approach based on experimental information obtained in different contexts. In particular, based on previous data analysis1 and modelling efforts2,3 obtained in regenerative conditions we set up a 2D multi-scale model composed of two layers: a Cellular and a molecular or signaling level modeled by a Cellular Potts Model (CPM) and Partial Differential Equations (PDE) formalisms, respectively. We explored different cellular mechanisms as driving forces for tissue regeneration. By constraining the resulting models to experimental information of the dynamics of the cells and molecules involved in the regenerative process, we were able to reproduce qualitative macroscopic features of this phenomenon. Upcoming quantitative analysis comparing modelling with experimental results can help us gain mechanistic understanding of tissue regeneration.[1] Roensch K, Tazaki A, Chara O & Tanaka EM. 2013. Science. 342 (6164):1375-1379.[2] Chara O, Tanaka EM & Brusch L. 2014. Curr Top Dev Biol. 108:283-317.[3] Chara O & Brusch L. 2015. BioSystems. 130: 1-10.This work was funded by the Great! ipid4all grant (group2group exchange for academic talents) granted by the Graduate Academy of the Technische Universität Dresden 2015, PICT 2014-3469 granted by the ANPCYT and by the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP, grantRGP0016/2010).