A computational model for estimation of mechanical parameters in chemotactic endothelial cells

A cell migration numerical simulation is presented to mimic the motility of endothelial cells subjected to the concentration gradients of a Forebrain embryoniccortical neuron Conditioned Medium (CM). This factor was previously shown to induce the directional chemotaxis of endothelial cells with an over-expressed G protein coupled receptor 124 (GPR 124). A cell simulator program incorporates basic elements of the cell cytoskeleton, including membrane, nucleus and cytoskeleton. The developed 2D cell model is capable of responding to concentration gradients of biochemical factors by changing the cytoskeleton arrangement. Random walk force, cell drag force and cell inertial eects are also implemented into the cell migration to complete the simulation of the phenomenon. The obtained results of cell migration were calibrated with experimental cell chemotaxis data. This model can be implemented for prediction of cell behavior during cell chemotaxis and also provides a powerful tool to explain the cell migration phenomenon, mechanistically.