Physical Forces Influence the Self-organization of the Leader Cell Formation During Collective Cell Migration

Many dynamic physiological processes, including embryo development and wound healing, involve collective cell migration. During this process, leader cells emerge in self-organization manner to guide other cells migration. The mechanisms of their formation, however, are not clear. We hypothesized that the physical forces among cells, and between cell and substrate influence the formation of leader cells. Here, we presented a computational model of cell monolayer migration based on the Glazier-Graner-Hogeweg (GGH) model. Our results indicated that the adhesion forces among cells and the cell-substrate adhesion forces regulate the formation of leader cells. Increasing cellular mobility also affected the characters of leader cells. In summary, our results provided evidence for that physical forces among cells and between cell and substrate, along with mobility of individual cells, affect the self-organization process of leader cell formation during collective cell migration.