Mathematical model of electrotaxis in osteoblastic cells
article
Electrotaxis is the cell migration in the presence of an electric field (EF). This migration is parallel to the EF
vector and overrides chemical migration cues. In this paper we introduce a mathematical model for the
electrotaxis in osteoblastic cells. The model is evaluated using different EF strengths and different configurations
of both electrical and chemical stimuli. Accordingly, we found that the cell migration speed is
described as the combination of an electrical and a chemical term. Cell migration is faster when both stimuli
orient cell migration towards the same direction. In contrast, a reduced speed is obtained when the EF vector
is opposed to the direction of the chemical stimulus. Numerical relations were obtained to quantify the cell
migration speed at each configuration. Additional calculations for the cell colonization of a substrate also
show mediation of the EF strength. Therefore, the term electro-osteoconduction is introduced to account the
electrically induced cell colonization. Since numerical results compare favorably with experimental evidence,
the model is suitable to be extended to other types of cells, and to numerically explore the influence of EF
during wound healing.
vector and overrides chemical migration cues. In this paper we introduce a mathematical model for the
electrotaxis in osteoblastic cells. The model is evaluated using different EF strengths and different configurations
of both electrical and chemical stimuli. Accordingly, we found that the cell migration speed is
described as the combination of an electrical and a chemical term. Cell migration is faster when both stimuli
orient cell migration towards the same direction. In contrast, a reduced speed is obtained when the EF vector
is opposed to the direction of the chemical stimulus. Numerical relations were obtained to quantify the cell
migration speed at each configuration. Additional calculations for the cell colonization of a substrate also
show mediation of the EF strength. Therefore, the term electro-osteoconduction is introduced to account the
electrically induced cell colonization. Since numerical results compare favorably with experimental evidence,
the model is suitable to be extended to other types of cells, and to numerically explore the influence of EF
during wound healing.
Topics
TNO Identifier
463703
Source
Bioelectrochemistry, 88, pp. 134-143.
Pages
134-143
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