CDEV Subgroup Contributed Talks

Supriya Bidanta

Indiana University

"Understanding the role of hydration in aging of skin epidermis through a modeling cell-cell communication"

Advances in cell type and gene expression mapping have significantly enhanced our understanding of the human body. However, comprehending interactions at cellular and tissue levels is equally critical for unveiling mechanisms underlying health and aging. This project leverages data from the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP) and Human Cell Atlas (HCA) to explore cellular functionality within functional tissue units (FTUs) of the skin epidermis. Using HuBMAP and HCA single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and transcriptomics data, we identify key cell types acting as chemical secretors (ligands) and receivers (receptors) in healthy and diseased tissue. We employ PhysiCell, an agent-based modeling platform, to construct a 3D computational cellular environment. The workflow involves preprocessing the transcriptomics data into a machine-readable format and generating chemical communication graphs that capture th ofe dynamic interplay signaling molecules between secretor and receiver cells. By combining biological data with multiscale ABM, we aim to visually and quantitatively model the chemical interactions within the epidermal FTUs of human skin tissue. The overarching goal is to develop a mathematical model elucidating how hydration-mediated cellular communication impacts tissue homeostasis and delays aging processes. This research has the potential to provide new insights into the mechanisms of skin aging and inform strategies for promoting tissue health through hydration management.

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Samuel Johnson

University of Oxford

"Mathematical Optimisation of Actin-Driven Protrusion Formation in Eukaryotic Chemotaxis"

In eukaryotic chemotaxis, cells extend and retract transient actin-driven protrusions at their membrane. These protrusions facilitate both the detection of external chemical gradients and directional movement via the formation of focal adhesions with the extracellular matrix. While extensive experimental work has characterised how protrusive activity varies with a range of environmental parameters, the mechanistic principles governing these relationships remain poorly understood. Here, we model the extension of actin-based protrusions in chemotaxis mathematically as an optimisation problem, wherein cells must balance the detection of external chemical gradients with the energetic cost of protrusion formation. The model highlights energetic efficiency in movement as a major predictor of phenotypic variation amongst motile cell populations, successfully reproducing experimentally observed but previously non-understood patterns of protrusive activity across a range of biological systems. Additionally, we leverage the model to generate novel predictions regarding cellular responses to environmental perturbations, providing testable hypotheses for future experimental work.

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