Altered Erythrocyte Biophysical Properties in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract

The role played by the nucleus in cell migration remains poorly understood. Recent works have described different ways in which the nucleus controls cell migration in 3D environments, such as, e.g., mechanosensing, force transmission, or restriction of motion in dense extracellular networks. However, the role of the nucleus in 2D cell migration is more controversial. The literature has usually assumed that the nucleus behaves as a passive element without an active role. Hence, most computational models of cell migration do not consider the nucleus. Some papers have shown that intact cells are faster than enucleated cells, despite the biological mechanisms driving cell motion are identical. These results suggest that the presence of the nucleus inside the moving cell cannot be neglected. Here, we study the role played by the nucleus in 2D migration of fish keratocytes by way of a computational model. Our model incorporates the nucleus dynamics into well established computational mechanistic models of keratocyte migration. The model resorts to two phase-field variables to track the cell and the nucleus. Thus, we can locate the actin and myosin dynamics to the cytosol (i.e., inside the cell and outside the nucleus). We employ two force balance equations that account for the forces acting on the nucleus and the actin network. Our simulations show a realistic picture of keratocyte migration on planar substrates. The model results provide insights into the role played by the nucleus in 2D cell migration. 600-PosSpreading Out: Modeling the Physics of Cell-Substrate Interaction in Cell Spreading and Focal Adhesion Evolution