Compressive loading affects endothelial cell migration: a numerical study

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impact of compressive loading on endothelial cell migration pattern in angiogenesis using a meshless discretization technique, combined with a reaction-diffusion formulation. In silico models are highly valuable for understanding the dynamics of biological systems, and numerical models allow for testing different laboratory protocols and deducing which ones produce the best outcomes. In the proposed model, angiogenesis was simulated in response to a reaction-diffusion equation for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a 5×5 mm2 square domain and using the Radial Point Interpolation Method (RPIM). The compressive loading was applied as a hydrostatic pressure of around 0.0067 MPa, in a specific zone in the domain to simulate the domain stress-strain interactions. The effect of compressive loading on angiogenesis sprouting patterns is analysed, and the results show that compression load affects the VEGF diffusion gradient and increases the VEGF concentration in the region where the compression was applied, causing the capillary to move away from the VEGF release region. Overall, this study sheds light on the role of mechanical stimuli in angiogenesis and provides a basis for further research in this area.