Multi-phase field model reveals internal dissipation is crucial for spontaneous hole formation in cell monolayers

Pinto, Diogo E. P. (avtor), Rozman, Jan (avtor), Yeomans, Julia M. (avtor)

Although cell monolayers typically remain confluent, they can spontaneously develop persistent holes as a result of collective cellular motion. Recent studies on MDCK monolayers cultured on soft substrates have revealed that cells can align to create regions of local nematic order, and topological defects that generate localised mechanical stresses which can spontaneously trigger hole formation. To investigate this process, we develop a continuum multi-phase field model that incorporates internal dissipation and active dipolar forces that drive cell shape anisotropy. Our simulations show that reducing substrate friction enhances cell-cell velocity correlations. In the low-friction regime, topological defects generate spiral flow patterns that concentrate stress and can trigger hole formation. By contrast, in the high-friction regime, holes do not nucleate. We further demonstrate that the number and stability of the holes—whether they close or persist—depends on both substrate friction and cellular activity, through a non-dimensional friction number. These findings highlight the importance of internal dissipation in modelling collective cell motion and the critical role of collective dynamics in maintaining tissue integrity.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: biological physics, condensed matter physics, statistical physics
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FMF - Fakulteta za matematiko in fiziko
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 8 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 17, art. no. 8288
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185957
• UDK: 577.3
• ISSN pri članku: 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-74977-y
• COBISS.SI-ID: 288691459
• Datum objave v RUL: 24.08.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Nature communications
• Skrajšan naslov: Nat. Commun.
• Založnik: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2315876

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: biofizika, fizika kondenzirane snovi, statistična fizika