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Rule-Based Simulation of Multi-Cellular Biological Systems—A Review of Modeling Techniques

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Abstract

Emergent behaviors of multi-cellular biological systems (MCBS) result from the behaviors of each individual cells and their interactions with other cells and with the environment. Modeling MCBS requires incorporating these complex interactions among the individual cells and the environment. Modeling approaches for MCBS can be grouped into two categories: continuum models and cell-based models. Continuum models usually take the form of partial differential equations, and the model equations provide insight into the relationship among the components in the system. Cell-based models simulate each individual cell behavior and interactions among them enabling the observation of the emergent system behavior. This review focuses on the cell-based models of MCBS, and especially, the technical aspect of the rule-based simulation method for MCBS is reviewed. How to implement the cell behaviors and the interactions with other cells and with the environment into the computational domain is discussed. The cell behaviors reviewed in this paper are division, migration, apoptosis/necrosis, and differentiation. The environmental factors such as extracellular matrix, chemicals, microvasculature, and forces are also discussed. Application examples of these cell behaviors and interactions are presented.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by NIH (R01-HL095508-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Minki Hwang & Roger Tran-Son-Tay

  2. Department of Computer Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA

    Marc Garbey

  3. Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Scott A. Berceli

  4. Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Scott A. Berceli

  5. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Roger Tran-Son-Tay

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  1. Minki Hwang
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Correspondence to Roger Tran-Son-Tay.

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Hwang, M., Garbey, M., Berceli, S.A. et al. Rule-Based Simulation of Multi-Cellular Biological Systems—A Review of Modeling Techniques. Cel. Mol. Bioeng. 2, 285–294 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12195-009-0078-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12195-009-0078-2

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