Viscoelasticity of multicellular systems caused by collective cell migration: dynamics at the biointerface.

Viscoelasticity of multicellular systems caused by collective cell migration depends on (1) viscoelasticity of migrating clusters, (2) viscoelasticity of surrounding resting cells and (3) the size, slip effects and thickness of the biointerface. A previously developed model for a sharp biointerface is expanded for the case of a finite biointerface based on thermodynamic and rheological considerations to estimate the influence of the biointerface properties on viscoelasticity. These properties of the interface layer are one of the key factors which influence the overall properties of the mixture, such as its viscoelasticity. Sliding of cell clusters through dense surroundings induces generation of significant shear stress, within the biointerface, which influences (1) the active (contractile) or passive state of single cells and (2) the state of cell-cell adhesion contacts. Cells retain collectivity in migration patterns even upon a reduction of cell-cell adhesion caused by stress generation. A greater size to the biointerface leads to the weakening of multicellular systems for the same volume fraction of migrating cells due to energy dissipation. Various factors such as (1) increase of the interface size, (2) reduction in slip effects under the constant thickness of the biointerface and (3) decrease in the biointerface thickness under constant slip effects induce an increase of the shear rate as well as the overall energy dissipation and can lead to circular cell movement within the biointerface layer. Additional experiments at subcellular and cellular levels are needed to determine the influence of mechanical factors on collective cell migration.