Progress on multiscale representation of cardiac valve morphogenesis

Abstract

Executable biology at various levels of spatial scale is becoming increasingly important in order to understand the complexity exhibited in living systems. This paper describes how a multiscale systems approach can be used to integrate these models of behaviour to provide an insight into the development of cardiac valves. In particular, simulations of epithelial to mesenchymal transition using a Cellular Potts model are shown to demonstrate cell adhesion and imitate faithfully the in vivo process. As a consequence, this work also shows the importance of measurement of surface energy of adjacent cells and its effect on systemic behaviour.