Contributions of cell behavior to geometric order in embryonic cartilage
Authors: Mathias Sonja , Adameyko Igor , Hellander Andreas , Kursawe Jochen 
Published: June 2022

During early development, cartilage provides shape and stability to the embryo while serving as a precursor for the skeleton. Correct formation of embryonic cartilage is hence essential for healthy development. In vertebrate cranial cartilage, it has been observed that a flat and laterally extended macroscopic geometry is linked to regular microscopic structure consisting of tightly packed, short, transversal clonar columns. However, it remains an ongoing challenge to identify how individual cells coordinate to successfully shape the tissue, and more precisely which mechanical interactions and cell behaviors contribute to the generation and maintenance of this columnar cartilage geometry during embryogenesis. Here, we apply a three-dimensional cell-based computational model to investigate mechanical principles contributing to column formation. The model accounts for clonal expansion, anisotropic proliferation and the geometrical arrangement of progenitor cells in space. We confirm that oriented cell divisions and repulsive mechanical interactions between cells are key drivers of column formation. In addition, the model suggests that column formation benefits from the spatial gaps created by the extracellular matrix in the initial configuration, and that column maintenance is facilitated by sequential proliferative phases. Our model thus correctly predicts the dependence of local order on division orientation and tissue thickness. The present study presents the first cell-based simulations of cell mechanics during cranial cartilage formation and we anticipate that it will be useful in future studies on the formation and growth of other cartilage geometries.

Author Summary

In embryos, the initial skeleton is made out of cartilage. As the embryo grows, this cartilage needs to increase in size while correctly maintaining shape. A recent study revealed that for cartilage found in growing skulls, a flat sheet-like geometry is reflected in a distinct arrangement of cells at the microscopic level. Cells sharing a common ancestor are arranged into short columns such that the sheet grows in thickness by lengthening columns, and expands length-wise by adding new columns from single precursor cells. In this work we investigate the mechanical principles underlying column formation and insertion using a computational model that individually represents cells and their behavior. We confirm that arrangement of clonal columns perpendicular to the main expansion direction of the sheet requires oriented cell division. Moreover, we find that column order benefits from an increased amount of extracellular matrix between cells. Similarly, our model suggests that new clonal columns are able to insert themselves into pre-existing cartilage if sufficient matrix is available. Our model constitutes an important step to study cartilage formation and growth in different geometries which will be useful for understanding skeletal developmental disorders as well as for applications in tissue engineering.