Modeling mammary gland morphogenesis as a reaction-diffusion process

Mark R Grant; C Anthony Hunt; Lan Xia; Jimmie E Fata; Mina J Bissell

doi:10.1109/IEMBS.2004.1403249

Modeling mammary gland morphogenesis as a reaction-diffusion process

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2004:2006:679-82. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2004.1403249.

Authors

Mark R Grant¹, C Anthony Hunt, Lan Xia, Jimmie E Fata, Mina J Bissell

Affiliation

¹ Joint UCSF/UCB Bioengineering Graduate Group, California Univ., Berkeley, CA, USA.

PMID: 17271768
DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2004.1403249

Abstract

Mammary ducts are formed through a process of branching morphogenesis. We present results of experiments using a simulation model of this process, and discuss their implications for understanding mammary duct extension and bifurcation. The model is a cellular automaton approximation of a reaction-diffusion process in which matrix metalloproteinases represent the activator, inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases represent the inhibitor, and growth factors serve as a substrate. We compare results from the simulation model with those from in-vivo experiments as part of an assessment of whether duct extension and bifurcation during morphogenesis may be a consequence of a reaction-diffusion mechanism mediated by MMPs and TIMPs.