Math connects vascular network to the universe

Endothelial cells (ECs) plated on a surface of Matrigel, a basement membrane matrix, spontaneously form a capillary network that is very similar to capillary beds formed in vivo. Now, Guido Serini, Federico Bussolino (University of Torino, Torino, Italy), Davide Ambrosi, Andrea Gamba (Polytechnic of Torino, Torino, Italy) and colleagues have used a combination of mathematical modeling and in vitro experiments to demonstrate that the key parameters in the pattern formation are the density of ECs and the biochemical properties of the chemoattractant.

The group found that if they disrupted either variable in the cell culture system then the capillary network formed was aberrant. For example, with fewer than 100 cells/mm², the cells form a continuous network, but more than 200 cells/mm² led to a Swiss cheese–like mat. And when the...