Angela Reynolds^∗,†, Kittisak Koombua^‡, Ramana M. Pidaparti^{†,‡, §}, Kevin R. Ward^†,¶

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.9, No.2, pp. 141-156, 2012, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2012.009.141

Abstract Better understanding of the acute/chronic inflammation in airways is very important in order to avoid lung injuries for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for treatment of respiratory problems. Local lung inflammation is triggered by many mechanisms within the lung, including pathogens. In this study, a cellular automata based model (CA) for pulmonary inflammation that incorporates biophysical processes during inflammatory responses was developed. The developed CA results in three possible outcomes related to homeostasis (healing), persistent infection, and resolved infection with high inflammation (inflamed state). The results from the model are validated qualitatively against other existing computational models. A sensitivity analysis was… More >

Shile Liang^†, Meghan Hoskins^†, Cheng Dong^‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.7, No.2, pp. 77-91, 2010, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2010.007.077

Abstract To complete the metastatic journey, cancer cells have to disseminate through the circulation and extravasate to distal organs. However, the extravasation process, by which tumor cells leave a blood vessel and invade the surrounding tissue from the microcirculation, remains poorly understood at the molecular level. In this study, tumor cell adhesion to the endothelium (EC) and subsequent extravasation were investigated under various flow conditions. Results have shown polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) facilitate melanoma cell adhesion to the EC and subsequent extravasation by a shear-rate dependent mechanism. Melanoma cell-PMN interactions are mediated by the binding between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on melanoma… More >