Does nematic order allow groups of elongated cells to sense electric fields better?

Abstract

Collective response to external directional cues like electric fields plays a pivotal role in processes such as tissue development, regeneration, and wound healing. In this study we focus on the impact of anisotropy in cell shape and local cell alignment on the collective response to electric fields. We model elongated cells that have a different accuracy sensing the field depending on their orientation with respect to the field. Elongated cells often line up with their long axes in the same direction - "nematic order" - does this help the group of cells sense the field more accurately? We use simulations of a simple model to show that if cells orient themselves perpendicular to their average velocity, alignment of a cell's long axis to its nearest neighbors' orientation can enhance the directional response to electric fields. However, for cells to benefit from aligning, their accuracy of sensing must be strongly dependent on cell orientation. We also show that cell-cell adhesion modulates the accuracy of cells in the group.