摘要：When modelling multi-cellular systems, one has to account for cell-cell signalling in addition to the molecular networks driving cell behaviours. Here, we aim at exploring how the topology of the cell-cell communication network impacts the behaviour of the whole multicellular system. More precisely, we focus on epithelial pattern formation, on which our question can be rephrased in terms of cell sizes and shapes. Relying on a logical modelling framework, and using a simple lateral inhibition model over a population of epithelial cells, we assess the model behaviours considering a variety of communication networks. This study suggests that reasonable deviations from a fixed grid (with regular hexagonal shaped cells) do not change much the resulting patterns. We further explore the impact of cell shapes and show that characteristics such as network regularity and number of shared neighbours of contacting cells are relevant to qualify such deviations.
