A NUMERICAL PROOF THAT CERTAIN CELLS FOLLOW THE TRAILS OF THE DIFFUSIONS OF SOME CHEMICALS IN THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

In this work, we obtain the numerical solutions of a 2D mathematical model of tumor angiogenesis originally presented in [Pamuk S, cAY I, Sazci A, A 2D mathematical model for tumor angiogenesis: The roles of certain cells in the extra cellular matrix, Math Biosci 306:32-48, 2018] to numerically prove that the certain cells, the endothelials (EC), pericytes (PC) and macrophages (MC) follow the trails of the diffusions of some chemicals in the extracellular matrix (ECM) which is, in fact, inhomogeneous. This leads to branching, the sprouting of a new neovessel from an existing vessel. Therefore, anastomosis occurs between these sprouts. In our figures we do see these branching and anastomosis, which show the fact that the cells diffuse according to the structure of the ECM. As a result, one sees that our results are in good agreement with the biological facts about the movements of certain cells in the Matrix.