Regan2022 - Mechanosensitive EMT model

This file contains a 136-node modular Boolean network model of EMT triggered by biomechanical and growth signaling crosstalk, linked to a published network of epithelial contact inhibition, proliferation, and apoptosis (MODEL2006170001). This model reproduces the ability of the core EMT transcriptional network to maintain distinct epithelial, hybrid E/M and mesenchymal states, as well as EMT driven by mitogens such as EGF on stiff ECM. We also reproduce the observed lack of stepwise MET, in that our model's dynamics does not pass through the hybrid E/M state during MET. We show that in the absence of strong autocrine signals such as TGFβ (not included in this version), cells cannot maintain their mesenchymal state in the absence of mitogens, on softer matrices, or at high cell density.