Modeling epithelial cell behavior and organization.

We propose an individual cell based model for epithelial cell interactions. The model includes biological processes such as cell division, differentiation, adhesion, and death. Cell types include stem, transit amplifying, intermediate, mature, and dead. Stem and transit amplifying cells are allowed to divide provided they are on the basement membrane. In particular, the roles of differential adhesion and cell division during the development are discussed. The typical ordered structure of a healthy epithelium is shown to arise provided differential adhesion and cell division are modeled appropriately.