An interacting particle system modelling differential adhesion based cell sorting

A discrete stochastic model of a spatially extended cell population with local interactions is presented, which is capable to describe adhesive behavior as well as persistence of cell movement but which is nevertheless analytically tractable.
The biological motivation comes from Steinberg's Differential Adhesion Hypothesis, which states that cell sorting is caused by random cell movement in combination with differential cell-cell adhesion.
The long-time behavior of this interacting particle system is analyzed and its relation with statistical mechanics is discussed. It is shown that the evolution of the particle system can be interpreted as cell sorting. The role of cell persistence in cell sorting is indicated and it is discussed how persistence influences the systems behavior.