| Abstract: |
| Dupuytren Disorder (DD) is a fibro-proliferative disorder characterised by fibrosis of palmar and digital fascia that leads to finger flexion deformities. It starts with a nodule in the palm, that can evolve into fibrous cords. Here, we present a simple mathematical model that can reproduce the main tissue-level patterns of DD: nodules, nodular cords and non-nodular cords. We investigate the parameters that have the most impact on cord contraction, and confirm that the fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition is one of these parameters. Also, the amount of the injury signal required to trigger this transition seem to be important in Dupuytren contraction, pointing towards a potential link to individual genetics. |
|