Mechanics of cell competition and elimination

Cells within heterogeneous tissues can use forces to outcompete and eliminate cells of lower mechanical fitness through various strategies. 

Cellular biophysical properties, such as cell–cell or cell–substrate adhesion, force generation and transmission, contractility, and stiffness, can provide a competitive advantage by increasing the mechanical fitness of winner cells.

Elimination strategies involve compressing loser cells through various mechanisms, such as differential growth or force generation, convergent tissue flows, and increased interface contractility; however, high mechanical activity at tissue interfaces can also lead to cell elimination independently of compression.

The nature and direction of forces—that is, compressive or tensile, within or out of the plane—might determine the competition outcome by modulating the fate of losing cells and the direction of their elimination.

https://www.cell.com/trends/cell-biology/fulltext/S0962-8924(26)00067-X

https://sciencemission.com/Biophysical-principles-of-cell-competition