Modelling the movement of interacting cell populations

Mathematical modelling of cell movement has traditionally focussed on a single population of cells, often moving in response to various chemical and environmental cues. In this paper, we consider models for movement in two or more interacting cell populations. We begin by discussing intuitive ideas underlying the extension of models for a single-cell population to two interacting populations. We then consider more formal model development using transition probability methods, and we discuss how the same equations can be obtained as the limiting form of a velocity-jump process. We illustrate the models we have developed via two examples. The first of these is a generic model for competing cell populations, and the second concerns aggregation in cell populations moving in response to chemical gradients. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.