Vertex Models of Epithelial Morphogenesis

Fletcher, Alexander G.; Osterfield, Miriam; Baker, Ruth E.; Shvartsman, Stanislav Y.

doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2013.11.4498

Cited by 534 publications

(555 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Since then, a variety of mechanical descriptions have been proposed; however, testing of the underlying hypotheses has been limited because of the lack of in vivo experimental tools. Notably, so-called vertex models (31), usually based on energy minimization, do not incorporate energy dissipation and thus, cannot predict the tissue dynamics. Here, we propose a vertex-based model, which bridges usual vertex models and continuum mechanics with finite elements approaches that integrate viscoelastic constitutive behavior (32,33).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct laser manipulation reveals the mechanics of cell contacts in vivo

Bambardekar

Clément

Blanc

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

208

236

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Cell-generated forces produce a variety of tissue movements and tissue shape changes. The cytoskeletal elements that underlie these dynamics act at cell-cell and cell-ECM contacts to apply local forces on adhesive structures. In epithelia, force imbalance at cell contacts induces cell shape changes, such as apical constriction or polarized junction remodeling, driving tissue morphogenesis. The dynamics of these processes are well-characterized; however, the mechanical basis of cell shape changes is largely unknown because of a lack of mechanical measurements in vivo. We have developed an approach combining optical tweezers with light-sheet microscopy to probe the mechanical properties of epithelial cell junctions in the early Drosophila embryo. We show that optical trapping can efficiently deform cell-cell interfaces and measure tension at cell junctions, which is on the order of 100 pN. We show that tension at cell junctions equilibrates over a few seconds, a short timescale compared with the contractile events that drive morphogenetic movements. We also show that tension increases along cell interfaces during early tissue morphogenesis and becomes anisotropic as cells intercalate during germ-band extension. By performing pull-and-release experiments, we identify time-dependent properties of junctional mechanics consistent with a simple viscoelastic model. Integrating this constitutive law into a tissue-scale model, we predict quantitatively how local deformations propagate throughout the tissue.cell mechanics | tissue morphogenesis | optical tweezers | light-sheet microscopy | Myosin-II

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct laser manipulation reveals the mechanics of cell contacts in vivo

Bambardekar

Clément

Blanc

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

208

236

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Steinberg's differential adhesion hypothesis was subsequently elaborated to explain cell sorting during morphogenesis (Steinberg, 1970(Steinberg, , 2007. To account for associated changes of cell shape, and even cellular rearrangements amongst The vertex model of a confluent layer suggests that as cell-cell adhesion strength increases toward a critical value, the average cortical tension drops and then vanishes (Brodland, 2002;Farhadifar et al, 2007;Fletcher et al, 2014). Close to the boundary of this transition, small changes in cell-cell adhesion cause disproportionally large changes in cortical tension.…”

Section: Cell Shape and Cell Proliferationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collective migration and cell jamming in asthma, cancer and development

Park

Atia

Mitchel

et al. 2016

Journal of Cell Science

134

163

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Collective cellular migration within the epithelial layer impacts upon development, wound healing and cancer invasion, but remains poorly understood. Prevailing conceptual frameworks tend to focus on the isolated role of each particular underlying factor -taken one at a time or at most a few at a time -and thus might not be tailored to describe a cellular collective that embodies a wide palette of physical and molecular interactions that are both strong and complex. To bridge this gap, we shift the spotlight to the emerging concept of cell jamming, which points to only a small set of parameters that govern when a cellular collective might jam and rigidify like a solid, or instead unjam and flow like a fluid. As gateways to cellular migration, the unjamming transition (UJT) and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) share certain superficial similarities, but their congruence -or lack thereof -remains unclear. In this Commentary, we discuss aspects of cell jamming, its established role in human epithelial cell layers derived from the airways of nonasthmatic and asthmatic donors, and its speculative but emerging roles in development and cancer cell invasion.

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“…The conceptual framework based on quantitative models (Keller and Shook, 2011;Fletcher et al, 2014) of the complex spatial and temporal dynamics underlying epithelial sheets folding in 3D structures during embryonic development focuses on wedges formation in response to chemical morphogens gradients. In turn, it is conceivable that wedges formation prompted by chemical morphogens may trigger forces that operate as mechanical morphogens, which will act synergically with their chemical triggers.…”

Section: Mechanical Forces and Fate Assignmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microgravity, Stem Cells, and Embryonic Development: Challenges and Opportunities for 3D Tissue Generation

Andreazzoli

Angeloni

Broccoli

et al. 2017

Front. Astron. Space Sci.

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Space is a challenging environment for the human body, due to the combined effects of reduced gravity (microgravity) and cosmic radiation. Known effects of microgravity range from the blood redistribution that affects the cardiovascular system and the eye to muscle wasting, bone loss, anemia, and immune depression. About cosmic radiation, the shielding provided by the spaceship hull is far less efficient than that afforded at ground level by the combined effects of the Earth atmosphere and magnetic field. The eye and its nervous layer (the retina) are affected by both microgravity and heavy ions exposure. Considering the importance of sight for long-term manned flights, visual research aimed at devising measures to protect the eye from environmental conditions of the outer space represents a special challenge to meet. In this review we focus on the impact of microgravity on embryonic development, discussing the roles of mechanical forces in the context of the neutral buoyancy the embryo experiences in the womb. At variance with its adverse effects on the adult human body, simulated microgravity may provide a unique tool for understanding the biomechanical events involved in the development and assembly in vitro of three-dimensional (3D) ocular tissues. Prospective benefits are the development of novel safety measures to protect the human eye from cosmic radiation in microgravity during long-term manned spaceflights in the outer space, as well as the generation of human 3D-retinas with its supporting structures to develop innovative and effective therapeutic options for degenerative eye diseases.

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Vertex Models of Epithelial Morphogenesis

Cited by 534 publications

References 88 publications

Direct laser manipulation reveals the mechanics of cell contacts in vivo

Direct laser manipulation reveals the mechanics of cell contacts in vivo

Collective migration and cell jamming in asthma, cancer and development

Microgravity, Stem Cells, and Embryonic Development: Challenges and Opportunities for 3D Tissue Generation

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