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Tube morphogenesis: closure, but many openings remain
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5435, USA. wjnelson@stanford.edu
Trends in Cell Biology
|November 20, 2003
Summary
Tube formation in diverse organisms is orchestrated by intrinsic and extrinsic signals. Key pathways involve transcriptional regulators, growth factors, cell migration, and cytoskeletal changes for organ development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Organogenesis
Background:
- Epithelial and endothelial tubes are fundamental structures in many organs across various species, including Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, zebrafish, and mammals.
- Understanding tube formation is crucial for comprehending normal development and congenital abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the diverse pathways governing tube morphogenesis during development.
- To highlight conserved mechanisms controlling the formation of unbranched tubes and branching networks.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of tube formation mechanisms across different model organisms.
- Review of key molecular and cellular processes involved in epithelial and endothelial tube development.
Main Results:
- Tube formation can be initiated by intrinsic signals within epithelial precursors or extrinsic inductive signaling from mesenchyme.
- Hierarchical control involves master transcriptional regulators, growth factors, directed cell migration, and cytoskeletal dynamics.
- Pathways lead to either single unbranched tubes or complex dichotomously branching tubular networks.
Conclusions:
- Conserved molecular and cellular mechanisms underpin tube morphogenesis across a wide range of species.
- Insights into these pathways are essential for understanding organ development and disease.