Mechanical control of epithelial lumen formation
Alejo E Rodríguez-Fraticelli1, Fernando Martín-Belmonte
1Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Cell confinement guides epithelial organ development by controlling cell polarity and lumen formation. Mechanical cues regulate cell contractility and organelle positioning, crucial for morphogenesis and disease understanding.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Epithelial morphogenesis is essential for organ development.
- Disrupted epithelial polarity underlies various diseases.
- Matrix-induced cell confinement influences 3D epithelial polarity and lumen formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how cell confinement controls epithelial polarity and lumen initiation.
- To elucidate the mechanotransduction pathways involved in epithelial morphogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized micropatterned culture chips for precise control of cell adhesion.
- Manipulated cell confinement conditions (high vs. low).
- Assessed centrosome and nuclear positioning, cell contractility, and lumen formation.
Main Results:
- High confinement is required for proper centrosome/trafficking machinery positioning and lumen initiation.
- Low confinement promotes LKB1 and RhoA-mediated contractility, inhibiting lumen formation.
- Inhibiting Myosin-II contractility rescued lumen initiation in low confinement.
Conclusions:
- Mechanotransduction coordinates nuclear and centrosome positioning for epithelial morphogenesis.
- Polarized Rho and Rab GTPases, and nuclear transcription factors are potential regulators.
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