Tension Remodeling Regulates Topological Transitions in Epithelial Tissues

Area of Science:

• Cell biology
• Biophysics
• Developmental biology

Background:

• Cell neighbor exchanges regulate tissue fluidity in epithelial morphogenesis and repair.
• Multicellular rosettes, where five or more cell junctions meet, can hinder these exchanges.
• The mechanical origins and regulation of rosettes remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanical origins of multicellular rosettes.
• To develop a model explaining rosette formation, maintenance, and resolution.
• To explore how controlling mechanical properties influences tissue topology.

Main Methods:

• Developed a dynamic vertex model of epithelial tissues.
• Incorporated strain-dependent tension remodeling.
• Included mechanical memory dissipation mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Increased cell junction tension stabilizes higher-order vertices, stalling rearrangements.
• Mechanical memory dissipation promotes rosette resolution and cell neighbor exchanges.
• Tuning tension remodeling and dissipation rates controls topological transitions and tissue properties.

Conclusions:

• Strain-dependent tension remodeling and mechanical memory dissipation are key regulators of multicellular rosettes.
• These mechanisms allow control over tissue topology and material properties.
• The model recapitulates complex cellular topologies observed in developing organisms.