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Apical size reduction by macropinocytosis alleviates tissue crowding
Enzo Bresteau1, Eve E Suva1, Christopher Revell2
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Nature Communications
|June 23, 2025
Summary
Tissue crowding is managed by macropinocytosis, a process where cells shrink their apical surface to avoid extrusion. This mechanism aids in epithelial remodeling and regulates cell extrusion during development and compression.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Developmental biology
- Tissue engineering
Background:
- Epithelial tissues face challenges from crowding, often leading to cell extrusion.
- Live cell extrusion is a destructive process for tissue integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of macropinocytosis in alleviating tissue crowding.
- To understand how macropinocytosis regulates epithelial remodeling and cell extrusion.
Main Methods:
- Studied mechanosensory signaling triggering macropinocytosis in response to crowding.
- Observed macropinocytosis during epithelial development and in response to external compression.
- Inhibited macropinocytosis to assess its effect on cell extrusion.
Main Results:
- Macropinocytosis reduces apical surface area, alleviating tissue crowding without cell loss.
- This mechanism is triggered by crowding via mechanosensory signaling.
- Inhibiting macropinocytosis significantly increases cell extrusion, indicating a cooperative role.
Conclusions:
- Macropinocytosis is a key mechanism for dynamic epithelial remodeling.
- It acts as a less destructive alternative to cell extrusion.
- Macropinocytosis regulates epithelial organization and the timing of cell extrusion.
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