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Multicellular ecosystems: Linking cellular diversity to tissue function and disease
Qiang Shi1, Fei Tang1, Yihan Chen1
1Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, State Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Trends in Cell Biology
|June 24, 2026
Summary
Understanding tissue ecosystems is key to health and disease. This review explores how cell interactions drive tissue function and offers new strategies for disease intervention and regenerative medicine.
Area of Science:
- Multicellular ecosystems
- Tissue biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Tissue function relies on coordinated cell interactions, which are disrupted in disease.
- Single-cell and spatial genomics have advanced our understanding of cellular diversity and tissue organization.
- Current research is moving towards functional, system-level tissue representations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline frameworks for dissecting multicellular coordination.
- To highlight common multicellular ecosystems in health and disease.
- To explore translational applications in medicine.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual frameworks for analyzing multicellular coordination.
- Methodological approaches for studying tissue ecosystems.
- Review of existing literature and research findings.
Main Results:
- Recurrent multicellular ecosystem patterns identified across various contexts.
- Established links between cellular diversity and emergent tissue function.
- Identified translational opportunities for patient stratification and therapy.
Conclusions:
- A tissue ecosystem framework unifies cellular diversity with emergent function.
- This approach informs novel strategies for disease intervention and regenerative medicine.
- Understanding multicellular coordination is crucial for advancing tissue biology.
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01:29The Extracellular Matrix
Overview
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
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Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
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