Cammarota, C. orcid.org/0000-0002-7551-2460, Dawney, N.S. orcid.org/0000-0002-9972-3756, Bellomio, P.M. et al. (4 more authors) (Submitted: 2023) The mechanical influence of densification on initial epithelial architecture. [Preprint - bioRxiv] (Submitted)
Abstract
Epithelial tissues are the most abundant tissue type in animals, lining body cavities and generating compartment barriers. The function of a monolayer epithelium – whether protective, secretory, absorptive, or filtrative –relies on regular tissue architecture with respect to the apical-basal axis. Using an unbiased 3D analysis pipeline developed in our lab, we previously showed that epithelial tissue architectures in culture can be divided into distinct developmental categories, and that these are intimately connected to cell density: at sparse densities, cultured epithelial cell layers have a squamous morphology (Immature); at intermediate densities, these layers develop lateral cell-cell borders and rounded cell apices (Intermediate); cells at the highest densities reach their full height and demonstrate flattened apices (Mature). These observations prompted us to ask whether epithelial architecture emerges from the mechanical constraints of densification, and to what extent a hallmark feature of epithelial cells, namely cell-cell adhesion, contributes. In other words, to what extent is the shape of cells in an epithelial layer a simple matter of sticky, deformable objects squeezing together? We addressed this problem using a combination of computational modeling and experimental manipulations. Our results show that the first morphological transition, from Immature to Intermediate, can be explained simply by cell crowding. Additionally, we identify a new division (and thus transition) within the Intermediate category, and find that this second morphology relies on cell-cell adhesion.
Metadata
Item Type: | Preprint |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2023 The Author(s). This preprint is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND licence. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) |
Keywords: | Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Engineering; Biological Sciences; Biomedical Engineering; Normal biological development and functioning; Underpinning research |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > School of Mathematics and Statistics (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 09 Jan 2024 11:41 |
Last Modified: | 09 Jan 2024 11:41 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.07.539758 |
Status: | Submitted |
Publisher: | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory |
Identification Number: | 10.1101/2023.05.07.539758 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:207321 |