Modeling branching morphogenesis using materials with programmable mechanical instabilities

Modeling lung branching morphogenesis.

Vertebrate lung has tree-like structure which facilitates gas exchange. After discovery of the involvement of several key toolkit genes--FGF10, BMP4, and Shh, huge amount of molecular information on lung development is now available. However, how their interactions result in a branched structure has not been elucidated. Recently, some studies have utilized mathematical models to understand the ...

Modeling Dynamics of Salivary Gland Branching Morphogenesis

Endogenous patterns of mechanical stress are required for branching morphogenesis.

Spatial patterning of cell behaviors establishes the regional differences within tissues that collectively develop branched organs into their characteristic treelike shapes. Here we show that the pattern of branching morphogenesis of three-dimensional (3D) engineered epithelial tissues is controlled in part by gradients of endogenous mechanical stress. We used microfabrication to build model ma...

Branching morphogenesis.

Tubular structures are a fundamental anatomic theme recurring in a wide range of animal species. In mammals, tubulogenesis underscores the development of several systems and organs, including the vascular system, the lungs, and the kidneys. All tubular systems are hierarchical, branching into segments of gradually diminishing diameter. There are only 2 cell types that form the lumen of tubular ...

Pattern Formation and Morphogenesis ( 1998 ) Modeling Branching and ChiralColonial Patterning

In nature, microorganisms must often cope with hostile environmental conditions. To do so they have developed sophisticated cooperative behavior and intricate communication capabilities, such as: direct cell-cell physical interactions via extra-membrane polymers, collective production of extracellular "wetting" uid for movement on hard surfaces, long range chemical signal-ing such as quorum sen...