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Physiological Reviews Jan 2019The unique architecture of the mammalian lung is required for adaptation to air breathing at birth and thereafter. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms... (Review)
Review
The unique architecture of the mammalian lung is required for adaptation to air breathing at birth and thereafter. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling its morphogenesis provides the framework for understanding the pathogenesis of acute and chronic lung diseases. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing data and high-resolution imaging identify the remarkable heterogeneity of pulmonary cell types and provides cell selective gene expression underlying lung development. We will address fundamental issues related to the diversity of pulmonary cells, to the formation and function of the mammalian lung, and will review recent advances regarding the cellular and molecular pathways involved in lung organogenesis. What cells form the lung in the early embryo? How are cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation regulated during lung morphogenesis? How do cells interact during lung formation and repair? How do signaling and transcriptional programs determine cell-cell interactions necessary for lung morphogenesis and function?
Topics: Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Embryonic Development; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Humans; Lung; Morphogenesis
PubMed: 30427276
DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00001.2018 -
Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark) Dec 2016Cadherin-based adherens junctions are critical for connecting cells in tissues. Regulated cadherin trafficking also makes these complexes amazingly dynamic, with... (Review)
Review
Cadherin-based adherens junctions are critical for connecting cells in tissues. Regulated cadherin trafficking also makes these complexes amazingly dynamic, with permissive and instructive consequences on multicellular development. Here, we review how cadherin trafficking affects various forms of tissue morphogenesis from Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans to zebrafish, Xenopus and mouse. We describe how core trafficking machinery (such as clathrin, dynamin, Rab small G proteins and the exocyst complex) integrates with other molecular systems (transcriptional factors, signaling pathways, microtubules, actin networks, apico-basal polarity proteins and planar cell polarity proteins) to control cadherin endocytosis, exocytosis and recycling. This control can occur at all cell-cell contacts or specific junctions for distinct effects on tissue morphogenesis during animal development.
Topics: Adherens Junctions; Animals; Cadherins; Cell Polarity; Embryonic Development; Endocytosis; Exocytosis; Humans; Morphogenesis; Organogenesis; Protein Transport
PubMed: 27105637
DOI: 10.1111/tra.12407 -
Current Opinion in Genetics &... Feb 2022The first epithelia to arise in an organism face the challenge of maintaining the integrity of the newly formed tissue, while exhibiting the behavioral flexibility... (Review)
Review
The first epithelia to arise in an organism face the challenge of maintaining the integrity of the newly formed tissue, while exhibiting the behavioral flexibility required for morphogenetic processes to occur effectively. Epithelial cells integrate biochemical and biomechanical cues, both intrinsic and extrinsic, in order to bring about the molecular changes which determine their morphology, behavior and fate. In this review we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the various dynamic processes that the emergent epithelial cells undergo during the first seven days of mouse development and speculate what the future holds in understanding the mechanistic bases for these processes through integrative approaches.
Topics: Animals; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Mice; Morphogenesis
PubMed: 34929609
DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.11.006 -
The International Journal of... 2022The development and homeostasis of vertebrate organisms depend on the "tree of life", in other words, the intricate network of vascular tubes composed of endothelial... (Review)
Review
The development and homeostasis of vertebrate organisms depend on the "tree of life", in other words, the intricate network of vascular tubes composed of endothelial cells attached to the basement membrane and surrounded by perivascular cells. Although many studies have revealed the fundamental role of cytokines, growth factors and Notch signalling in vascular morphogenesis, we still lack sufficient understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling the various steps of the angiogenic processes. Emerging data highlight that cell adhesions are key players in vascular morphogenesis. In this review, we focus on endothelial cells and we present the current state of knowledge regarding the role of cell-matrix adhesions in developmental and tumour angiogenesis, attained mainly from genetic studies and animal models.
Topics: Animals; Cell-Matrix Junctions; Endothelial Cells; Morphogenesis; Neoplasms; Neovascularization, Physiologic
PubMed: 34881799
DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.210204vk -
Experimental Biology and Medicine... Nov 2019Microtubules are cytoskeletal elements known as drivers of directed cell migration, vesicle and organelle trafficking, and mitosis. In this review, we discuss new... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Microtubules are cytoskeletal elements known as drivers of directed cell migration, vesicle and organelle trafficking, and mitosis. In this review, we discuss new research in the lens that has shed light into further roles for stable microtubules in the process of development and morphogenesis. In the lens, as well as other systems, distinct roles for characteristically dynamic microtubules and stabilized populations are coming to light. Understanding the mechanisms of microtubule stabilization and the associated microtubule post-translational modifications is an evolving field of study. Appropriate cellular homeostasis relies on not only one cytoskeletal element, but also rather an interaction between cytoskeletal proteins as well as other cellular regulators. Microtubules are key integrators with actin and intermediate filaments, as well as cell–cell junctional proteins and other cellular regulators including myosin and RhoGTPases to maintain this balance.
IMPACT STATEMENT
The role of microtubules in cellular functioning is constantly expanding. In this review, we examine new and exciting fields of discovery for microtubule’s involvement in morphogenesis, highlight our evolving understanding of differential roles for stabilized versus dynamic subpopulations, and further understanding of microtubules as a cellular integrator.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Microtubules; Morphogenesis
PubMed: 31387376
DOI: 10.1177/1535370219867296 -
Development (Cambridge, England) Sep 2011The thymus is the primary organ responsible for generating functional T cells in vertebrates. Although T cell differentiation within the thymus has been an area of... (Review)
Review
The thymus is the primary organ responsible for generating functional T cells in vertebrates. Although T cell differentiation within the thymus has been an area of intense investigation, the study of thymus organogenesis has made slower progress. The past decade, however, has seen a renewed interest in thymus organogenesis, with the aim of understanding how the thymus develops to form a microenvironment that supports T cell maturation and regeneration. This has prompted modern revisits to classical experiments and has driven additional genetic approaches in mice. These studies are making significant progress in identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control specification, early organogenesis and morphogenesis of the thymus.
Topics: Animals; Chick Embryo; Chimera; Mice; Models, Biological; Morphogenesis; Organogenesis; Quail; Signal Transduction; Thymus Gland
PubMed: 21862553
DOI: 10.1242/dev.059998 -
Nature Communications Jun 2023Although several tissues and chemokines orchestrate coronary formation, the guidance cues for coronary growth remain unclear. Here, we profile the juvenile zebrafish...
Although several tissues and chemokines orchestrate coronary formation, the guidance cues for coronary growth remain unclear. Here, we profile the juvenile zebrafish epicardium during coronary vascularization and identify hapln1a cells enriched with vascular-regulating genes. hapln1a cells not only envelop vessels but also form linear structures ahead of coronary sprouts. Live-imaging demonstrates that coronary growth occurs along these pre-formed structures, with depletion of hapln1a cells blocking this growth. hapln1a cells also pre-lead coronary sprouts during regeneration and hapln1a cell loss inhibits revascularization. Further, we identify serpine1 expression in hapln1a cells adjacent to coronary sprouts, and serpine1 inhibition blocks vascularization and revascularization. Moreover, we observe the hapln1a substrate, hyaluronan, forming linear structures along and preceding coronary vessels. Depletion of hapln1a cells or serpine1 activity inhibition disrupts hyaluronan structure. Our studies reveal that hapln1a cells and serpine1 are required for coronary production by establishing a microenvironment to facilitate guided coronary growth.
Topics: Animals; Hyaluronic Acid; Zebrafish; Heart; Coronary Vessels; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Morphogenesis
PubMed: 37311876
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39323-6 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Oct 2020Many cells possess epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP), which allows them to shift reversibly between adherent, static and more detached, migratory states. These... (Review)
Review
Many cells possess epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP), which allows them to shift reversibly between adherent, static and more detached, migratory states. These changes in cell behaviour are driven by the programmes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), both of which play vital roles during normal development and tissue homeostasis. However, the aberrant activation of these processes can also drive distinct stages of cancer progression, including tumour invasiveness, cell dissemination and metastatic colonization and outgrowth. This review examines emerging common themes underlying EMP during tissue morphogenesis and malignant progression, such as the context dependence of EMT transcription factors, a central role for partial EMTs and the nonlinear relationship between EMT and MET. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Contemporary morphogenesis'.
Topics: Animals; Disease Progression; Epithelial Cells; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Humans; Morphogenesis; Neoplasm Metastasis
PubMed: 32829692
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0087 -
Development (Cambridge, England) Oct 2020Many organs develop left-right asymmetric shapes and positions that are crucial for normal function. Indeed, anomalous laterality is associated with multiple severe... (Review)
Review
Many organs develop left-right asymmetric shapes and positions that are crucial for normal function. Indeed, anomalous laterality is associated with multiple severe birth defects. Although the events that initially orient the left-right body axis are beginning to be understood, the mechanisms that shape the asymmetries of individual organs remain less clear. Here, we summarize new evidence challenging century-old ideas about the development of stomach and intestine laterality. We compare classical and contemporary models of asymmetric gut morphogenesis and highlight key unanswered questions for future investigation.
Topics: Animals; Body Patterning; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Humans; Morphogenesis; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 33046455
DOI: 10.1242/dev.187583 -
Developmental Cell May 2017Organizing data about patterning and morphogenesis into a coherent framework remains a challenge in developmental biology. Reporting in Science, Corson et al. (2017)... (Review)
Review
Organizing data about patterning and morphogenesis into a coherent framework remains a challenge in developmental biology. Reporting in Science, Corson et al. (2017) apply innovative analysis to an old problem of bristle patterns in Drosophila, reducing the nonlinear interactions among tens of cells to a succinct model with quantitative predictions.
Topics: Animals; Body Patterning; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Drosophila melanogaster; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Humans; Morphogenesis
PubMed: 28486128
DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.04.016