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The Journal of Cell Biology Sep 2018The emerging field of transcriptional regulation of cell shape changes aims to address the critical question of how gene expression programs produce a change in cell... (Review)
Review
The emerging field of transcriptional regulation of cell shape changes aims to address the critical question of how gene expression programs produce a change in cell shape. Together with cell growth, division, and death, changes in cell shape are essential for organ morphogenesis. Whereas most studies of cell shape focus on posttranslational events involved in protein organization and distribution, cell shape changes can be genetically programmed. This review highlights the essential role of transcriptional regulation of cell shape during morphogenesis of the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys. We emphasize the evolutionary conservation of these processes across different model organisms and discuss perspectives on open questions and research avenues that may provide mechanistic insights toward understanding birth defects.
Topics: Animals; Cell Shape; Congenital Abnormalities; Gastrointestinal Tract; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Heart; Humans; Kidney; Lung; Organogenesis; Transcription, Genetic
PubMed: 30061107
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201612115 -
Current Topics in Developmental Biology 2021The pancreas of adult mammals displays a branched structure which transports digestive enzymes produced in the distal acini through a tree-like network of ducts into the... (Review)
Review
The pancreas of adult mammals displays a branched structure which transports digestive enzymes produced in the distal acini through a tree-like network of ducts into the duodenum. In contrast to several other branched organs, its branching patterns are not stereotypic. Moreover, the branches do not grow from dichotomic splitting of an initial stem but rather from the formation of microlumen in a mass of cells. These lumen progressively assemble into a hyperconnected network that refines into a tree by the time of birth. We review the cell remodeling events and the molecular mechanisms governing pancreas branching, as well as the role of the surrounding tissues in this process. Furthermore, we draw parallels with other branched organs such as the salivary and mammary gland.
Topics: Animals; Mammals; Morphogenesis; Organogenesis; Pancreas
PubMed: 33820626
DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.10.006 -
The International Journal of... 2014Interactions between epithelium and mesenchyme are common features of early stages of morphogenesis in different organs. In this historical review article, we... (Review)
Review
Interactions between epithelium and mesenchyme are common features of early stages of morphogenesis in different organs. In this historical review article, we retrospectively analyze the most important contribution to the definition and characterization of these interactions in three different organogenetic systems, including kidney, lung and limb bud. Tubule formation in the kidney is an example of an organogenetic event which involves interaction between the ureteric epithelium and the underlying mesenchyme that, in turn, induces the branching of the ureteric epithelium. In contrast, in lung organogenesis, interactive signaling occurs between the endodermal epithelium and the mesenchyme, leading to an alveolar structure. Finally, limb bud development results from a series of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions between the mesenchymal cells of the lateral plate mesoderm and the overlying ectodermal cells.
Topics: Animals; Epithelium; Kidney; Limb Buds; Lung; Mesoderm; Organogenesis
PubMed: 25354449
DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.140143dr -
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews.... Sep 2016Blood vessels form a highly branched, interconnected, and largely stereotyped network of tubes that sustains every organ and tissue in vertebrates. How vessels come to... (Review)
Review
Blood vessels form a highly branched, interconnected, and largely stereotyped network of tubes that sustains every organ and tissue in vertebrates. How vessels come to take on their particular architecture, or how they are 'patterned,' and in turn, how they influence surrounding tissues are fundamental questions of organogenesis. Decades of work have begun to elucidate how endothelial progenitors arise and home to precise locations within tissues, integrating attractive and repulsive cues to build vessels where they are needed. Conversely, more recent findings have revealed an exciting facet of blood vessel interaction with tissues, where vascular cells provide signals to developing organs and progenitors therein. Here, we discuss the exchange of reciprocal signals between endothelial cells and neighboring tissues during embryogenesis, with a special focus on the developing pancreas. Understanding the mechanisms driving both sides of these interactions will be crucial to the development of therapies, from improving organ regeneration to efficient production of cell based therapies. Specifically, elucidating the interface of the vasculature with pancreatic lineages, including endocrine cells, will instruct approaches such as generation of replacement beta cells for Type I diabetes. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:598-617. doi: 10.1002/wdev.240 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Topics: Animals; Blood Vessels; Cell Differentiation; Endothelial Cells; Humans; Organogenesis; Pancreas; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 27328421
DOI: 10.1002/wdev.240 -
Developmental Dynamics : An Official... Apr 2022The process of liver organogenesis has served as a paradigm for organ formation. However, there remains a lack of understanding regarding early mouse and human liver bud...
BACKGROUND
The process of liver organogenesis has served as a paradigm for organ formation. However, there remains a lack of understanding regarding early mouse and human liver bud morphogenesis and early liver volumetric growth. Elucidating dynamic changes in liver volumes is critical for understanding organ development, implementing toxicological studies, and for modeling hPSC-derived liver organoid growth. New visualization, analysis, and experimental techniques are desperately needed.
RESULTS
Here, we combine observational data with digital resources, new 3D imaging approaches, retrospective analysis of liver volume data, mathematical modeling, and experiments with hPSC-derived liver organoids. Mouse and human liver organogenesis, characterized by exponential growth, demonstrate distinct spatial features and growth curves over time, which we mathematically modeled using Gompertz models. Visualization of liver-epithelial and septum transversum mesenchyme (STM) interactions suggests extended interactions, which together with new spatial features may be responsible for extensive exponential growth. These STM interactions are modeled with a novel in vitro human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived hepatic organoid system that exhibits cell migration.
CONCLUSIONS
Our methods enhance our understanding of liver organogenesis, with new 3D visualization, analysis, mathematical modeling, and in vitro models with hPSCs. Our approach highlights mouse and human differences and provides potential hypothesis for further investigation in vitro and in vivo.
Topics: Cell Differentiation; Humans; Liver; Organogenesis; Organoids; Pluripotent Stem Cells; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 34665487
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.429 -
Brain Research Dec 2019The brain is one of the most complex organs in the body, which emerges from a relatively simple set of basic 'building blocks' during early development according to... (Review)
Review
The brain is one of the most complex organs in the body, which emerges from a relatively simple set of basic 'building blocks' during early development according to complex cellular and molecular events orchestrated through a set of inherited instructions. Innovations in stem cell technologies have enabled modelling of neural cells using two- and three-dimensional cultures. In particular, cerebral ('brain') organoids have taken the center stage of brain development models that have the potential for providing meaningful insight into human neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders. We review the current understanding of cellular events during human brain organogenesis, and the events occurring during cerebral organoid differentiation. We highlight the strengths and weaknesses of this experimental model system. In particular, we explain evidence that organoids can mimic many aspects of early neural development, including neural induction, patterning, and broad neurogenesis and gliogenesis programs, offering the opportunity to study genetic regulation of these processes in a human context. Several shortcomings of the current culture methods limit the utility of cerebral organoids to spontaneously give rise to many important cell types, and to model higher order features of tissue organization. We suggest that future studies aim to improve these features in order to make them better models for the study of laminar organization, circuit formation and how disruptions of these processes relate to disease.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Cell Differentiation; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Models, Neurological; Neurogenesis; Neurons; Organogenesis; Organoids
PubMed: 31542572
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146470 -
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 -
Cells Jul 2021The new cellular models based on neural cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells have greatly enhanced our understanding of human nervous system... (Review)
Review
The new cellular models based on neural cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells have greatly enhanced our understanding of human nervous system development. Highly efficient protocols for the differentiation of iPSCs into different types of neural cells have allowed the creation of 2D models of many neurodegenerative diseases and nervous system development. However, the 2D culture of neurons is an imperfect model of the 3D brain tissue architecture represented by many functionally active cell types. The development of protocols for the differentiation of iPSCs into 3D cerebral organoids made it possible to establish a cellular model closest to native human brain tissue. Cerebral organoids are equally suitable for modeling various CNS pathologies, testing pharmacologically active substances, and utilization in regenerative medicine. Meanwhile, this technology is still at the initial stage of development.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Cell Differentiation; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Organogenesis; Organoids; Regenerative Medicine
PubMed: 34359959
DOI: 10.3390/cells10071790 -
Genetics Jul 2016In the last 30 years, the zebrafish has become a widely used model organism for research on vertebrate development and disease. Through a powerful combination of... (Review)
Review
In the last 30 years, the zebrafish has become a widely used model organism for research on vertebrate development and disease. Through a powerful combination of genetics and experimental embryology, significant inroads have been made into the regulation of embryonic axis formation, organogenesis, and the development of neural networks. Research with this model has also expanded into other areas, including the genetic regulation of aging, regeneration, and animal behavior. Zebrafish are a popular model because of the ease with which they can be maintained, their small size and low cost, the ability to obtain hundreds of embryos on a daily basis, and the accessibility, translucency, and rapidity of early developmental stages. This primer describes the swift progress of genetic approaches in zebrafish and highlights recent advances that have led to new insights into vertebrate biology.
Topics: Animals; Gene Expression Regulation; Models, Animal; Organogenesis; Regeneration; Zebrafish
PubMed: 27384027
DOI: 10.1534/genetics.116.190843 -
Developmental Dynamics : An Official... Sep 2022
Topics: Extremities; Organogenesis; Regeneration
PubMed: 36052833
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.521