Branching patterns emerge in a mathematical model of the dynamics of lung development. (9th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Yina; Chen, Ting‐Hsuan; Zeng, Xingjuan; Warburton, David; Boström, Kristina I.; Ho, Chih‐Ming; Zhao, Xin; Garfinkel, Alan
• Is Part Of: Journal of physiology. Volume 592:Number 2(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 313
• Page End: 324
• Publication Date: 2013-12-09
• Subjects: Physiology -- Periodicals; 612.005
• DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.261099
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3751

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="highlights"> <title>Key points</title> <p> <list id="tjp5978-list-0001" list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p>The development of the lung is a highly stereotypical process, including the structured deployment of three distinct modes of branching: first side branching and then tip splitting with and without 90° rotation of the branching plane.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>These modes are supposedly under genetic control, but it is not clear how genes could act to produce these spatial patterns.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Here, we show that cascades of branching events emerge naturally; the branching cascade can be explained by a relatively simple mathematical model, whose equations model the reaction and diffusion of chemical morphogens.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Our low‐dimensional model gives a qualitative understanding of how generic physiological mechanisms can produce branching phenomena, and how the system can switch from one branching pattern to another using low‐dimensional 'control knobs'.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>The model makes a number of experimental predictions, and explains several phenomena that have been observed but whose mechanisms were unknown.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>