Symmetry‐breaking in branching epithelia: cells on micro‐patterns under flow challenge the hypothesis of positive feedback by a secreted autocrine inhibitor of motility. Issue 6 (29th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin, Kimberly C.; Yuan, Xiaofei; Stimac, Gregory; Bannerman, Kieran; Anderson, Jamie; Roy, Chloe; Glykofrydis, Fokion; Yin, Huabing; Davies, Jamie A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of anatomy. Volume 230:Issue 6(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 766
• Page End: 774
• Publication Date: 2017-03-29
• Subjects: autocrine secretion -- branching morphogenesis -- cell motility -- positive feedback -- self‐organisation -- shape; Anatomy -- Periodicals; 571.3
• DOI: 10.1111/joa.12599
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8782

Abstract

Abstract: Branching morphogenesis of epithelia involves division of cells into leader (tip) and follower (stalk) cells. Published work on cell lines in culture has suggested that symmetry‐breaking takes place via a secreted autocrine inhibitor of motility, the inhibitor accumulating more in concave regions of the culture boundary, slowing advance of cells there, and less in convex areas, allowing advance and a further exaggeration of the concave/convex difference. Here we test this hypothesis using a two‐dimensional culture system that includes strong flow conditions to remove accumulating diffusible secretions. We find that, while motility does indeed follow boundary curvature in this system, flow makes no difference: this challenges the hypothesis of control by a diffusible secreted autocrine inhibitor.