title: [Would D'Arcy Thompson have predicted a topological control of apoptosis?].
abstract: The laws that drive morphogenesis remain a major biological question. Today's views emphasize molecular autonomous processes rather than physical and mechanical constraints proposed by d'Arcy Thompson earlier on. In Ciona intestinalis oocyte, follicular cells formed by two distinct sets of geometrically-ordered epithelial monolayers positioned over the egg control apoptosis, implying that physically-predetermined shapes play a role in the control of cell determinism. In follicular cells ideally positioned over the spherical geometry of the egg, a drastic, optimized and polarized inward apoptosis sequence directly results from this positioning, suggesting the existence of some apoptotic master cells which control the destiny of neighboring cells. This concept could shed a new light on the origin of massive apoptosis phases that take place during embryogenesis in vertebrates (e.g., cavitation, inter-digitation). It could also be applied to specific therapeutic strategies to fight cancer.
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 2, CNRS UMR5554, Institut des Sciences de l'évolution, place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. stbaghdi@univ-montp2.fr
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baghdiguian
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinand-Mari
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maury
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorman
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mangeat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000196:embryology; D047108:Embryonic Development; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology