title: Heterotypic control of basement membrane dynamics during branching morphogenesis.
abstract: Many mammalian organs undergo branching morphogenesis to create highly arborized structures with maximized surface area for specialized organ function. Cooperative cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions that sculpt the emerging tissue architecture are guided by dynamic basement membranes. Properties of the basement membrane are reciprocally controlled by the interacting epithelial and mesenchymal cell populations. Here we discuss how basement membrane remodeling is required for branching morphogenesis to regulate cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions that are required for cell patterning during morphogenesis and how basement membrane impacts morphogenesis by stimulation of cell patterning, force generation, and mechanotransduction. We suggest that in addition to creating mature epithelial architecture, remodeling of the epithelial basement membrane during branching morphogenesis is also essential to promote maturation of the stromal mesenchyme to create mature organ structure. Recapitulation of developmental cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions are of critical importance in tissue engineering and regeneration strategies that seek to restore organ function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222, USA. Electronic address: mlarsen@albany.edu.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000196:embryology*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000196:embryology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods
keywords: Branching morphogenesis; Cell–cell adhesions; Cell–matrix adhesions; Heterotypic; Mechanotransduction; Tissue engineering