Computational models of airway branching morphogenesis.
The bronchial network of the mammalian lung consists of millions of dichotomous branches arranged in a highly complex, space-filling tree. Recent computational models of branching morphogenesis in the lung have helped uncover the biological mechanisms that construct this ramified architecture. In this review, we focus on three different theoretical approaches - geometric modeling, reaction-diffusion modeling, and continuum mechanical modeling - and discuss how, taken together, these models have identified the geometric principles necessary to build an efficient bronchial network, as well as the patterning mechanisms that specify airway geometry in the developing embryo. We emphasize models that are integrated with biological experiments and suggest how recent progress in computational modeling has advanced our understanding of airway branching morphogenesis.
Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States.
Victor D
VD
Varner
Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States. Electronic address: celesten@princeton.edu.
Celeste M
CM
Nelson
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
C496464:Fgf10 protein, mouse; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10
Mechanobiology; Morphodynamics; Quantitative models; Turing patterns