Scientists From Singapore and France Discover How the Microenvironment Can Guide Secretory Cavities Into Tubes by Mechanical Forces
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - 03:40
in Biology & Nature
A team of scientists from Singapore and France has revealed the underlying mechanism for the formation and growth of a fundamental type of tissue - epithelial tubes. Defects in the architecture of epithelial tubes lead to diseases such as cholestasis, atherosclerosis and polycystic kidney disease. The research findings contribute towards a deeper understanding of the principles that underline epithelial tube formation, and offer opportunities for developing better therapies for such diseases. The study suggests that the shape and size of some types of epithelial tubes are governed by the mechanical forces that arise from the interaction of cells with the supportive extracellular matrix that surrounds them.