Tissue geometry may govern lung branching mode selection

摘要: Abstract Lung branching morphogenesis proceeds in three stereotyped modes (domain, planar, and orthogonal branching). Much is known about the molecular players, including growth factors such as fibroblast factor 10 but it unknown how these signals could actuate different patterns. With aim of identifying mechanisms that may determine modes, we developed a computational model epithelial lung bud its surrounding mesenchyme. We studied transport morphogens localization morphogen flux at lobe surfaces edges. find single simple mechanism theoretically capable directing an tubule to elongate, bend, flatten, or bifurcate, depending solely on geometric ratios tissues vicinity growing tip. Furthermore, same generating planar branching, only ratios.