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Inhibitory morphogens and monopodial branching of the embryonic chicken lung

Author(s): Gleghorn, JP; Kwak, J; Pavlovich, AL; Nelson, Celeste M

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Abstract: Background: Branching morphogenesis generates a diverse array of epithelial patterns, including dichotomous and monopodial geometries. Dichotomous branching can be instructed by concentration gradients of epithelial-derived inhibitory morphogens, including transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), which is responsible for ramification of the pubertal mammary gland. Here, we investigated the role of autocrine inhibitory morphogens in monopodial branching morphogenesis of the embryonic chicken lung. Results: Computational modeling and experiments using cultured organ explants each separately revealed that monopodial branching patterns cannot be specified by a single epithelial-derived autocrine morphogen gradient. Instead, signaling by means of TGFβ1 and bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) differentially affect the rates of branching and growth of the airways. Allometric analysis revealed that development of the epithelial tree obeys power-law dynamics; TGFβ1 and BMP4 have distinct but reversible effects on the scaling coefficient of the power law. Conclusions: These data suggest that although autocrine inhibition cannot specify monopodial branching, inhibitory morphogens define the dynamics of lung morphogenesis.
Publication Date: 2012
Citation: Gleghorn, JP, Kwak, J, Pavlovich, AL, Nelson, CM. (2012). Inhibitory morphogens and monopodial branching of the embryonic chicken lung. Developmental Dynamics, 241 (852 - 862. doi:10.1002/dvdy.23771
DOI: doi:10.1002/dvdy.23771
Pages: 852 - 862
Type of Material: Journal Article
Journal/Proceeding Title: Developmental Dynamics
Version: Author's manuscript



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