The development of an organism from an undifferentiated single cell into a spatially complex structure requires spatial patterning of cell fates across tissues. Positional information, proposed by Lewis Wolpert in 1969, has led to the characterization of many components involved in regulating morphogen signaling activity. However, how morphogen gradients are established, maintained, and interpreted by cells still is not fully understood. Quantitative and systems-based approaches are increasingly needed to define general biological design rules that govern positional information systems in developing organisms. This short review highlights a selective set of studies that have investigated the roles of physiological signaling in modulating and mediating morphogen-based pattern formation. Similarities between neural transmission and morphogen-based pattern formation mechanisms suggest underlying shared principles of active cell-based communication. Within larger tissues, neural networks provide directed information, via physiological signaling, that supplements positional information through diffusion. Further, mounting evidence demonstrates that physiological signaling plays a role in ensuring robustness of morphogen-based signaling. We conclude by highlighting several outstanding questions regarding the role of physiological signaling in morphogen-based pattern formation. Elucidating how physiological signaling impacts positional information is critical for understanding the close coupling of developmental and cellular processes in the context of development, disease, and regeneration.

中文翻译：

---

形态原导向的位置信息系统和生理信号之间的相互作用。


有机体从未分化的单细胞发育成空间复杂的结构需要跨组织的细胞命运的空间模式。 Lewis Wolpert 于 1969 年提出的位置信息已经导致了许多参与调节形态发生素信号活动的成分的表征。然而，细胞如何建立、维持和解释形态发生素梯度尚不完全清楚。越来越需要定量和基于系统的方法来定义控制发育中生物体的位置信息系统的通用生物设计规则。这篇简短的综述重点介绍了一组选择性的研究，这些研究调查了生理信号在调节和介导基于形态发生素的模式形成中的作用。神经传递和基于形态发生素的模式形成机制之间的相似性表明了基于细胞的主动通信的潜在共同原理。在较大的组织内，神经网络通过生理信号传导提供定向信息，通过扩散补充位置信息。此外，越来越多的证据表明，生理信号传导在确保基于形态发生素的信号传导的稳健性方面发挥着重要作用。最后，我们强调了关于生理信号在基于形态发生素的模式形成中的作用的几个悬而未决的问题。阐明生理信号如何影响位置信息对于理解发育、疾病和再生背景下发育和细胞过程的紧密耦合至关重要。