Morphogenesis is a spatially and temporally regulated process involved in various physiological and pathological transformations. In addition to the associated biochemical factors, the physical regulation of morphogenesis has attracted increasing attention. However, the driving force of morphogenesis initiation remains elusive. Here, we show that during the growth of multi-layered tissues, morphogenetic process can be self-organized by the progression of compression gradient stemmed from the interfacial mechanical interactions between layers. In tissues with low fluidity, the compression gradient is progressively strengthened during differential growth between layers and induces stratification through triggering symmetric-to-asymmetric cell division reorientation at the critical tissue size. In tissues with higher fluidity, compression gradient is dynamic and induces 2D in-plane morphogenesis instead of 3D deformation accompanied with cell junction remodeling regulated cell rearrangement. Morphogenesis can be tuned by manipulating tissue fluidity, cell adhesion forces and mechanical properties to influence the progression of compression gradient during the development of cultured cell sheets and chicken embryos. Together, the progression of compression gradient regulated by interfacial mechanical interaction provides a conserved mechanism underlying morphogenesis initiation and size control during tissue growth.

中文翻译：

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多层系统中界面机械相互作用对组织生长的自组织

形态发生是涉及各种生理和病理转化的时空调节过程。除了相关的生化因素外，形态发生的物理调控也引起了越来越多的关注。但是，形态发生起始的驱动力仍然难以捉摸。在这里，我们表明，在多层组织的生长过程中，可以通过由层之间的界面机械相互作用引起的压缩梯度的进展来自组织形态发生过程。在低流动性的组织中，在各层之间的差异生长期间，压缩梯度会逐渐增强，并通过在关键组织大小处触发对称到不对称的细胞分裂重新定向来诱导分层。在流动性较高的组织中，压缩梯度是动态的，并诱导2D平面内形态发生，而不是3D变形，伴随细胞连接重塑调节细胞重排。可以通过操纵组织的流动性，细胞粘附力和机械特性来调节形态发生，以影响培养的细胞片和鸡胚发育过程中压缩梯度的进行。在一起，由界面机械相互作用调节的压缩梯度的进展提供了组织生长过程中形态发生的起始和大小控制的保守机制。细胞粘附力和机械性能会影响培养的细胞片和鸡胚发育过程中压缩梯度的进程。在一起，由界面机械相互作用调节的压缩梯度的进展提供了组织生长过程中形态发生的起始和大小控制的保守机制。细胞粘附力和机械性能会影响培养的细胞片和鸡胚发育过程中压缩梯度的进程。在一起，由界面机械相互作用调节的压缩梯度的进展提供了组织生长过程中形态发生的起始和大小控制的保守机制。