Appearance of multicellularity is a milestone for the evolution of life on our planet. Multicellular organisms display emergent properties that cannot be predicted from simple cellular aggregation. Such properties stem from regulated mechanical interaction and dynamics communication between cells and between cells and their environment. Indeed, recent works have demonstrated that integration of mechano-chemical signaling is essential to specify cellular activity and maintain tissue homeostasis during key biological processes such as tissue morphogenesis, collective cell migration, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, etc. On the other hand, dysregulation of cell-cell communication and organization can cause fatal system failures and diseases, e.g. inappropriate execution of developmental processes and cancer transformation and progression.
To mechanistically understand how forms and functions of multicellular bodies arise, we need to know 1) mechanical and biological properties of individual constituent cells, and 2) how these properties are integrated into a whole system. Another to-be-emphasized aspect in multicellular systems is that mechanics and dynamics of individual cells are largely modulated by cues of the cell’s environment, and local chemical and mechanical environments in the systems are, in turn, altered by cellular activities. Thus, for the understanding of multicellular systems, it is also requisite to unveil the mechanisms for reciprocal regulations between cells and environments. These challenges would bring a better understanding of physiological regulations and the origin of various diseases and, in turn, it would provide insights for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a forum that advances our understanding of how mechanics and signaling in individual cells are integrated and/or modulated to develop structures and functions of multicellular systems, especially focusing on those composed of animal cells. We welcome original research papers as well as review articles related to, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Cellular signaling responsible for multicellular development and homeostasis
• Mechanics or signaling of single cells in multicellular systems
• Intercellular communications
• Modulation of local environments in multicellular systems through cellular activities
• Mechano-transduction in multicellular systems
• Modeling of multicellular architectures and dynamics
• Defects in cellular mechanics or signaling responsible for multicellular pathogenesis
Appearance of multicellularity is a milestone for the evolution of life on our planet. Multicellular organisms display emergent properties that cannot be predicted from simple cellular aggregation. Such properties stem from regulated mechanical interaction and dynamics communication between cells and between cells and their environment. Indeed, recent works have demonstrated that integration of mechano-chemical signaling is essential to specify cellular activity and maintain tissue homeostasis during key biological processes such as tissue morphogenesis, collective cell migration, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, etc. On the other hand, dysregulation of cell-cell communication and organization can cause fatal system failures and diseases, e.g. inappropriate execution of developmental processes and cancer transformation and progression.
To mechanistically understand how forms and functions of multicellular bodies arise, we need to know 1) mechanical and biological properties of individual constituent cells, and 2) how these properties are integrated into a whole system. Another to-be-emphasized aspect in multicellular systems is that mechanics and dynamics of individual cells are largely modulated by cues of the cell’s environment, and local chemical and mechanical environments in the systems are, in turn, altered by cellular activities. Thus, for the understanding of multicellular systems, it is also requisite to unveil the mechanisms for reciprocal regulations between cells and environments. These challenges would bring a better understanding of physiological regulations and the origin of various diseases and, in turn, it would provide insights for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a forum that advances our understanding of how mechanics and signaling in individual cells are integrated and/or modulated to develop structures and functions of multicellular systems, especially focusing on those composed of animal cells. We welcome original research papers as well as review articles related to, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Cellular signaling responsible for multicellular development and homeostasis
• Mechanics or signaling of single cells in multicellular systems
• Intercellular communications
• Modulation of local environments in multicellular systems through cellular activities
• Mechano-transduction in multicellular systems
• Modeling of multicellular architectures and dynamics
• Defects in cellular mechanics or signaling responsible for multicellular pathogenesis
