Abstract
Endogenous physical forces can drive the organization of tissues (1-2). The underlying mechanisms are currently based on cell surface mechanics (3) or mechanotransduction (4) and are thus separated from known conserved mechanisms including the formation of morphogen gradients. Here using an array of autonomously contracting and deforming, 3D, microfabricated, tissues, we show that tissue geometry and endogenous contractility spatially regulates the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) signaling and the local formation of vascular patterns. The microfabricated tissues stereotypically and heterogeneously changed shape, compacted and formed robust patterns of vascular structures in regions of high deformation. This emergence correlated with the local over-expression of the receptor VEGFR2 and with the formation of a tissue-scale gradient of VEGF. We propose that endogenous tissue contractility and deformation is a morphogenetic regulator of angiogenesis, a finding which should stimulate new therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases and regenerative medicine.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 97-97 |
Journal | Histology and histopathology |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | Suppl. 1 |
Publication status | Published - 7 Jun 2011 |
Event | TERMIS-EU Chapter Meeting 2011 - Granada Congress and Exhibition Centre, Granada, Spain Duration: 7 Jun 2011 → 10 Jun 2011 |