Journal of Cytology & Histology

Cellmatrix−Driven vs.Cell−Cell Adhesion−Driven Nascent Epithelial Morphogenesis

Abstract

Ioannis P. Nezis*

Many embryonic organs undergo epithelial morphogenesis, which results in the formation of tree-like hierarchical structures. However,it is unknown what drives the budding and branching of stratified epithelia,such as those found in the embryonic salivary gland and pancreas.We used single-cell resolution live-organ imaging of mouse embryonic salivary glands to show that budding morphogenesis is driven by the expansion and folding of a distinct epithelial surface cell sheet characterised by strong cell-matrix adhesions and weak cell-cell adhesions.Profiling of this epithelium's single-cell transcriptomes revealed transcriptional spatial patterns that underpin these cell adhesion differences.We then recreated budding morphogenesis in 3D spheroid cultures of engineered cells by suppressing E-cadherin expression and inducing basement membrane formation, which required b1-integrin-mediated cell-matrix adhesion for successful budding.