Designer microenvironments for the analysis of cell and tissue function

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Current Opinion in Cell Biology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0955-0674(90)90085-S· OSTI ID:7160083

Stoker, A W; Streuli, C H; Martins-Green, M; Bissell, M J ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)

The mechanisms involved in generating and maintaining cell and tissue specificity are central not only to normal development, but also to cancer biology and aging. It is now known that cells transduce signals, not only from hormones and growth factors, but also from other cells and extracellular matrix. These interactions are dynamic and reciprocal, building a hierarchy, the final result of which is the tissue itself. Many components of the interface between the cell and its surroundings have now been characterized in molecular terms and their expression patterns and mechanisms of developmental regulation are known. Yet, they are only beginning to understand their exact role in directing and maintaining morphogenesis and differentiation. Although culturing cells on tissue culture plastic has allowed us to understand the universal concepts of the flow of information from DNA to proteins and of growth regulation, it is now clear that studying tissue-specific gene expression requires a more complex environment. The purpose of this review is to discuss current model systems that allow cell and developmental biologists to address the mechanisms involved. Two broad and complementary approaches will be presented here: firstly, the creation of accurate cell microenvironments in culture in which cell function can be maintained and studied; and secondly, the controlled perturbation of the microenvironment in vivo for deciphering the nature of development and homeostasis. The authors discuss selected examples of each approach and speculate as to the future of these techniques.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 7160083
• Journal Information: Current Opinion in Cell Biology; (United States), Journal Name: Current Opinion in Cell Biology; (United States) Vol. 2; ISSN COCBE; ISSN 0955-0674
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550300* -- Cytology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BODY
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
GENE REGULATION
HOMEOSTASIS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
TISSUES