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Cited by 110Cellular Mechanics and InteractionsMaterial Dynamics and PropertiesTheoretical and Computational Physics

Sculpting tissues by phase transitions

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Lenne, Pierre-François, Trivedi, Vikas·2022·Nature Communications
DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-28151-9PMC PMC8814027
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Abstract

Biological systems display a rich phenomenology of states that resemble the physical states of matter - solid, liquid and gas. These phases result from the interactions between the microscopic constituent components - the cells - that manifest in macroscopic properties such as fluidity, rigidity and resistance to changes in shape and volume. Looked at from such a perspective, phase transitions from a rigid to a flowing state or vice versa define much of what happens in many biological processes especially during early development and diseases such as cancer. Additionally, collectively moving confluent cells can also lead to kinematic phase transitions in biological systems similar to multi-particle systems where the particles can interact and show sub-populations characterised by specific velocities. In this Perspective we discuss the similarities and limitations of the analogy between biological and inert physical systems both from theoretical perspective as well as experimental evidence in biological systems. In understanding such transitions, it is crucial to acknowledge that the macroscopic properties of biological materials and their modifications result from the complex interplay between the microscopic properties of cells including growth or death, neighbour interactions and secretion of matrix, phenomena unique to biological systems. Detecting phase transitions in vivo is technically difficult. We present emerging approaches that address this challenge and may guide our understanding of the organization and macroscopic behaviour of biological tissues.

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    The 'Phase transitions in tissue morphogenesis' section applies physical concepts to tissue form and behavior, supporting the general point that physics-inspired theories inform morphogenesis. Our copy does not mention D’Arcy Thompson or say that these theories validated many of his intuitions; searches for his name and for that historical connection found no such passage. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Authors
Lenne, P.-F., & Trivedi, V.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • European Molecular Biology Laboratory (ES)
Corresponding author
  • Lenne, Pierre-François
  • Trivedi, Vikas
ORCID
Venue
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-02-03
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
664-664
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41467-022-28151-9
PMC
PMC8814027
OpenAlex
W4213020595
Cited by
110
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1
FWCI
2.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL AMU (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Aix-Marseille Université (ANR-16-CONV-0001)
  • European Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-16-CONV-0001, ANR-17-CE13-0032, ANR‐19, ANR-16, ANR-17, ANR-19-CE13-0022)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Material Dynamics and Properties
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Condensed Matter Physics › Theoretical and Computational Physics
Keywords
phase transitions, biological tissue, cell mechanics, tissue stiffness, cell-cell interactions, extracellular matrix, collective cell migration, tissue morphogenesis, cancer, biological materials
MeSH terms
Animals, Biomechanical Phenomena, Cell Adhesion, Cell Communication, Computer Simulation, Humans, Models, Theoretical, Thermodynamics, Intracellular Space, Phase Transition, Chemical Phenomena, Viscoelastic Substances

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