Geometrical study of tissues under dynamic and controlled deformation

Orateur : Caterina TOMBA

A specificity of tissues in living systems is to be an active and dynamic membrane, which can be described by visco-elastic properties. At a smaller scale, this membrane is constituted of an assembly of individual cells organized in a single monolayer, called epithelium. Deformation and folding of flat epithelia are at the origin of organ formation, with specific shapes depending on the organ function. I will show the example of the gut formation, where an initially smooth tube is structured with intestinal villification that can take origin by muscle constriction (Shyer et al., Science, 2013). Once the villi shape is established, it is maintained throughout of life despite its constitutive cells are permanently renewed. Although the different cell types in the intestine and their respective functions are identified, little is known about cell adaptation to external geometrical constraints. I will present two complementary approaches that we have developed to control epithelium curvature and to study the effect on cell growth. Finally, I will conclude with some perspectives on new micro-systems mimicking more physiological tissue dynamics thanks to the integration of magnetic fields.

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