Epidermal cell turnover across tight junctions based on Kelvin's tetrakaidecahedron cell shape

In multicellular organisms, cells adopt various shapes, from flattened sheets of endothelium to dendritic neurons, that allow the cells to function effectively. Here, we elucidated the unique shape of cells in the cornified stratified epithelia of the mammalian epidermis that allows them to achieve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:eLife 2016-11, Vol.5
Main Authors: Yokouchi, Mariko, Atsugi, Toru, Logtestijn, Mark van, Tanaka, Reiko J, Kajimura, Mayumi, Suematsu, Makoto, Furuse, Mikio, Amagai, Masayuki, Kubo, Akiharu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cell Biology
Cell interaction
Cell Shape
Cell size
Developmental Biology and Stem Cells
Endothelium
epidermal barrier
Epidermis
Epidermis - cytology
Epidermis - physiology
Homeostasis
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Intravital Microscopy
Keratinocytes - physiology
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Observations
Physiological aspects
Physiology
Polygons
Regeneration
Skin
tight junction
Tight Junctions
tissue homeostasis
Transgenic animals
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Summary:In multicellular organisms, cells adopt various shapes, from flattened sheets of endothelium to dendritic neurons, that allow the cells to function effectively. Here, we elucidated the unique shape of cells in the cornified stratified epithelia of the mammalian epidermis that allows them to achieve homeostasis of the tight junction (TJ) barrier. Using intimate in vivo 3D imaging, we found that the basic shape of TJ-bearing cells is a flattened Kelvin's tetrakaidecahedron (f-TKD), an optimal shape for filling space. In vivo live imaging further elucidated the dynamic replacement of TJs on the edges of f-TKD cells that enables the TJ-bearing cells to translocate across the TJ barrier. We propose a spatiotemporal orchestration model of f-TKD cell turnover, where in the classic context of 'form follows function', cell shape provides a fundamental basis for the barrier homeostasis and physical strength of cornified stratified epithelia.
ISSN:2050-084X
2050-084X
DOI:10.7554/elife.19593