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Review
. 2016 Oct:40:138-143.
doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2016.07.001. Epub 2016 Aug 5.

Quorum sensing and other collective regenerative behavior in organ populations

Randall Widelitz  1 , Cheng-Ming Chuong  2
Affiliations
Review

Quorum sensing and other collective regenerative behavior in organ populations

Randall Widelitz et al. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2016 Oct.

Abstract

Stem cell and microenvironment molecular interactions have been studied in detail but regenerative behavior at the organ population level has remained unexplored. Organ renewal can occur continuously or in cyclic episodes. Progenitors may be distributed as one entity or compartmentalized into multiple units. Multiple units offer advantages as each unit can be regulated differently in different body regions or physiological stages, adapting animals to their niche with flexible functional forms. Using the hair paradigm, we show how periodic patterning can convert one morphogenetic field into many hair germs, how follicles can be renewed with different cycle times and phenotypes in a region-specific manner, and how new properties, such as regenerative waves and quorum sensing, emerge to coordinate collective regenerative behavior.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Periodic patterning converts one morphogenetic field into multiple hair germs. Each hair germ undergoes regenerative cycling. This gives the follicle an opportunity to generate variability by generating hairs with different growth periods or different morphological phenotypes in different skin regions (Phenotype modulation). The phenotype can change in response to key biological events (Life stage modulation) to produce diverse hair forms. This effects the response to intrinsic and extrinsic factors (growth factors, hormones, etc) on aging facial skin (right panel). On the right is Darumo, a Zen master painted by 16th century Japanese artist, Shōkei, demonstrating regional differences in the head: the growth of eyebrow, ear and nose hairs is enhanced while that of the scalp hair is greatly reduced.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The hair cycle in different regions and at different life stages and in different organisms can be controlled at the level of individual follicles (left panel) or coupled to produce coordinated regenerative hair waves regulated by communication between hair follicles (middle panel) or their environments. Upon injury, they can be activated via quorum sensing, coupled by an immune mechanism (CCL2 and macrophages), where all follicles make an all or none decision to simultaneously re-enter the hair cycle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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