help button home button Biophys. J.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

Biophysical Journal 73: 38-44 (1997)
© 1997 the Biophysical Society

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Dubertret, B
Right arrow Articles by Rivier, N
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Dubertret, B
Right arrow Articles by Rivier, N

The renewal of the epidermis: a topological mechanism.

B Dubertret and N Rivier

Laboratoire de Dynamique des Fluides Complexes, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France. dubertret@fresnel.u.strasbg.fr

ABSTRACT

Using a topological approach, we study the dynamics of the basement membrane of the mammalian epidermis when basal cells detach or divide. A theoretical characterization of the steady state of the tissue, in very good agreement with experimental data, includes for the first time the division and the disappearance of cells in a two-dimensional random cellular structure. We predict a strong correlation between the size of the attachment of basal cells to the basement membrane and their biological behavior (division or detachment). This suggests that the main factor determining the fate of basal cells, and thus controlling the renewal of the epidermis, is the cells' surface tension and adhesion.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the Biophysical Society.