Tissue Biology: In Search of a New Paradigm

Miri Adler, Arun R. Chavan, Ruslan Medzhitov

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Animal tissues are made up of multiple cell types that are increasingly well-characterized, yet our understanding of the core principles that govern tissue organization is still incomplete. This is in part because many observable tissue characteristics, such as cellular composition and spatial patterns, are emergent properties, and as such, they cannot be explained through the knowledge of individual cells alone. Here we propose a complex systems theory perspective to address this fundamental gap in our understanding of tissue biology. We introduce the concept of cell categories, which is based on cell relations rather than cell identity. Based on these notions we then discuss common principles of tissue modularity, introducing compositional, structural, and functional tissue modules. Cell diversity and cell relations provide a basis for a new perspective on the underlying principles of tissue organization in health and disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)67-89
Number of pages23
JournalAnnual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
Volume39
DOIs
StatePublished - 16 Oct 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by The American College of Gastroenterology.

Keywords

  • cell categories
  • cell relations
  • cell type
  • evolution
  • self-organization
  • tissue modules
  • tissue organization

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