Biophysics of lumen morphogenesis
Abstract
Although lumen formation is a key feature of organogenesis, luminal compartmentsformed through the secretion of fluid, ions and macromolecules by the cells, usually on the apical sideare often viewed as passive by-products of epithelial polarity. Here, we discuss how luminal fluids actively contribute to morphogenesis in metazoans through mechanical, hydraulic and electrochemical interactions with the surrounding epithelia and the extracellular matrix (ECM). We first outline the diversity of lumen architectures and summarize conserved mechanisms of lumen nucleation, fusion, folding and growth across metazoans. We then present the physical principles governing lumen morphogenesis, highlighting how hydrostatic and osmotic pressures, cortical tension and matrix mechanics interact to shape tissues. Furthermore, theoretical modeling and numerical simulations provide a quantitative framework for predicting phenotypes related to lumen shape, exploring the parameter space of hydraulic and active tissue mechanics variables, and linking molecular perturbations to emergent tissue geometries. Finally, we examine feedback loops whereby lumen-associated forces regulate junctional integrity, proliferation, differentiation and tissue patterning. Together, these concepts position luminal fluids as active regulators of lumen morphogenesis.
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BibTeX
@article{lee2026biophysics,
title = {{Biophysics of lumen morphogenesis}},
author = {Byung Ho Lee and Markus Mukenhirn and Tristan Guyomar and Yann Maggipinto and Sakurako Tanida and Kana Fuji and Linjie Lu and Felix Romer and Makiko Nonomura and Tetsuya Hiraiwa and Masaki Sano and Alf Honigmann and Daniel Riveline and Anne Grapin-Botton},
journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1242/dev.205628},
url = {https://univoak.hal.science/hal-05757082v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Biophysics of lumen morphogenesis
AU - Byung Ho Lee
AU - Markus Mukenhirn
AU - Tristan Guyomar
AU - Yann Maggipinto
AU - Sakurako Tanida
AU - Kana Fuji
AU - Linjie Lu
AU - Felix Romer
AU - Makiko Nonomura
AU - Tetsuya Hiraiwa
AU - Masaki Sano
AU - Alf Honigmann
AU - Daniel Riveline
AU - Anne Grapin-Botton
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/15
JO - Development (Cambridge, England)
DO - 10.1242/dev.205628
UR - https://univoak.hal.science/hal-05757082v1
AB - Although lumen formation is a key feature of organogenesis, luminal compartmentsformed through the secretion of fluid, ions and macromolecules by the cells, usually on the apical sideare often viewed as passive by-products of epithelial polarity. Here, we discuss how luminal fluids actively contribute to morphogenesis in metazoans through mechanical, hydraulic and electrochemical interactions with the surrounding epithelia and the extracellular matrix (ECM). We first outline the diversity of lumen architectures and summarize conserved mechanisms of lumen nucleation, fusion, folding and growth across metazoans. We then present the physical principles governing lumen morphogenesis, highlighting how hydrostatic and osmotic pressures, cortical tension and matrix mechanics interact to shape tissues. Furthermore, theoretical modeling and numerical simulations provide a quantitative framework for predicting phenotypes related to lumen shape, exploring the parameter space of hydraulic and active tissue mechanics variables, and linking molecular perturbations to emergent tissue geometries. Finally, we examine feedback loops whereby lumen-associated forces regulate junctional integrity, proliferation, differentiation and tissue patterning. Together, these concepts position luminal fluids as active regulators of lumen morphogenesis.
SN - 0950-1991
SN - 1477-9129
ER -