20206-03-19 基礎生物学研究所
図：卵管上皮組織。運動性繊毛（緑）が生えた多繊毛細胞と分泌細胞（黒い領域）から構成される。個々の細胞の輪郭が赤く見える。
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.nibb.ac.jp/press/2026/03/19.html
- https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(26)00146-X
異なる細胞型の方向性配列が平面細胞極性を組織化する Directional alignment of different cell types organizes planar cell polarity
Masaki Arata ∙ Hiroshi Koyama ∙ Toshihiko Fujimori
iScience Published:February 10, 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.114771
Highlights
- PCP can persist despite existence of cell types with different core PCP protein levels
- Simulations showed cell-type distributions govern PCP robustness under imbalance
- Deep learning and statistical modeling identified alignment orientation as key
- Directional cell-type alignment was observed in the mouse oviduct
Summary
Intercellular coupling between core PCP proteins is essential for unidirectional polarization of epithelial cells, known as planar cell polarity (PCP). While imbalances in core PCP protein levels between adjacent cells disrupt PCP in some tissues, other tissues maintain PCP despite containing multiple cell types with distinct core PCP protein abundance. How such tissues tolerate these imbalances remains unclear. Here, we analyzed how the spatial distribution of cell types contributes to PCP maintenance using a previously established mathematical model. Systematic simulations showed that the accuracy of PCP maintenance under core PCP protein imbalance strongly depends on cell-type distribution patterns. We then applied deep learning and statistical modeling to identify critical features, revealing that the orientation of cell-type alignment is a key determinant of PCP robustness. Such directional cell-type alignment was observed in the mouse oviduct. Our findings highlight an overlooked role of tissue cell-type organization in PCP maintenance.
