Transepithelial potential difference governs epithelial homeostasis by electromechanics

Studies of electric effects in biological systems, from the work on action potential to studies limb regeneration or wound healing, commonly focus transitory behaviour and not addressing question homeostasis. Here we use a microfluidic device study how homeostasis confluent epithelial tissues is modified when transepithelial difference that different natural one imposed an layer. When field direction matches one, can restore perfect confluence layer turned defective either by E-cadherin knockout weakening cell–substrate adhesion; additionally, tissue pushes substrate with kilopascal stress, inducing active-cell response such as death differentiation. opposite, pulls similar strengths, whereas destroyed perturbation junctional actin cell shapes, increased division rate formation mounds. Most these observations be quantitatively explained electrohydrodynamic theory involving local cytoplasmic electro-osmotic flows. We expect this motivate further long-time electromechanical pathways important engineering applications. Epithelial those gut skin are strongly polar, generating fields play role healing nutrient transport. Changing disrupts its homeostatic stability.