Three-dimensional mechanical cooperativity optimises epithelial wound healing.

Lateral actomyosin cables cooperate with apical purse strings to drive 3D cell shape changes and planar cell-cell intercalations, optimizing epithelial wound healing in Drosophila wing discs.

• Why it matters: Understanding the mechanisms of tissue repair in three dimensions is crucial because epithelial tissues serve as vital barriers, and their efficient repair prevents organ damage. The 3D aspects of wound healing are less understood compared to 2D processes, limiting insights into tissue regeneration.
• What they did: Researchers developed a 3D vertex model to simulate apical, lateral, and basal cell behaviors and investigated the role of actomyosin cables at the wound edge, confirming their function through Drosophila mutations affecting cell deformation.
• The result: The study shows that lateral cables work with apical purse strings to promote 3D cell shape changes and cell intercalations, revealing a new mechanism that enhances epithelial wound repair efficiency.