Relevance and Regulation of Cell Density

Cell density shows very little variation within a given cell type. For example, in humans variability in cell density among cells of a given cell type is 100 times smaller than variation in cell mass. This tight control indicates that maintenance of a cell type-specific cell density is important for cell function. Indeed, pathological conditions such as cellular senescence are accompanied by changes in cell density. Despite the apparent importance of cell-type-specific density, we know little about how cell density affects cell function, how it is controlled, and how it sometimes changes as part of a developmental process or in response to changes in the environment. The recent development of new technologies to accurately measure the cell density of single cells in suspension and in tissues is likely to provide answers to these important questions.