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Younesi FS, Miller AE, Barker TH, Rossi FMV, Hinz B. Fibroblast and myofibroblast activation in normal tissue repair and fibrosis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00716-0. [PMID: 38589640 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00716-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The term 'fibroblast' often serves as a catch-all for a diverse array of mesenchymal cells, including perivascular cells, stromal progenitor cells and bona fide fibroblasts. Although phenotypically similar, these subpopulations are functionally distinct, maintaining tissue integrity and serving as local progenitor reservoirs. In response to tissue injury, these cells undergo a dynamic fibroblast-myofibroblast transition, marked by extracellular matrix secretion and contraction of actomyosin-based stress fibres. Importantly, whereas transient activation into myofibroblasts aids in tissue repair, persistent activation triggers pathological fibrosis. In this Review, we discuss the roles of mechanical cues, such as tissue stiffness and strain, alongside cell signalling pathways and extracellular matrix ligands in modulating myofibroblast activation and survival. We also highlight the role of epigenetic modifications and myofibroblast memory in physiological and pathological processes. Finally, we discuss potential strategies for therapeutically interfering with these factors and the associated signal transduction pathways to improve the outcome of dysregulated healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Sadat Younesi
- Keenan Research Institute for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew E Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Thomas H Barker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Fabio M V Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Boris Hinz
- Keenan Research Institute for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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2
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Song Y, Soto J, Wong SY, Wu Y, Hoffman T, Akhtar N, Norris S, Chu J, Park H, Kelkhoff DO, Ang CE, Wernig M, Kasko A, Downing TL, Poo MM, Li S. Biphasic regulation of epigenetic state by matrix stiffness during cell reprogramming. Sci Adv 2024; 10:eadk0639. [PMID: 38354231 PMCID: PMC10866547 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk0639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
We investigate how matrix stiffness regulates chromatin reorganization and cell reprogramming and find that matrix stiffness acts as a biphasic regulator of epigenetic state and fibroblast-to-neuron conversion efficiency, maximized at an intermediate stiffness of 20 kPa. ATAC sequencing analysis shows the same trend of chromatin accessibility to neuronal genes at these stiffness levels. Concurrently, we observe peak levels of histone acetylation and histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity in the nucleus on 20 kPa matrices, and inhibiting HAT activity abolishes matrix stiffness effects. G-actin and cofilin, the cotransporters shuttling HAT into the nucleus, rises with decreasing matrix stiffness; however, reduced importin-9 on soft matrices limits nuclear transport. These two factors result in a biphasic regulation of HAT transport into nucleus, which is directly demonstrated on matrices with dynamically tunable stiffness. Our findings unravel a mechanism of the mechano-epigenetic regulation that is valuable for cell engineering in disease modeling and regenerative medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Song
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jennifer Soto
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sze Yue Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Yifan Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Tyler Hoffman
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Navied Akhtar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Sam Norris
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Julia Chu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Hyungju Park
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Structure and Function of Neural Network, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu 41068, South Korea
| | - Douglas O. Kelkhoff
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Cheen Euong Ang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marius Wernig
- Department of Pathology and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrea Kasko
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Timothy L. Downing
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Mu-ming Poo
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Song Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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3
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Hobson EC, Li W, Friend NE, Putnam AJ, Stegemann JP, Deng CX. Crossover of surface waves and capillary-viscous-elastic transition in soft biomaterials detected by resonant acoustic rheometry. Biomaterials 2023; 302:122282. [PMID: 37672999 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Viscoelastic properties of hydrogels are important for their application in science and industry. However, rheological assessment of soft hydrogel biomaterials is challenging due to their complex, rapid, and often time-dependent behaviors. Resonant acoustic rheometry (RAR) is a newly developed technique capable of inducing and measuring resonant surface waves in samples in a non-contact fashion. By applying RAR at high temporal resolution during thrombin-induced fibrin gelation and ultraviolet-initiated polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymerization, we observed distinct changes in both frequency and amplitude of the resonant surface waves as the materials changed over time. RAR detected a series of capillary-elastic, capillary-viscous, and visco-elastic transitions that are uniquely manifested as crossover of different types of surface waves in the temporally evolving materials. These results reveal the dynamic interplay of surface tension, viscosity, and elasticity that is controlled by the kinetics of polymerization and crosslinking during hydrogel formation. RAR overcomes many limitations of conventional rheological approaches by offering a new way to comprehensively and longitudinally characterize soft materials during dynamic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Hobson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 40109, USA
| | - Weiping Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 40109, USA
| | - Nicole E Friend
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 40109, USA
| | - Andrew J Putnam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 40109, USA
| | - Jan P Stegemann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 40109, USA.
| | - Cheri X Deng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 40109, USA.
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4
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Falcucci T, Radke M, Sahoo JK, Hasturk O, Kaplan DL. Multifunctional silk vinyl sulfone-based hydrogel scaffolds for dynamic material-cell interactions. Biomaterials 2023; 300:122201. [PMID: 37348323 PMCID: PMC10366540 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Biochemical and mechanical interactions between cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix influence cell behavior and fate. Mimicking these features in vitro has prompted the design and development of biomaterials, with continuing efforts to improve tailorable systems that also incorporate dynamic chemical functionalities. The majority of these chemistries have been incorporated into synthetic biomaterials, here we focus on modifications of silk protein with dynamic features achieved via enzymatic, "click", and photo-chemistries. The one-pot synthesis of vinyl sulfone modified silk (SilkVS) can be tuned to manipulate the degree of functionalization. The resultant modified protein-based material undergoes three different gelation mechanisms, enzymatic, "click", and light-induced, to generate hydrogels for in vitro cell culture. Further, the versatility of this chemical functionality is exploited to mimic cell-ECM interactions via the incorporation of bioactive peptides and proteins or by altering the mechanical properties of the material to guide cell behavior. SilkVS is well-suited for use in in vitro culture, providing a natural protein with both tunable biochemistry and mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Falcucci
- Tufts University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Margaret Radke
- Tufts University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medford, MA, USA
| | | | - Onur Hasturk
- Tufts University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medford, MA, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Tufts University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medford, MA, USA.
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Yang JF, Liu W, You J. Characterization of molecular mechanisms driving Merkel cell polyomavirus oncogene transcription and tumorigenic potential. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011598. [PMID: 37647312 PMCID: PMC10468096 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is associated with approximately 80% of cases of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an aggressive type of skin cancer. The incidence of MCC has tripled over the past twenty years, but there are currently very few effective targeted treatments. A better understanding of the MCPyV life cycle and its oncogenic mechanisms is needed to unveil novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of MCC. MCPyV infection and oncogenesis are reliant on the expression of the early viral oncoproteins, which drive the viral life cycle and MCPyV+ MCC tumor cell growth. To date, the molecular mechanisms regulating the transcription of the MCPyV oncogenes remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we investigated how MCPyV early transcription is regulated to support viral infection and MCC tumorigenesis. Our studies established the roles of multiple cellular factors in the control of MCPyV gene expression. Inhibitor screening experiments revealed that the histone acetyltransferases p300 and CBP positively regulate MCPyV transcription. Their regulation of viral gene expression occurs through coactivation of the transcription factor NF-κB, which binds to the viral genome to drive MCPyV oncogene expression in a manner that is tightly controlled through a negative feedback loop. Furthermore, we discovered that small molecule inhibitors specifically targeting p300/CBP histone acetyltransferase activity are effective at blocking MCPyV tumor antigen expression and MCPyV+ MCC cell proliferation. Together, our work establishes key cellular factors regulating MCPyV transcription, providing the basis for understanding the largely unknown mechanisms governing MCPyV transcription that defines its infectious host cell tropism, viral life cycle, and oncogenic potential. Our studies also identify a novel therapeutic strategy against MCPyV+ MCC through specific blockage of MCPyV oncogene expression and MCC tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- June F. Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jianxin You
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Scott AK, Rafuse M, Neu CP. Mechanically induced alterations in chromatin architecture guide the balance between cell plasticity and mechanical memory. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1084759. [PMID: 37143893 PMCID: PMC10151697 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1084759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity, or adaptability, of a cell determines its ability to survive and function within changing cellular environments. Changes in the mechanical environment, ranging from stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to physical stress such as tension, compression, and shear, are critical environmental cues that influence phenotypic plasticity and stability. Furthermore, an exposure to a prior mechanical signal has been demonstrated to play a fundamental role in modulating phenotypic changes that persist even after the mechanical stimulus is removed, creating stable mechanical memories. In this mini review, our objective is to highlight how the mechanical environment alters both phenotypic plasticity and stable memories through changes in chromatin architecture, mainly focusing on examples in cardiac tissue. We first explore how cell phenotypic plasticity is modulated in response to changes in the mechanical environment, and then connect the changes in phenotypic plasticity to changes in chromatin architecture that reflect short-term and long-term memories. Finally, we discuss how elucidating the mechanisms behind mechanically induced chromatin architecture that lead to cell adaptations and retention of stable mechanical memories could uncover treatment methods to prevent mal-adaptive permanent disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne K. Scott
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Michael Rafuse
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Corey P. Neu
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
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7
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Toscano-Marquez F, Romero Y, Espina-Ordoñez M, Cisneros J. Absence of HDAC3 by Matrix Stiffness Promotes Chromatin Remodeling and Fibroblast Activation in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071020. [PMID: 37048093 PMCID: PMC10093275 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and fatal disease characterized by progressive and irreversible lung scarring associated with persistent activation of fibroblasts. Epigenetics could integrate diverse microenvironmental signals, such as stiffness, to direct persistent fibroblast activation. Histone modifications by deacetylases (HDAC) may play an essential role in the gene expression changes involved in the pathological remodeling of the lung. Particularly, HDAC3 is crucial for maintaining chromatin and regulating gene expression, but little is known about its role in IPF. In the study, control and IPF-derived fibroblasts were used to determine the influence of HDAC3 on chromatin remodeling and gene expression associated with IPF signature. Additionally, the cells were grown on hydrogels to mimic the stiffness of a fibrotic lung. Our results showed a decreased HDAC3 in the nucleus of IPF fibroblasts, which correlates with changes in nucleus size and heterochromatin loss. The inhibition of HDAC3 with a pharmacological inhibitor causes hyperacetylation of H3K9 and provokes an increased expression of Col1A1, ACTA2, and p21. Comparable results were found in hydrogels, where matrix stiffness promotes the loss of nuclear HDAC3 and increases the profibrotic signature. Finally, latrunculin b was used to confirm that changes by stiffness depend on the mechanotransduction signals. Together, these results suggest that HDAC3 could be a link between epigenetic mechanisms and the fibrotic microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Toscano-Marquez
- Laboratorio de Biopatología Pulmonar INER-Ciencias-UNAM, Departamento de Fibrosis Pulmonar, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City 14080, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Yair Romero
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Marco Espina-Ordoñez
- Laboratorio de Biopatología Pulmonar INER-Ciencias-UNAM, Departamento de Fibrosis Pulmonar, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City 14080, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - José Cisneros
- Laboratorio de Biopatología Pulmonar INER-Ciencias-UNAM, Departamento de Fibrosis Pulmonar, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City 14080, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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8
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Vogt BJ, Peters DK, Anseth KS, Aguado BA. Inflammatory serum factors from aortic valve stenosis patients modulate sex differences in valvular myofibroblast activation and osteoblast-like differentiation. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:6341-6353. [PMID: 36226463 PMCID: PMC9741081 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm00844k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is a sexually dimorphic cardiovascular disease that is driven by fibrosis and calcification of the aortic valve leaflets. Circulating inflammatory factors present in serum from AVS patients contribute to sex differences in valve fibro-calcification by driving the activation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) to myofibroblasts and/or osteoblast-like cells. However, the molecular mechanisms by which inflammatory factors contribute to sex-specific valve fibro-calcification remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified inflammatory factors present in serum samples from AVS patients that regulate sex-specific myofibroblast activation and osteoblast-like differentiation. After correlating serum proteomic datasets with clinical and in vitro myofibroblast datasets, we identified annexin A2 and cystatin C as candidate inflammatory factors that correlate with both AVS patient severity and myofibroblast activation measurements in vitro. Validation experiments utilizing hydrogel biomaterials as cell culture platforms that mimic the valve extracellular matrix confirmed that annexin A2 and cystatin C promote sex-specific VIC activation to myofibroblasts via p38 MAPK signaling. Additionally, annexin A2 and cystatin C increase osteoblast-like differentiation primarily in male VICs. Our results implicate serum inflammatory factors as potential AVS biomarkers that also contribute to sexually dimorphic AVS progression by driving VIC myofibroblast activation and/or osteoblast-like differentiation. Collectively, the results herein further our overall understanding as to how biological sex may impact inflammation-driven AVS and may lead to the development of sex-specific drug treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon J Vogt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Douglas K Peters
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Brian A Aguado
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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