1
|
Jiang W, Yao X, Zhong J, Ouyang Z, Shen J, Qiu Y, Zeng Y. Spatial confinement modulates endothelial cell behavior and traction force in 3D hydrogel microgrooves. Mater Today Bio 2024; 26:101074. [PMID: 38736613 PMCID: PMC11081801 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanical environment of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) encompasses a wide range of curvatures due to variations in blood vessel diameters. Integrins, key mediators of cell-matrix interactions, establish connections between the extracellular matrix and the actin cytoskeleton, influencing diverse cellular behaviors. In this study, we explored the impact of spatial confinement on human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) cultured within three-dimensional hydrogel microgrooves of varying curvatures and the underlying role of integrins in mediating cellular responses. Employing maskless lithography, we successfully fabricated precise and wall curvatures-controlled hydrogel microgrooves, conferring spatial constraints on the cells. Our investigations revealed substantial alterations in HUVEC behavior within the hydrogel microgrooves with varying sidewall curvatures, marked by reduced cell size, enhanced orientation, and increased apoptosis. Interestingly, microgroove curvature emerged as a crucial factor influencing cell orientation and apoptosis, with rectangular microgrooves eliciting distinct changes in cell orientation, while ring-form microgrooves exhibited higher apoptosis rates. The side-wall effect in the 20 μm region near the microgroove wall had the greatest influence on cell orientation and apoptosis. HUVECs within the microgrooves exhibited elevated integrin expression, and inhibition of αV-integrin by cilengitide significantly curtailed cell apoptosis without affecting proliferation. Additionally, integrin-mediated cell traction force closely correlated with the spatial confinement effect. Cilengitide not only reduced integrin and focal adhesion expression but also attenuated cell traction force and cytoskeletal actin filament alignment. Overall, our findings elucidate the spatial confinement of ECs in hydrogel microgrooves and underscores the pivotal role of integrins, particularly αV-integrin, in mediating cell traction force and apoptosis within this microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Jiang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Xinghong Yao
- Department of Radiotherapy, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Jian Zhong
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Zhi Ouyang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Junyi Shen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Yan Qiu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Ye Zeng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wu Y, Benson MA, Sun SX. Cell-Driven Fluid Dynamics: A Physical Model of Active Systemic Circulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.19.594862. [PMID: 38826192 PMCID: PMC11142051 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.19.594862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Active fluid circulation and transport are key functions of living organisms, which drive efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients to various physiological compartments. Because fluid circulation occurs in a network, the systemic flux and pressure are not simple outcomes of any given component. Rather, they are emergent properties of network elements and network topology. Moreover, consistent pressure and osmolarity gradients across compartments such as the kidney, interstitium, and vessels are known. How these gradients and network properties are established and maintained is an unanswered question in systems physiology. Previous studies have shown that epithelial cells are fluid pumps that actively generate pressure and osmolarity gradients. Polarization and activity of ion exchangers that drive fluid flux in epithelial cells are affected by pressure and osmolarity gradients. Therefore, there is an unexplored coupling between the pressure and osmolarity in the circulating network. Here we develop a mathematical theory that integrates the influence of pressure and osmolarity on solute transport and explores both cell fluid transport and systemic circulation. This model naturally generates pressure and osmolarity gradients across physiological compartments, and demonstrates how systemic transport properties can depend on cell properties, and how the cell state can depend on systemic properties. When epithelial and endothelial pumps are considered together, we predict how pressures at various points in the network depend on the overall osmolarity of the system. The model can be improved by including physiological geometries and expanding solute species, and highlights the interplay of fluid properties with cell function in living organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Morgan A. Benson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sean X. Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schueler J, Sjöman H, Kriesi C. Sensor extended imaging workflow for creating fit for purpose models in basic and applied cell biology. Commun Biol 2024; 7:170. [PMID: 38341479 PMCID: PMC10858951 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05843-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
While various engineering disciplines spent years on developing methods and workflows to increase their R&D efficiency, the field of cell biology has seen limited evolution in the fundamental approaches to interact with living cells. Perturbations are mostly of chemical nature, and physiologically relevant contexts and stimuli are left with limited attention, resulting in a solution space constrained within the boundaries of presently manageable perturbations. To predict in the laboratory how a drug will work in a human patient, cell biology must have a closer look at life and strive to mimic the human being in all his complexity. By implementing an iterative process from perturbation to measurement and vice versa, the authors suggest using a sensor-extended imaging workflow to implement product development practices to cell biology, opening a physiologically relevant solution space for the development of truly translational and predictive fit for purpose in vitro cell models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Schueler
- Charles River Germany GmbH, Am Flughafen 12-14, 79111, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Heikki Sjöman
- Vitroscope AS, Leirfossvegen 5d, 7037, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Carlo Kriesi
- Vitroscope AS, Leirfossvegen 5d, 7037, Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu H, Chen H, Han Q, Sun B, Liu Y, Zhang A, Fan D, Xia P, Wang J. Recent advancement in vascularized tissue-engineered bone based on materials design and modification. Mater Today Bio 2023; 23:100858. [PMID: 38024843 PMCID: PMC10679779 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone is one of the most vascular network-rich tissues in the body and the vascular system is essential for the development, homeostasis, and regeneration of bone. When segmental irreversible damage occurs to the bone, restoring its vascular system by means other than autogenous bone grafts with vascular pedicles is a therapeutic challenge. By pre-generating the vascular network of the scaffold in vivo or in vitro, the pre-vascularization technique enables an abundant blood supply in the scaffold after implantation. However, pre-vascularization techniques are time-consuming, and in vivo pre-vascularization techniques can be damaging to the body. Critical bone deficiencies may be filled quickly with immediate implantation of a supporting bone tissue engineered scaffold. However, bone tissue engineered scaffolds generally lack vascularization, which requires modification of the scaffold to aid in enhancing internal vascularization. In this review, we summarize the relationship between the vascular system and osteogenesis and use it as a basis to further discuss surgical and cytotechnology-based pre-vascularization strategies and to describe the preparation of vascularized bone tissue engineered scaffolds that can be implanted immediately. We anticipate that this study will serve as inspiration for future vascularized bone tissue engineered scaffold construction and will aid in the achievement of clinical vascularized bone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Qin Han
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Bin Sun
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Aobo Zhang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Danyang Fan
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Peng Xia
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Jincheng Wang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhou HL, Jiang XZ, Ventikos Y. Role of blood flow in endothelial functionality: a review. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1259280. [PMID: 37905167 PMCID: PMC10613523 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1259280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells, located on the surface of blood vessel walls, are constantly stimulated by mechanical forces from the blood flow. The mechanical forces, i.e., fluid shear stress, induced by the blood flow play a pivotal role in controlling multiple physiological processes at the endothelium and in regulating various pathways that maintain homeostasis and vascular function. In this review, research looking at different blood fluid patterns and fluid shear stress in the circulation system is summarized, together with the interactions between the blood flow and the endothelial cells. This review also highlights the flow profile as a response to the configurational changes of the endothelial glycocalyx, which is less revisited in previous reviews. The role of endothelial glycocalyx in maintaining endothelium health and the strategies for the restoration of damaged endothelial glycocalyx are discussed from the perspective of the fluid shear stress. This review provides a new perspective regarding our understanding of the role that blood flow plays in regulating endothelial functionality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Lin Zhou
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xi Zhuo Jiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yiannis Ventikos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang P, Yan X, Zhang X, Liu Y, Feng X, Yang Z, Zhang J, Xu X, Zheng Q, Liang L, Han H. TMEM215 Prevents Endothelial Cell Apoptosis in Vessel Regression by Blunting BIK-Regulated ER-to-Mitochondrial Ca Influx. Circ Res 2023; 133:739-757. [PMID: 37750320 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.322686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In developmental and pathological tissues, nascent vessel networks generated by angiogenesis require further pruning/regression to delete nonfunctional endothelial cells (ECs) by apoptosis and migration. Mechanisms underlying EC apoptosis during vessel pruning remain elusive. TMEM215 (transmembrane protein 215) is an endoplasmic reticulum-located, 2-pass transmembrane protein. We have previously demonstrated that TMEM215 knockdown in ECs leads to cell death, but its physiological function and mechanism are unclear. METHODS We characterized the role and mechanism of TMEM215 in EC apoptosis using human umbilical vein endothelial cells by identifying its interacting proteins with immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry. The physiological function of TMEM215 in ECs was assessed by establishing a conditional knockout mouse strain. The role of TMEM215 in pathological angiogenesis was evaluated by tumor and choroidal neovascularization models. We also tried to evaluate its translational value by delivering a Tmem215 small interfering RNA (siRNA) using nanoparticles in vivo. RESULTS TMEM215 knockdown in ECs induced apoptotic cell death. We identified the chaperone BiP as a binding partner of TMEM215, and TMEM215 forms a complex with and facilitates the interaction of BiP (binding immunoglobin protein) with the BH (BCL-2 [B-cell lymphoma 2] homology) 3-only proapoptotic protein BIK (BCL-2 interacting killer). TMEM215 knockdown triggered apoptosis in a BIK-dependent way and was abrogated by BCL-2. Notably, TMEM215 knockdown increased the number and diminished the distance of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes and increased mitochondrial calcium influx. Inhibiting mitochondrial calcium influx by blocking the IP3R (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor) or MCU (mitochondrial calcium uniporter) abrogated TMEM215 knockdown-induced apoptosis. TMEM215 expression in ECs was induced by physiological laminar shear stress via EZH2 downregulation. In EC-specific Tmem215 knockout mice, induced Tmem215 depletion impaired the regression of retinal vasculature characterized by reduced vessel density, increased empty basement membrane sleeves, and increased EC apoptosis. Moreover, EC-specific Tmem215 ablation inhibited tumor growth with disrupted vasculature. However, Tmem215 ablation in adult mice attenuated lung metastasis, consistent with reduced Vcam1 expression. Administration of nanoparticles carrying Tmem215 siRNA also inhibited tumor growth and choroidal neovascularization injury. CONCLUSIONS TMEM215, which is induced by blood flow-derived shear stress via downregulating EZH2, protects ECs from BIK-triggered mitochondrial apoptosis mediated by calcium influx through mitochondria-associated ER membranes during vessel pruning, thus providing a novel target for antiangiogenic therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peiran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xianchun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- The Affiliated Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, China (Y.L.)
| | - Xingxing Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ziyan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiayulin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xinyuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qijun Zheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, China (Q.Z.)
| | - Liang Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hua Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (P.Z., X.Y., X.Z., Y.L., X.F., Z.Y., J.Z., X.X., L.L., H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- Department of Gastroenterology (H.H.), Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dickinson AJG. Jak2 and Jaw Muscles Are Required for Buccopharyngeal Membrane Perforation during Mouth Development. J Dev Biol 2023; 11:24. [PMID: 37367478 DOI: 10.3390/jdb11020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The mouth is a central feature of our face, without which we could not eat, breathe, or communicate. A critical and early event in mouth formation is the creation of a "hole" which connects the digestive system and the external environment. This hole, which has also been called the primary or embryonic mouth in vertebrates, is initially covered by a 1-2 cell layer thick structure called the buccopharyngeal membrane. When the buccopharyngeal membrane does not rupture, it impairs early mouth functions and may also lead to further craniofacial malformations. Using a chemical screen in an animal model (Xenopus laevis) and genetic data from humans, we determined that Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) has a role in buccopharyngeal membrane rupture. We have determined that decreased Jak2 function, using antisense morpholinos or a pharmacological antagonist, caused a persistent buccopharyngeal membrane as well as the loss of jaw muscles. Surprisingly, we observed that the jaw muscle compartments were connected to the oral epithelium that is continuous with the buccopharyngeal membrane. Severing such connections resulted in buccopharyngeal membrane buckling and persistence. We also noted puncta accumulation of F-actin, an indicator of tension, in the buccopharyngeal membrane during perforation. Taken together, the data has led us to a hypothesis that muscles are required to exert tension across the buccopharyngeal membrane, and such tension is necessary for its perforation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J G Dickinson
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Du R, Li L, Ji J, Fan Y. Receptor-Ligand Binding: Effect of Mechanical Factors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24109062. [PMID: 37240408 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24109062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Gaining insight into the in situ receptor-ligand binding is pivotal for revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiological and pathological processes and will contribute to drug discovery and biomedical application. An important issue involved is how the receptor-ligand binding responds to mechanical stimuli. This review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding of the effect of several representative mechanical factors, such as tension, shear stress, stretch, compression, and substrate stiffness on receptor-ligand binding, wherein the biomedical implications are focused. In addition, we highlight the importance of synergistic development of experimental and computational methods for fully understanding the in situ receptor-ligand binding, and further studies should focus on the coupling effects of these mechanical factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruotian Du
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Long Li
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jing Ji
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yubo Fan
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sánchez-Tecuatl M, Moccia F, Martínez-Carballido JF, Berra-Romani R. An automated method to discover true events and classification of intracellular Ca 2+ profiles for endothelium in situ injury assay. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1161023. [PMID: 37250125 PMCID: PMC10213911 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1161023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Endothelial cells (ECs), being located at the interface between flowing blood and vessel wall, maintain cardiovascular homeostasis by virtue of their ability to integrate chemical and physical cues through a spatio-temporally coordinated increase in their intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Endothelial heterogeneity suggests the existence of spatially distributed functional clusters of ECs that display different patterns of intracellular Ca2+ response to extracellular inputs. Characterizing the overall Ca2+ activity of the endothelial monolayer in situ requires the meticulous analysis of hundreds of ECs. This complex analysis consists in detecting and quantifying the true Ca2+ events associated to extracellular stimulation and classifying their intracellular Ca2+ profiles (ICPs). The injury assay technique allows exploring the Ca2+-dependent molecular mechanisms involved in angiogenesis and endothelial regeneration. However, there are true Ca2+ events of nearly undetectable magnitude that are almost comparable with inherent instrumental noise. Moreover, undesirable artifacts added to the signal by mechanical injury stimulation complicate the analysis of intracellular Ca2+ activity. In general, the study of ICPs lacks uniform criteria and reliable approaches for assessing these highly heterogeneous spatial and temporal events. Methods: Herein, we present an approach to classify ICPs that consists in three stages: 1) identification of Ca2+ candidate events through thresholding of a feature termed left-prominence; 2) identification of non-true events, known as artifacts; and 3) ICP classification based upon event temporal location. Results: The performance assessment of true-events identification showed competitive sensitivity = [0.9995, 0.9831], specificity = [0.9946, 0.7818] and accuracy = [0.9978, 0.9579] improvements of 2x and 14x, respectively, compared with other methods. The ICP classifier enhanced by artifact detection showed 0.9252 average accuracy with the ground-truth sets provided for validation. Discussion: Results indicate that our approach ensures sturdiness to experimental protocol maneuvers, besides it is effective, simple, and configurable for different studies that use unidimensional time dependent signals as data. Furthermore, our approach would also be effective to analyze the ICPs generated by other cell types, other dyes, chemical stimulation or even signals recorded at higher frequency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcial Sánchez-Tecuatl
- Electronics Department, Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Francesco Moccia
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Berra-Romani
- Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ma HL, Urbaczek AC, Zeferino Ribeiro de Souza F, Bernal C, Rodrigues Perussi J, Carrilho E. Replicating endothelial shear stress in organ-on-a-chip for predictive hypericin photodynamic efficiency. Int J Pharm 2023; 634:122629. [PMID: 36682507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy using Hypericin (Hy-PDT) is an alternative non-invasive treatment that enables selective tumor inhibition and angiogenesis derived from the differential recruitment of endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment. Most PDT studies were performed on in vitro models without vascular biomechanical simulation. Our work strives to develop a microchip that generates a constant shear stress force to investigate the Hy-PDT efficiency on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The microchip with a single straight microchannel was composed of the bottom layer (polystyrene), the middle layer (double-sided biocompatible adhesive tape), and the top layer (polyester film) and could produce shear stress in the range of 1.4 - 7.0 dyn cm-2. The quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cell viability, and activities of caspases 3 and 7 were assayed to validate the microchip and Hy-PDT efficacy. After the endothelization, static and dynamic cell incubations with Hy were conducted in microchips. Compared to static systems, the shear stress displayed its effect on the increasing release of VEGF and promoted more cell damage and cell death via necrosis during Hy-PDT. In conclusion, the expressive shear stress-dependent manner during PDT treatments suggests that the microchip could be an essential approach in preclinical tests to evaluate the therapeutic outcome considering the endothelial shear stress microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ling Ma
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13566-590 São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Bioanalítica, INCTBio, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Urbaczek
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13566-590 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Fayene Zeferino Ribeiro de Souza
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13566-590 São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Bioanalítica, INCTBio, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia Bernal
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13566-590 São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Bioanalítica, INCTBio, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Emanuel Carrilho
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, 13566-590 São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Bioanalítica, INCTBio, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Effects of High Glucose on Human Endothelial Cells Exposed to Simulated Microgravity. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020189. [PMID: 36830559 PMCID: PMC9952903 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A diabetogenic state induced by spaceflight provokes stress and health problems in astronauts. Microgravity (µg) is one of the main stressors in space causing hyperglycaemia. However, the underlying molecular pathways and synergistic effects of µg and hyperglycaemia are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of high glucose on EA.hy926 endothelial cells in simulated µg (s-µg) using a 3D clinostat and static normogravity (1g) conditions. After 14 days of cell culture under s-µg and 1g conditions, we compared the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM), inflammation, glucose metabolism, and apoptosis-related genes and proteins through qPCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analyses, respectively. Apoptosis was evaluated via TUNEL staining. Gene interactions were examined via STRING analysis. Our results show that glucose concentrations had a weaker effect than altered gravity. µg downregulated the ECM gene and protein expression and had a stronger influence on glucose metabolism than hyperglycaemia. Moreover, hyperglycaemia caused more pronounced changes in 3D cultures than in 2D cultures, including bigger and a greater number of spheroids, upregulation of NOX4 and the apoptotic proteins NF-κB and CASP3, and downregulation of fibronectin and transglutaminase-2. Our findings bring new insights into the possible molecular pathways involved in the diabetogenic vascular effects in µg.
Collapse
|
12
|
Meng F, Cheng H, Qian J, Dai X, Huang Y, Fan Y. In vitro fluidic systems: Applying shear stress on endothelial cells. MEDICINE IN NOVEL TECHNOLOGY AND DEVICES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medntd.2022.100143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
|
13
|
Stress Reactivity, Susceptibility to Hypertension, and Differential Expression of Genes in Hypertensive Compared to Normotensive Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052835. [PMID: 35269977 PMCID: PMC8911431 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although half of hypertensive patients have hypertensive parents, known hypertension-related human loci identified by genome-wide analysis explain only 3% of hypertension heredity. Therefore, mainstream transcriptome profiling of hypertensive subjects addresses differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specific to gender, age, and comorbidities in accordance with predictive preventive personalized participatory medicine treating patients according to their symptoms, individual lifestyle, and genetic background. Within this mainstream paradigm, here, we determined whether, among the known hypertension-related DEGs that we could find, there is any genome-wide hypertension theranostic molecular marker applicable to everyone, everywhere, anytime. Therefore, we sequenced the hippocampal transcriptome of tame and aggressive rats, corresponding to low and high stress reactivity, an increase of which raises hypertensive risk; we identified stress-reactivity-related rat DEGs and compared them with their known homologous hypertension-related animal DEGs. This yielded significant correlations between stress reactivity-related and hypertension-related fold changes (log2 values) of these DEG homologs. We found principal components, PC1 and PC2, corresponding to a half-difference and half-sum of these log2 values. Using the DEGs of hypertensive versus normotensive patients (as the control), we verified the correlations and principal components. This analysis highlighted downregulation of β-protocadherins and hemoglobin as whole-genome hypertension theranostic molecular markers associated with a wide vascular inner diameter and low blood viscosity, respectively.
Collapse
|