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Clift CL, Blaser MC, Gerrits W, Turner ME, Sonawane A, Pham T, Andresen JL, Fenton OS, Grolman JM, Campedelli A, Buffolo F, Schoen FJ, Hjortnaes J, Muehlschlegel JD, Mooney DJ, Aikawa M, Singh SA, Langer R, Aikawa E. Intracellular proteomics and extracellular vesiculomics as a metric of disease recapitulation in 3D-bioprinted aortic valve arrays. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj9793. [PMID: 38416823 PMCID: PMC10901368 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj9793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
In calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), mechanosensitive valvular cells respond to fibrosis- and calcification-induced tissue stiffening, further driving pathophysiology. No pharmacotherapeutics are available to treat CAVD because of the paucity of (i) appropriate experimental models that recapitulate this complex environment and (ii) benchmarking novel engineered aortic valve (AV)-model performance. We established a biomaterial-based CAVD model mimicking the biomechanics of the human AV disease-prone fibrosa layer, three-dimensional (3D)-bioprinted into 96-well arrays. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses probed the cellular proteome and vesiculome to compare the 3D-bioprinted model versus traditional 2D monoculture, against human CAVD tissue. The 3D-bioprinted model highly recapitulated the CAVD cellular proteome (94% versus 70% of 2D proteins). Integration of cellular and vesicular datasets identified known and unknown proteins ubiquitous to AV calcification. This study explores how 2D versus 3D-bioengineered systems recapitulate unique aspects of human disease, positions multiomics as a technique for the evaluation of high throughput-based bioengineered model systems, and potentiates future drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L Clift
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mark C Blaser
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Willem Gerrits
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Mandy E Turner
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Abhijeet Sonawane
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tan Pham
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jason L Andresen
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Owen S Fenton
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Joshua M Grolman
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02134, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Alesandra Campedelli
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Fabrizio Buffolo
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension Unite, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torin, Turin, Italy
| | - Frederick J Schoen
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jesper Hjortnaes
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jochen D Muehlschlegel
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David J Mooney
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02134, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Masanori Aikawa
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sasha A Singh
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robert Langer
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Elena Aikawa
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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2
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Zhu Z, Liu Z, Zhang D, Li L, Pei J, Cai L. Models for calcific aortic valve disease in vivo and in vitro. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 13:6. [PMID: 38424219 PMCID: PMC10904700 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-024-00189-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD) is prevalent among the elderly as the most common valvular heart disease. Currently, no pharmaceutical interventions can effectively reverse or prevent CAVD, making valve replacement the primary therapeutic recourse. Extensive research spanning decades has contributed to the establishment of animal and in vitro cell models, which facilitates a deeper understanding of the pathophysiological progression and underlying mechanisms of CAVD. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary and analysis of the strengths and limitations associated with commonly employed models for the study of valve calcification. We specifically emphasize the advancements in three-dimensional culture technologies, which replicate the structural complexity of the valve. Furthermore, we delve into prospective recommendations for advancing in vivo and in vitro model studies of CAVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Science, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-Throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Zhirong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Science, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-Throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Donghui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Science, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-Throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Science, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-Throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
| | - Jianqiu Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders Related Cardiovascular Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Lin Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Science, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-Throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
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Coutts CW, Baldwin AM, Jebeli M, Jolin GE, Mungai RW, Billiar KL. The Role of Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress in a Cell Spheroid Model of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease. Cells 2023; 13:45. [PMID: 38201249 PMCID: PMC10778193 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common heart valve disease among aging populations. There are two reported pathways of CAVD: osteogenic and dystrophic, the latter being more prevalent. Current two-dimensional (2D) in vitro CAVD models have shed light on the disease but lack three-dimensional (3D) cell-ECM interactions, and current 3D models require osteogenic media to induce calcification. The goal of this work is to develop a 3D dystrophic calcification model. We hypothesize that, as with 2D cell-based CAVD models, programmed cell death (apoptosis) is integral to calcification. We model the cell aggregation observed in CAVD by creating porcine valvular interstitial cell spheroids in agarose microwells. Upon culture in complete growth media (DMEM with serum), calcium nodules form in the spheroids within a few days. Inhibiting apoptosis with Z-VAD significantly reduced calcification, indicating that the calcification observed in this model is dystrophic rather than osteogenic. To determine the relative roles of oxidative stress and extracellular matrix (ECM) production in the induction of apoptosis and subsequent calcification, the media was supplemented with antioxidants with differing effects on ECM formation (ascorbic acid (AA), Trolox, or Methionine). All three antioxidants significantly reduced calcification as measured by Von Kossa staining, with the percentages of calcification per area of AA, Trolox, Methionine, and the non-antioxidant-treated control on day 7 equaling 0.17%, 2.5%, 6.0%, and 7.7%, respectively. As ZVAD and AA almost entirely inhibit calcification, apoptosis does not appear to be caused by a lack of diffusion of oxygen and metabolites within the small spheroids. Further, the observation that AA treatment reduces calcification significantly more than the other antioxidants indicates that the ECM stimulatory effect of AA plays a role inhibiting apoptosis and calcification in the spheroids. We conclude that, in this 3D in vitro model, both oxidative stress and ECM production play crucial roles in dystrophic calcification and may be viable therapeutic targets for preventing CAVD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kristen L. Billiar
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA (G.E.J.)
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Immohr MB, Teichert HL, Dos Santos Adrego F, Schmidt V, Sugimura Y, Bauer SJ, Barth M, Lichtenberg A, Akhyari P. Three-Dimensional Bioprinting of Ovine Aortic Valve Endothelial and Interstitial Cells for the Development of Multicellular Tissue Engineered Tissue Constructs. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:787. [PMID: 37508814 PMCID: PMC10376021 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10070787] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD), it is necessary to develop a new three-dimensional model that contains valvular interstitial cells (VIC) and valvular endothelial cells (VEC). For this purpose, ovine aortic valves were processed to isolate VIC and VEC that were dissolved in an alginate/gelatin hydrogel. A 3D-bioprinter (3D-Bioplotter® Developer Series, EnvisionTec, Gladbeck, Germany) was used to print cell-laden tissue constructs containing VIC and VEC which were cultured for up to 21 days. The 3D-architecture, the composition of the culture medium, and the hydrogels were modified, and cell viability was assessed. The composition of the culture medium directly affected the cell viability of the multicellular tissue constructs. Co-culture of VIC and VEC with a mixture of 70% valvular interstitial cell and 30% valvular endothelial cell medium components reached the cell viability best tested with about 60% more living cells compared to pure valvular interstitial cell medium (p = 0.02). The tissue constructs retained comparable cell viability after 21 days (p = 0.90) with different 3D-architectures, including a "sandwich" and a "tube" design. Good long-term cell viability was confirmed even for thick multilayer multicellular tissue constructs. The 3D-bioprinting of multicellular tissue constructs with VEC and VIC is a successful new technique to design tissue constructs that mimic the structure of the native aortic valve for research applications of aortic valve pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Benjamin Immohr
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Helena Lauren Teichert
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabió Dos Santos Adrego
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Vera Schmidt
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Yukiharu Sugimura
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Johannes Bauer
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Mareike Barth
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Artur Lichtenberg
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Payam Akhyari
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Bracco Gartner TCL, Wang Y, Leiteris L, van Adrichem I, Marsman J, Goumans MJ, Bouten CVC, Sluijter JPG, den Toonder JMJ, Suyker WJL, Hjortnaes J. Cyclic strain has antifibrotic effects on the human cardiac fibroblast transcriptome in a human cardiac fibrosis-on-a-chip platform. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 144:105980. [PMID: 37399762 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.105980] [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: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
In cardiac fibrosis, in response to stress or injury, cardiac fibroblasts deposit excessive amounts of collagens which contribute to the development of heart failure. The biochemical stimuli in this process have been extensively studied, but the influence of cyclic deformation on the fibrogenic behavior of cardiac fibroblasts in the ever-beating heart is not fully understood. In fact, most investigated mechanotransduction pathways in cardiac fibroblasts seem to ultimately have profibrotic effects, which leaves an important question in cardiac fibrosis research unanswered: how do cardiac fibroblasts stay quiescent in the ever-beating human heart? In this study, we developed a human cardiac fibrosis-on-a-chip platform and utilized it to investigate if and how cyclic strain affects fibrogenic signaling. The pneumatically actuated platform can expose engineered tissues to controlled strain magnitudes of 0-25% - which covers the entire physiological and pathological strain range in the human heart - and to biochemical stimuli and enables high-throughput screening of multiple samples. Microtissues of human fetal cardiac fibroblasts (hfCF) embedded in gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) were 3D-cultured on this platform and exposed to strain conditions which mimic the healthy human heart. The results provide evidence of an antifibrotic effect of the applied strain conditions on cardiac fibroblast behavior, emphasizing the influence of biomechanical stimuli on the fibrogenic process and giving a detailed overview of the mechanosensitive pathways and genes involved, which can be used in the development of novel therapies against cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom C L Bracco Gartner
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ye Wang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Laurynas Leiteris
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Iris van Adrichem
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Judith Marsman
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marie José Goumans
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Carlijn V C Bouten
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Joost P G Sluijter
- Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jaap M J den Toonder
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Willem J L Suyker
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jesper Hjortnaes
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Böttner J, Werner S, Feistner L, Fischer-Schaepmann T, Neussl K, Borger MA, Thiele H, Büttner P, Schlotter F. High resolution monitoring of valvular interstitial cell driven pathomechanisms in procalcific environment using label-free impedance spectroscopy. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1155371. [PMID: 37408660 PMCID: PMC10319251 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1155371] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Fibro-calcific aortic valve disease has high prevalence and is associated with significant mortality. Fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and calcific mineral deposition change the valvular microarchitecture and deteriorate valvular function. Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) in profibrotic or procalcifying environment are frequently used in vitro models. However, remodeling processes take several days to weeks to develop, even in vitro. Continuous monitoring by real-time impedance spectroscopy (EIS) may reveal new insights into this process. Methods VIC-driven ECM remodeling stimulated by procalcifying (PM) or profibrotic medium (FM) was monitored by label-free EIS. Collagen secretion, matrix mineralization, viability, mitochondrial damage, myofibroblastic gene expression and cytoskeletal alterations were analyzed. Results and Discussion EIS profiles of VICs in control medium (CM) and FM were comparable. PM reproducibly induced a specific, biphasic EIS profile. Phase 1 showed an initial impedance drop, which moderately correlated with decreasing collagen secretion (r = 0.67, p = 0.22), accompanied by mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization and cell death. Phase 2 EIS signal increase was positively correlated with augmented ECM mineralization (r = 0.97, p = 0.008). VICs in PM decreased myofibroblastic gene expression (p < 0.001) and stress fiber assembly compared to CM. EIS revealed sex-specific differences. Male VICs showed higher proliferation and in PM EIS decrease in phase 1 was significantly pronounced compared to female VICs (male minimum: 7.4 ± 4.2%, female minimum: 26.5 ± 4.4%, p < 0.01). VICs in PM reproduced disease characteristics in vitro remarkably fast with significant impact of donor sex. PM suppressed myofibroblastogenesis and favored ECM mineralization. In summary, EIS represents an efficient, easy-to-use, high-content screening tool enabling patient-specific, subgroup- and temporal resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Böttner
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sarah Werner
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lukas Feistner
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Katherina Neussl
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael A. Borger
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Holger Thiele
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Petra Büttner
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Florian Schlotter
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Schroeder ME, Batan D, Gonzalez Rodriguez A, Speckl KF, Peters DK, Kirkpatrick BE, Hach GK, Walker CJ, Grim JC, Aguado BA, Weiss RM, Anseth KS. Osteopontin activity modulates sex-specific calcification in engineered valve tissue mimics. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10358. [PMID: 36684107 PMCID: PMC9842038 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS) have sexually dimorphic phenotypes in their valve tissue, where male valvular tissue adopts a calcified phenotype and female tissue becomes more fibrotic. The molecular mechanisms that regulate sex-specific calcification in valvular tissue remain poorly understood. Here, we explored the role of osteopontin (OPN), a pro-fibrotic but anti-calcific bone sialoprotein, in regulating the calcification of female aortic valve tissue. Recognizing that OPN mediates calcification processes, we hypothesized that aortic valvular interstitial cells (VICs) in female tissue have reduced expression of osteogenic markers in the presence of elevated OPN relative to male VICs. Human female valve leaflets displayed reduced and smaller microcalcifications, but increased OPN expression relative to male leaflets. To understand how OPN expression contributes to observed sex dimorphisms in valve tissue, we employed enzymatically degradable hydrogels as a 3D cell culture platform to recapitulate male or female VIC interactions with the extracellular matrix. Using this system, we recapitulated sex differences observed in human tissue, specifically demonstrating that female VICs exposed to calcifying medium have smaller mineral deposits within the hydrogel relative to male VICs. We identified a change in OPN dynamics in female VICs in the presence of calcification stimuli, where OPN deposition localized from the extracellular matrix to perinuclear regions. Additionally, exogenously delivered endothelin-1 to encapsulated VICs increased OPN gene expression in male cells, which resulted in reduced calcification. Collectively, our results suggest that increased OPN in female valve tissue may play a sex-specific role in mitigating mineralization during AVS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Schroeder
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Dilara Batan
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Andrea Gonzalez Rodriguez
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Kelly F. Speckl
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Douglas K. Peters
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Bruce E. Kirkpatrick
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Medical Scientist Training ProgramUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Grace K. Hach
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Cierra J. Walker
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Materials Science and Engineering ProgramUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Joseph C. Grim
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Brian A. Aguado
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative MedicineLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Robert M. Weiss
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Kristi S. Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- The BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Materials Science and Engineering ProgramUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
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8
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van der Valk DC, Fomina A, Uiterwijk M, Hooijmans CR, Akiva A, Kluin J, Bouten CV, Smits AI. Calcification in Pulmonary Heart Valve Tissue Engineering. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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9
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Immohr MB, Dos Santos Adrego F, Teichert HL, Schmidt V, Sugimura Y, Bauer S, Barth M, Lichtenberg A, Akhyari P. 3D-bioprinting of aortic valve interstitial cells: impact of hydrogel and printing parameters on cell viability. Biomed Mater 2022; 18. [PMID: 36322974 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ac9f91] [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: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a frequent cardiac pathology in the aging society. Although valvular interstitial cells (VICs) seem to play a crucial role, mechanisms of CAVD are not fully understood. Development of tissue-engineered cellular models by 3D-bioprinting may help to further investigate underlying mechanisms of CAVD. VIC were isolated from ovine aortic valves and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM). VIC of passages six to ten were dissolved in a hydrogel consisting of 2% alginate and 8% gelatin with a concentration of 2 × 106VIC ml-1. Cell-free and VIC-laden hydrogels were printed with an extrusion-based 3D-bioprinter (3D-Bioplotter®Developer Series, EnvisionTec, Gladbeck, Germany), cross-linked and incubated for up to 28 d. Accuracy and durability of scaffolds was examined by microscopy and cell viability was tested by cell counting kit-8 assay and live/dead staining. 3D-bioprinting of scaffolds was most accurate with a printing pressure ofP< 400 hPa, nozzle speed ofv< 20 mm s-1, hydrogel temperature ofTH= 37 °C and platform temperature ofTP= 5 °C in a 90° parallel line as well as in a honeycomb pattern. Dissolving the hydrogel components in DMEM increased VIC viability on day 21 by 2.5-fold compared to regular 0.5% saline-based hydrogels (p< 0.01). Examination at day 7 revealed dividing and proliferating cells. After 21 d the entire printed scaffolds were filled with proliferating cells. Live/dead cell viability/cytotoxicity staining confirmed beneficial effects of DMEM-based cell-laden VIC hydrogel scaffolds even 28 d after printing. By using low pressure printing methods, we were able to successfully culture cell-laden 3D-bioprinted VIC scaffolds for up to 28 d. Using DMEM-based hydrogels can significantly improve the long-term cell viability and overcome printing-related cell damage. Therefore, future applications 3D-bioprinting of VIC might enable the development of novel tissue engineered cellular 3D-models to examine mechanisms involved in initiation and progression of CAVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Benjamin Immohr
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabió Dos Santos Adrego
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Helena Lauren Teichert
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Vera Schmidt
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Yukiharu Sugimura
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bauer
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mareike Barth
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Artur Lichtenberg
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,CARID-Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Payam Akhyari
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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10
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Bramsen JA, Alber BR, Mendoza M, Murray BT, Chen MH, Huang P, Mahler GJ. Glycosaminoglycans affect endothelial to mesenchymal transformation, proliferation, and calcification in a 3D model of aortic valve disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:975732. [PMID: 36247482 PMCID: PMC9558823 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.975732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcific nodules form in the fibrosa layer of the aortic valve in calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are normally found in the valve spongiosa, are located local to calcific nodules. Previous work suggests that GAGs induce endothelial to mesenchymal transformation (EndMT), a phenomenon described by endothelial cells’ loss of the endothelial markers, gaining of migratory properties, and expression of mesenchymal markers such as alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). EndMT is known to play roles in valvulogenesis and may provide a source of activated fibroblast with a potential role in CAVD progression. In this study, a 3D collagen hydrogel co-culture model of the aortic valve fibrosa was created to study the role of EndMT-derived activated valvular interstitial cell behavior in CAVD progression. Porcine aortic valve interstitial cells (PAVIC) and porcine aortic valve endothelial cells (PAVEC) were cultured within collagen I hydrogels containing the GAGs chondroitin sulfate (CS) or hyaluronic acid (HA). The model was used to study alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activity, cellular proliferation and matrix invasion, protein expression, and calcific nodule formation of the resident cell populations. CS and HA were found to alter ALP activity and increase cell proliferation. CS increased the formation of calcified nodules without the addition of osteogenic culture medium. This model has applications in the improvement of bioprosthetic valves by making replacements more micro-compositionally dynamic, as well as providing a platform for testing new pharmaceutical treatments of CAVD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bridget R. Alber
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Melissa Mendoza
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Bruce T. Murray
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Mei-Hsiu Chen
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Peter Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Gretchen J. Mahler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Gretchen J. Mahler,
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11
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Bogdanova M, Zabirnyk A, Malashicheva A, Semenova D, Kvitting JPE, Kaljusto ML, Perez MDM, Kostareva A, Stensløkken KO, Sullivan GJ, Rutkovskiy A, Vaage J. Models and Techniques to Study Aortic Valve Calcification in Vitro, ex Vivo and in Vivo. An Overview. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:835825. [PMID: 35721220 PMCID: PMC9203042 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.835825] [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: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aortic valve stenosis secondary to aortic valve calcification is the most common valve disease in the Western world. Calcification is a result of pathological proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of resident valve interstitial cells. To develop non-surgical treatments, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathological calcification must be revealed. In the current overview, we present methods for evaluation of calcification in different ex vivo, in vitro and in vivo situations including imaging in patients. The latter include echocardiography, scanning with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Particular emphasis is on translational studies of calcific aortic valve stenosis with a special focus on cell culture using human primary cell cultures. Such models are widely used and suitable for screening of drugs against calcification. Animal models are presented, but there is no animal model that faithfully mimics human calcific aortic valve disease. A model of experimentally induced calcification in whole porcine aortic valve leaflets ex vivo is also included. Finally, miscellaneous methods and aspects of aortic valve calcification, such as, for instance, biomarkers are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bogdanova
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arsenii Zabirnyk
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Malashicheva
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Daria Semenova
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Mari-Liis Kaljusto
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Anna Kostareva
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Saint Petersburg, Russia.,Department of Woman and Children Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kåre-Olav Stensløkken
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gareth J Sullivan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian Center for Stem Cell Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pediatric Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arkady Rutkovskiy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jarle Vaage
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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12
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VCAM-1 Targeted Lipopolyplexes as Vehicles for Efficient Delivery of shRNA-Runx2 to Osteoblast-Differentiated Valvular Interstitial Cells; Implications in Calcific Valve Disease Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073824. [PMID: 35409184 PMCID: PMC8998716 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073824] [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: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a progressive inflammatory disorder characterized by extracellular matrix remodeling and valvular interstitial cells (VIC) osteodifferentiation leading to valve leaflets calcification and impairment movement. Runx2, the master transcription factor involved in VIC osteodifferentiation, modulates the expression of other osteogenic molecules. Previously, we have demonstrated that the osteoblastic phenotypic shift of cultured VIC is impeded by Runx2 silencing using fullerene (C60)-polyethyleneimine (PEI)/short hairpin (sh)RNA-Runx2 (shRunx2) polyplexes. Since the use of polyplexes for in vivo delivery is limited by their instability in the plasma and the non-specific tissue interactions, we designed and obtained targeted, lipid-enveloped polyplexes (lipopolyplexes) suitable for (1) systemic administration and (2) targeted delivery of shRunx2 to osteoblast-differentiated VIC (oVIC). Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expressed on the surface of oVIC was used as a target, and a peptide with high affinity for VCAM-1 was coupled to the surface of lipopolyplexes encapsulating C60-PEI/shRunx2 (V-LPP/shRunx2). We report here that V-LPP/shRunx2 lipopolyplexes are cyto- and hemo-compatible and specifically taken up by oVIC. These lipopolyplexes are functional as they downregulate the Runx2 gene and protein expression, and their uptake leads to a significant decrease in the expression of osteogenic molecules (OSP, BSP, BMP-2). These results identify V-LPP/shRunx2 as a new, appropriately directed vehicle that could be instrumental in developing novel strategies for blocking the progression of CAVD using a targeted nanomedicine approach.
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13
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Dayawansa NH, Baratchi S, Peter K. Uncoupling the Vicious Cycle of Mechanical Stress and Inflammation in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:783543. [PMID: 35355968 PMCID: PMC8959593 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.783543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a common acquired valvulopathy, which carries a high burden of mortality. Chronic inflammation has been postulated as the predominant pathophysiological process underlying CAVD. So far, no effective medical therapies exist to halt the progression of CAVD. This review aims to outline the known pathways of inflammation and calcification in CAVD, focussing on the critical roles of mechanical stress and mechanosensing in the perpetuation of valvular inflammation. Following initiation of valvular inflammation, dysregulation of proinflammatory and osteoregulatory signalling pathways stimulates endothelial-mesenchymal transition of valvular endothelial cells (VECs) and differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) into active myofibroblastic and osteoblastic phenotypes, which in turn mediate valvular extracellular matrix remodelling and calcification. Mechanosensitive signalling pathways convert mechanical forces experienced by valve leaflets and circulating cells into biochemical signals and may provide the positive feedback loop that promotes acceleration of disease progression in the advanced stages of CAVD. Mechanosensing is implicated in multiple aspects of CAVD pathophysiology. The mechanosensitive RhoA/ROCK and YAP/TAZ systems are implicated in aortic valve leaflet mineralisation in response to increased substrate stiffness. Exposure of aortic valve leaflets, endothelial cells and platelets to high shear stress results in increased expression of mediators of VIC differentiation. Upregulation of the Piezo1 mechanoreceptor has been demonstrated to promote inflammation in CAVD, which normalises following transcatheter valve replacement. Genetic variants and inhibition of Notch signalling accentuate VIC responses to altered mechanical stresses. The study of mechanosensing pathways has revealed promising insights into the mechanisms that perpetuate inflammation and calcification in CAVD. Mechanotransduction of altered mechanical stresses may provide the sought-after coupling link that drives a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation in CAVD. Mechanosensing pathways may yield promising targets for therapeutic interventions and prognostic biomarkers with the potential to improve the management of CAVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalin H. Dayawansa
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Cardiology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sara Baratchi
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Karlheinz Peter
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Cardiology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Karlheinz Peter,
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14
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Ustriyana P, Hennefarth MR, Srirangapatanam S, Jung H, Wang Y, Chen L, Lue TF, Lin G, Kang M, Stoller ML, Ho SP. Mineralized Peyronie's plaque has a phenotypic resemblance to bone. Acta Biomater 2022; 140:457-466. [PMID: 34818578 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Mineralized Peyronie's plaque (MPP) impairs penile function. The association, colocalization, and dynamic interplay between organic and inorganic constituents can provide insights into biomineralization of Peyronie's plaque. Human MPPs (n = 11) were surgically excised, and the organic and inorganic constituents were spatially mapped using multiple high-resolution imaging techniques. Multiscale image analyses resulted in spatial colocalization of elements within a highly porous material with heterogenous composition, lamellae, and osteocytic lacuna-like features with a morphological resemblance to bone. The lower (520 ± 179 mg/cc) and higher (1024 ± 155 mg/cc) mineral density regions were associated with higher (11%) and lower (7%) porosities in MPP. Energy dispersive X-ray and micro-X-ray fluorescent spectroscopic maps in the higher mineral density regions of MPP revealed higher counts of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), and a Ca/P ratio of 1.48 ± 0.06 similar to bone. More importantly, higher counts of zinc (Zn) were localized at the interface between softer (more organic to inorganic ratio) and harder (less organic to inorganic ratio) tissue regions of MPP and adjacent softer matrix, indicating the involvement of Zn-related proteins and/or pathways in the formation of MPP. In particular, dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1) was colocalized in a matrix rich in proteoglycans and collagen that contained osteocytic lacuna-like features. This combined materials science and biochemical with correlative microspectroscopic approach provided insights into the plausible cellular and biochemical pathways that incite mineralization of an existing fibrous Peyronie's plaque. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Aberrant human penile mineralization is known as mineralized Peyronie's plaque (MPP) and often results in a loss of form and function. This study focuses on investigating the spatial association of matrix proteins and elemental composition of MPP by colocalizing calcium, phosphorus, and trace metal zinc with dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1), acidic proteoglycans, and fibrillar collagen along with the cellular components using high resolution correlative microspectroscopy techniques. Spatial maps provided insights into cellular and biochemical pathways that incite mineralization of fibrous Peyronie's plaque in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Putu Ustriyana
- Division of Preclinical Education, Biomaterials & Engineering, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Matthew R Hennefarth
- Division of Preclinical Education, Biomaterials & Engineering, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Sudarshan Srirangapatanam
- Division of Preclinical Education, Biomaterials & Engineering, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Haeyoon Jung
- Division of Preclinical Education, Biomaterials & Engineering, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Yongmei Wang
- Division of Preclinical Education, Biomaterials & Engineering, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ling Chen
- Division of Preclinical Education, Biomaterials & Engineering, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Tom F Lue
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Guiting Lin
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Misun Kang
- Division of Preclinical Education, Biomaterials & Engineering, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Marshall L Stoller
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Sunita P Ho
- Division of Preclinical Education, Biomaterials & Engineering, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States.
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15
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van der Ven CFT, Tibbitt MW, Conde J, van Mil A, Hjortnaes J, Doevendans PA, Sluijter JPG, Aikawa E, Langer RS. Controlled delivery of gold nanoparticle-coupled miRNA therapeutics via an injectable self-healing hydrogel. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:20451-20461. [PMID: 34817483 PMCID: PMC8675028 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04973a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Differential expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays a role in many diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Potentially, miRNAs could be targeted with miRNA-therapeutics. Sustained delivery of these therapeutics remains challenging. This study couples miR-mimics to PEG-peptide gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and loads these AuNP-miRNAs in an injectable, shear thinning, self-assembling polymer nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogel drug delivery platform to improve delivery. Spherical AuNPs coated with fluorescently labelled miR-214 are loaded into an HPMC-PEG-b-PLA PNP hydrogel. Release of AuNP/miRNAs is quantified, AuNP-miR-214 functionality is shown in vitro in HEK293 cells, and AuNP-miRNAs are tracked in a 3D bioprinted human model of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Lastly, biodistribution of PNP-AuNP-miR-67 is assessed after subcutaneous injection in C57BL/6 mice. AuNP-miRNA release from the PNP hydrogel in vitro demonstrates a linear pattern over 5 days up to 20%. AuNP-miR-214 transfection in HEK293 results in 33% decrease of Luciferase reporter activity. In the CAVD model, AuNP-miR-214 are tracked into the cytoplasm of human aortic valve interstitial cells. Lastly, 11 days after subcutaneous injection, AuNP-miR-67 predominantly clears via the liver and kidneys, and fluorescence levels are again comparable to control animals. Thus, the PNP-AuNP-miRNA drug delivery platform provides linear release of functional miRNAs in vitro and has potential for in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casper F T van der Ven
- Regenerative Medicine Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Circulatory Health Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Center of Excellence in Cardiovascular Biology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Woman's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston 02115, MA, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge 02142, MA, USA
| | - Mark W Tibbitt
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge 02142, MA, USA
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - João Conde
- NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, Genetics, Oncology and Human Toxicology, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Alain van Mil
- Regenerative Medicine Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Circulatory Health Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Heart Institute, Moreelsepark 1, 3511 EP Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jesper Hjortnaes
- Regenerative Medicine Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Circulatory Health Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter A Doevendans
- Department of Cardiology, Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Circulatory Health Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Heart Institute, Moreelsepark 1, 3511 EP Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joost P G Sluijter
- Regenerative Medicine Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Circulatory Health Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elena Aikawa
- Center of Excellence in Cardiovascular Biology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Woman's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston 02115, MA, USA
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston 02115, MA, USA.
| | - Robert S Langer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge 02142, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 25 Ames Street, Cambridge 02142, MA, USA.
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16
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Kraler S, Blaser MC, Aikawa E, Camici GG, Lüscher TF. Calcific aortic valve disease: from molecular and cellular mechanisms to medical therapy. Eur Heart J 2021; 43:683-697. [PMID: 34849696 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a highly prevalent condition that comprises a disease continuum, ranging from microscopic changes to profound fibro-calcific leaflet remodelling, culminating in aortic stenosis, heart failure, and ultimately premature death. Traditional risk factors, such as hypercholesterolaemia and (systolic) hypertension, are shared among atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and CAVD, yet the molecular and cellular mechanisms differ markedly. Statin-induced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering, a remedy highly effective for secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, consistently failed to impact CAVD progression or to improve patient outcomes. However, recently completed phase II trials provide hope that pharmaceutical tactics directed at other targets implicated in CAVD pathogenesis offer an avenue to alter the course of the disease non-invasively. Herein, we delineate key players of CAVD pathobiology, outline mechanisms that entail compromised endothelial barrier function, and promote lipid homing, immune-cell infiltration, and deranged phospho-calcium metabolism that collectively perpetuate a pro-inflammatory/pro-osteogenic milieu in which valvular interstitial cells increasingly adopt myofibro-/osteoblast-like properties, thereby fostering fibro-calcific leaflet remodelling and eventually resulting in left ventricular outflow obstruction. We provide a glimpse into the most promising targets on the horizon, including lipoprotein(a), mineral-binding matrix Gla protein, soluble guanylate cyclase, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 as well as candidates involved in regulating phospho-calcium metabolism and valvular angiotensin II synthesis and ultimately discuss their potential for a future therapy of this insidious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Kraler
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland.,University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mark C Blaser
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elena Aikawa
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Ave Louis Pasteur, NRB7, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Giovanni G Camici
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland.,University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Research and Education, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas F Lüscher
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland.,Heart Division, Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NP, UK.,National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Guy Scadding Building, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK
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17
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Meerman M, Driessen R, van Engeland NCA, Bergsma I, Steenhuijsen JLG, Kozono D, Aikawa E, Hjortnaes J, Bouten CVC. Radiation Induces Valvular Interstitial Cell Calcific Response in an in vitro Model of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:687885. [PMID: 34527708 PMCID: PMC8435633 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.687885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Mediastinal ionizing radiotherapy is associated with an increased risk of valvular disease, which demonstrates pathological hallmarks similar to calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Despite advances in radiotherapy techniques, the prevalence of comorbidities such as radiation-associated valvular disease is still increasing due to improved survival of patients receiving radiotherapy. However, the mechanisms of radiation-associated valvular disease are largely unknown. CAVD is considered to be an actively regulated disease process, mainly controlled by valvular interstitial cells (VICs). We hypothesize that radiation exposure catalyzes the calcific response of VICs and, therefore, contributes to the development of radiation-associated valvular disease. Methods and Results: To delineate the relationship between radiation and VIC behavior (morphology, calcification, and matrix turnover), two different in vitro models were established: (1) VICs were cultured two-dimensional (2D) on coverslips in control medium (CM) or osteogenic medium (OM) and irradiated with 0, 2, 4, 8, or 16 Gray (Gy); and (2) three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel system was designed, loaded with VICs and exposed to 0, 4, or 16 Gy of radiation. In both models, a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability and proliferation was observed in CM and OM. Radiation exposure caused myofibroblast-like morphological changes and differentiation of VICs, as characterized by decreased αSMA expression. Calcification, as defined by increased alkaline phosphatase activity, was mostly present in the 2D irradiated VICs exposed to 4 Gy, while after exposure to higher doses VICs acquired a unique giant fibroblast-like cell morphology. Finally, matrix turnover was significantly affected by radiation exposure in the 3D irradiated VICs, as shown by decreased collagen staining and increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Conclusions: The presented work demonstrates that radiation exposure enhances the calcific response in VICs, a hallmark of CAVD. In addition, high radiation exposure induces differentiation of VICs into a terminally differentiated giant-cell fibroblast. Further studies are essential to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these radiation-induced valvular changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Meerman
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart and Lung Division, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Rob Driessen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology (STEM), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Nicole C A van Engeland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology (STEM), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.,Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Molecular Biosciences, Turku, Finland
| | - Irith Bergsma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology (STEM), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | | | - David Kozono
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Elena Aikawa
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jesper Hjortnaes
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart and Lung Division, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Carlijn V C Bouten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology (STEM), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
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18
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Wang X, Deb N, Lacerda CMR. Comparison of Serotonin-Regulated Calcific Processes in Aortic and Mitral Valvular Interstitial Cells. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:19494-19505. [PMID: 34368536 PMCID: PMC8340088 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c01723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Calcification is an important pathological process and a common complication of degenerative valvular heart diseases, with higher incidence in aortic versus mitral valves. Two phenotypes of valvular interstitial cells (VICs), activated VICs and osteoblastic VICs (obVICs), synergistically orchestrate this pathology. It has been demonstrated that serotonin is involved in early stages of myxomatous mitral degeneration, whereas the role of serotonin in calcific aortic valve disease is still unknown. To uncover the link between serotonin and osteogenesis in heart valves, osteogenesis of aortic and mitral VICs was induced in vitro. Actin polymerization and serotonin signaling were inhibited using cytochalasin D and serotonin inhibitors, respectively, to investigate the role of cell activation and serotonin signals in valvular cell osteogenesis. To evaluate calcification progress, calcium and collagen deposits along with the expression of protein markers, including the rate-limiting enzyme of serotonin synthesis [tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1)], were assessed. When exposed to osteogenic culture conditions and grown on soft surfaces, passage zero aortic VICs increased extracellular collagen deposits and obVIC phenotype markers. A more intense osteogenic process was observed in aortic VICs of higher passages, where cells were activated prior to osteogenic induction. For both, TPH1 expression was upregulated as osteogenesis advanced. However, these osteogenic changes were reversed upon serotonin inhibition. This discovery provides a better understanding of signaling pathways regulating VIC phenotype transformation and explains different manifestations of degenerative pathologies. In addition, the discovery of serotonin-based inhibition of valvular calcification will contribute to the development of potential novel therapies for calcific valvular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmei Wang
- Department
of Bioengineering, Shenyang University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110044, China
| | - Nandini Deb
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409-3121, United States
| | - Carla M. R. Lacerda
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409-3121, United States
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19
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Engineering the aortic valve extracellular matrix through stages of development, aging, and disease. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2021; 161:1-8. [PMID: 34339757 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2021.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
For such a thin tissue, the aortic valve possesses an exquisitely complex, multi-layered extracellular matrix (ECM), and disruptions to this structure constitute one of the earliest hallmarks of fibrocalcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). The native valve structure provides a challenging target for engineers to mimic, but the development of advanced, ECM-based scaffolds may enable mechanistic and therapeutic discoveries that are not feasible in other culture or in vivo platforms. This review first discusses the ECM changes that occur during heart valve development, normal aging, onset of early-stage disease, and progression to late-stage disease. We then provide an overview of the bottom-up tissue engineering strategies that have been used to mimic the valvular ECM, and opportunities for advancement in these areas.
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20
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Gonzalez Rodriguez A, Schroeder ME, Grim JC, Walker CJ, Speckl KF, Weiss RM, Anseth KS. Tumor necrosis factor-α promotes and exacerbates calcification in heart valve myofibroblast populations. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21382. [PMID: 33554387 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002013rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Pro-inflammatory cytokines play critical roles in regulating valvular interstitial cell (VIC) phenotypic changes that can cause heart valve fibrosis and calcification. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a cytokine known to influence VIC behavior and has been reported at high levels in calcified valves ex vivo. We sought to understand the specific effects of TNF-α on VIC phenotypes (eg, fibroblast, profibrotic activated myofibroblasts) and its link with heart valve disorders. We characterize human aortic valve tissue from patients with valve disorders and identify a high variability of fibrotic and calcific markers between tissues. These results motivated in vitro studies to explore the effects of TNF-α on defined VIC fibroblasts and profibrotic activated myofibroblasts, induced via FGF-2 and TGF-β1 treatment. Using 3D hydrogels to culture VICs, we measure the effect of TNF-α (0.1-10 ng/mL) on key markers of fibrosis (eg, αSMA, COL1A1) and calcification (eg, RUNX2, BMP2, and calcium deposits). We observe calcification in TNF-α-treated VIC activated myofibroblasts and identify the MAPK/ERK signaling cascade as a potential pathway for TNF-α mediated calcification. Conversely, VIC fibroblasts respond to TNF-α with decreased calcification. Treatment of VIC profibrotic activated myofibroblast populations with TNF-α leads to increased calcification. Our in vitro findings correlate with findings in diseased human valves and highlight the importance of understanding the effect of cytokines and signaling pathways on specific VIC phenotypes. Finally, we reveal MAPK/ERK as a potential pathway involved in VIC-mediated matrix calcification with TNF-α treatment, suggesting this pathway as a potential pharmaceutical target for aortic valve disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gonzalez Rodriguez
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.,BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Megan E Schroeder
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Joseph C Grim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.,BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Cierra J Walker
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kelly F Speckl
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Robert M Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.,BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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21
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Ma N, Cheung DY, Butcher JT. Incorporating nanocrystalline cellulose into a multifunctional hydrogel for heart valve tissue engineering applications. J Biomed Mater Res A 2021; 110:76-91. [PMID: 34254733 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Functional tissue engineered heart valves (TEHV) have been an elusive goal for nearly 30 years. Among the persistent challenges are the requirements for engineered valve leaflets that possess nonlinear elastic tissue biomechanical properties, support quiescent fibroblast phenotype, and resist osteogenic differentiation. Nanocellulose is an attractive tunable biological material that has not been employed to this application. In this study, we fabricated a series of photocrosslinkable composite hydrogels mNCC-MeGel (mNG) by conjugating TEMPO-modified nanocrystalline cellulose (mNCC) onto the backbone of methacrylated gelatin (MeGel). Their structures were characterized by FTIR, 1 HNMR and uniaxial compression testing. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HADMSC) were encapsulated within the material and evaluated for valve interstitial cell phenotypes over 14 days culture in both normal and osteogenic media. Compared to the MeGel control group, the HADMSC encapsulated within mNG showed decreased alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression and increased vimentin and aggrecan expression, suggesting the material supports a quiescent fibroblastic phenotype. Under osteogenic media conditions, HADMSC within mNG hydrogels showed lower expression of osteogenic genes, including Runx2 and osteocalcin, indicating resistance toward calcification. As a proof of principle, the mNG hydrogel, combined with a viscosity enhancing agent, was used to 3D bioprint a tall, self-standing tubular structure that sustained cell viability. Together, these results identify mNG as an attractive biomaterial for TEHV applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nianfang Ma
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.,Institute of Bioengineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Biomaterials, Guangzhou, China
| | - Daniel Y Cheung
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Jonathan T Butcher
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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22
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Hutcheson JD, Schlotter F, Creager MD, Li X, Pham T, Vyas P, Higashi H, Body SC, Aikawa M, Singh SA, Kos L, Aikawa E. Elastogenesis Correlates With Pigment Production in Murine Aortic Valve Leaflets. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:678401. [PMID: 34239903 PMCID: PMC8257952 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.678401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Aortic valve (AV) leaflets rely on a precise extracellular matrix (ECM) microarchitecture for appropriate biomechanical performance. The ECM structure is maintained by valvular interstitial cells (VICs), which reside within the leaflets. The presence of pigment produced by a melanocytic population of VICs in mice with dark coats has been generally regarded as a nuisance, as it interferes with histological analysis of the AV leaflets. However, our previous studies have shown that the presence of pigment correlates with increased mechanical stiffness within the leaflets as measured by nanoindentation analyses. In the current study, we seek to better characterize the phenotype of understudied melanocytic VICs, explore the role of these VICs in ECM patterning, and assess the presence of these VICs in human aortic valve tissues. Approach and Results: Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry revealed that melanocytes within murine AV leaflets express phenotypic markers of either neuronal or glial cells. These VIC subpopulations exhibited regional patterns that corresponded to the distribution of elastin and glycosaminoglycan ECM proteins, respectively. VICs with neuronal and glial phenotypes were also found in human AV leaflets and showed ECM associations similar to those observed in murine leaflets. A subset of VICs within human AV leaflets also expressed dopachrome tautomerase, a common melanocyte marker. A spontaneous mouse mutant with no aortic valve pigmentation lacked elastic fibers and had reduced elastin gene expression within AV leaflets. A hyperpigmented transgenic mouse exhibited increased AV leaflet elastic fibers and elastin gene expression. Conclusions: Melanocytic VIC subpopulations appear critical for appropriate elastogenesis in mouse AVs, providing new insight into the regulation of AV ECM homeostasis. The identification of a similar VIC population in human AVs suggests conservation across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Hutcheson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Florian Schlotter
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Heart Center Leipzig at Leipzig University, Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael D. Creager
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Xiaoshuang Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Tan Pham
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Payal Vyas
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hideyuki Higashi
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Simon C. Body
- Center for Perioperative Genomics, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Masanori Aikawa
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sasha A. Singh
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lidia Kos
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Elena Aikawa
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Human Pathology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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23
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Büttner P, Feistner L, Lurz P, Thiele H, Hutcheson JD, Schlotter F. Dissecting Calcific Aortic Valve Disease-The Role, Etiology, and Drivers of Valvular Fibrosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:660797. [PMID: 34041283 PMCID: PMC8143377 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.660797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a highly prevalent and progressive disorder that ultimately causes gradual narrowing of the left ventricular outflow orifice with ensuing devastating hemodynamic effects on the heart. Calcific mineral accumulation is the hallmark pathology defining this process; however, fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling that leads to extensive deposition of fibrous connective tissue and distortion of the valvular microarchitecture similarly has major biomechanical and functional consequences for heart valve function. Significant advances have been made to unravel the complex mechanisms that govern these active, cell-mediated processes, yet the interplay between fibrosis and calcification and the individual contribution to progressive extracellular matrix stiffening require further clarification. Specifically, we discuss (1) the valvular biomechanics and layered ECM composition, (2) patterns in the cellular contribution, temporal onset, and risk factors for valvular fibrosis, (3) imaging valvular fibrosis, (4) biomechanical implications of valvular fibrosis, and (5) molecular mechanisms promoting fibrotic tissue remodeling and the possibility of reverse remodeling. This review explores our current understanding of the cellular and molecular drivers of fibrogenesis and the pathophysiological role of fibrosis in CAVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Büttner
- Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lukas Feistner
- Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Philipp Lurz
- Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Holger Thiele
- Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joshua D. Hutcheson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Florian Schlotter
- Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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24
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Driscoll K, Cruz AD, Butcher JT. Inflammatory and Biomechanical Drivers of Endothelial-Interstitial Interactions in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease. Circ Res 2021; 128:1344-1370. [PMID: 33914601 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.318011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease is dramatically increasing in global burden, yet no therapy exists outside of prosthetic replacement. The increasing proportion of younger and more active patients mandates alternative therapies. Studies suggest a window of opportunity for biologically based diagnostics and therapeutics to alleviate or delay calcific aortic valve disease progression. Advancement, however, has been hampered by limited understanding of the complex mechanisms driving calcific aortic valve disease initiation and progression towards clinically relevant interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander D Cruz
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
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25
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Iop L. Toward the Effective Bioengineering of a Pathological Tissue for Cardiovascular Disease Modeling: Old Strategies and New Frontiers for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Therapy. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 7:591583. [PMID: 33748193 PMCID: PMC7969521 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.591583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) still represent the primary cause of mortality worldwide. Preclinical modeling by recapitulating human pathophysiology is fundamental to advance the comprehension of these diseases and propose effective strategies for their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In silico, in vivo, and in vitro models have been applied to dissect many cardiovascular pathologies. Computational and bioinformatic simulations allow developing algorithmic disease models considering all known variables and severity degrees of disease. In vivo studies based on small or large animals have a long tradition and largely contribute to the current treatment and management of CVDs. In vitro investigation with two-dimensional cell culture demonstrates its suitability to analyze the behavior of single, diseased cellular types. The introduction of induced pluripotent stem cell technology and the application of bioengineering principles raised the bar toward in vitro three-dimensional modeling by enabling the development of pathological tissue equivalents. This review article intends to describe the advantages and disadvantages of past and present modeling approaches applied to provide insights on some of the most relevant congenital and acquired CVDs, such as rhythm disturbances, bicuspid aortic valve, cardiac infections and autoimmunity, cardiovascular fibrosis, atherosclerosis, and calcific aortic valve stenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Iop
- Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy
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26
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Iqbal F, Lupieri A, Aikawa M, Aikawa E. Harnessing Single-Cell RNA Sequencing to Better Understand How Diseased Cells Behave the Way They Do in Cardiovascular Disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2021; 41:585-600. [PMID: 33327741 PMCID: PMC8105278 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.120.314776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The transition of healthy arteries and cardiac valves into dense, cell-rich, calcified, and fibrotic tissues is driven by a complex interplay of both cellular and molecular mechanisms. Specific cell types in these cardiovascular tissues become activated following the exposure to systemic stimuli including circulating lipoproteins or inflammatory mediators. This activation induces multiple cascades of events where changes in cell phenotypes and activation of certain receptors may trigger multiple pathways and specific alterations to the transcriptome. Modifications to the transcriptome and proteome can give rise to pathological cell phenotypes and trigger mechanisms that exacerbate inflammation, proliferation, calcification, and recruitment of resident or distant cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that each cell type involved in vascular and valvular diseases is heterogeneous. Single-cell RNA sequencing is a transforming medical research tool that enables the profiling of the unique fingerprints at single-cell levels. Its applications have allowed the construction of cell atlases including the mammalian heart and tissue vasculature and the discovery of new cell types implicated in cardiovascular disease. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing have facilitated the identification of novel resident cell populations that become activated during disease and has allowed tracing the transition of healthy cells into pathological phenotypes. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing has permitted the characterization of heterogeneous cell subpopulations with unique genetic profiles in healthy and pathological cardiovascular tissues. In this review, we highlight the latest groundbreaking research that has improved our understanding of the pathological mechanisms of atherosclerosis and future directions for calcific aortic valve disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farwah Iqbal
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Adrien Lupieri
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Masanori Aikawa
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Elena Aikawa
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Human Pathology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119992, Russia
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27
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Gee TW, Richards JM, Mahmut A, Butcher JT. Valve endothelial-interstitial interactions drive emergent complex calcific lesion formation in vitro. Biomaterials 2021; 269:120669. [PMID: 33482604 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is an actively regulated degenerative disease process. Clinical lesions exhibit marked 3D complexity not represented in current in vitro systems. We here present a unique mechanically stressed 3D culture system that recapitulates valve interstitial cell (VIC) induced matrix calcification through myofibroblastic activation and osteoblastic differentiation. We test the hypothesis that valve endothelial (VEC) - interstitial collaborative interactions modulate the risk and complexity of calcific pathogenesis within mechanically stressed and pro-inflammatory environments. APPROACH AND RESULTS Porcine aortic valve endothelial and interstitial cells (VEC and VIC) were seeded in a mechanically constrained collagen hydrogels alone or in co-culture configurations. Raised 3D VIC-filled lesions formed within 7 days when cultured in osteogenic media (OGM), and surprisingly exacerbated by endothelial coculture. We identified a spatially coordinated pro-endochondral vs. pro-osteogenic signaling program within the lesion. VEC underwent Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transformation (EndMT) and populated the lesion center. The spatial complexity of molecular and cellular signatures of this 3D in vitro CAVD system were consistent with human diseased aortic valve histology. SNAI1 was highly expressed in the VEC and subendothelial direct VIC corroborates with human CAVD lesions. Spatial distribution of Sox9 vs. Runx2 expression within the developed lesions (Sox9 peri-lesion vs. Runx2 predominantly within lesions) mirrored their expression in heavily calcified human aortic valves. Finally, we demonstrate the applicability of this platform for screening potential pharmacologic therapies through blocking the canonical NFκB pathway via BAY 11-7082. CONCLUSIONS Our results establish that VEC actively induce VIC pathological remodeling and calcification via EndMT and paracrine signaling. This mechanically constrained culture platform enables the interrogation of accelerated cell-mediated matrix remodeling behavior underpinned by this cellular feedback circuit. The high fidelity of this complex 3D model system to human CAVD mechanisms supports its use to test mechanisms of intercellular communication in valves and their pharmacological control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terence W Gee
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Jennifer M Richards
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Ablajan Mahmut
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Jonathan T Butcher
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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Schroeder ME, Gonzalez Rodriguez A, Speckl KF, Walker CJ, Midekssa FS, Grim JC, Weiss RM, Anseth KS. Collagen networks within 3D PEG hydrogels support valvular interstitial cell matrix mineralization. Acta Biomater 2021; 119:197-210. [PMID: 33181362 PMCID: PMC7738375 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Enzymatically degradable hydrogels were designed for the 3D culture of valvular interstitial cells (VICs), and through the incorporation of various functionalities, we aimed to investigate the role of the tissue microenvironment in promoting the osteogenic properties of VICs and matrix mineralization. Specifically, porcine VICs were encapsulated in a poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel crosslinked with a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-degradable crosslinker (KCGPQG↓IWGQCK) and formed via a thiol-ene photoclick reaction in the presence or absence of collagen type I to promote matrix mineralization. VIC-laden hydrogels were treated with osteogenic medium for up to 15 days, and the osteogenic response was characterized by the expression of RUNX2 as an early marker of an osteoblast-like phenotype, osteocalcin (OCN) as a marker of a mature osteoblast-like phenotype, and vimentin (VIM) as a marker of the fibroblast phenotype. In addition, matrix mineralization was characterized histologically with Von Kossa stain for calcium phosphate. Osteogenic response was further characterized biochemically with calcium assays, and physically via optical density measurements. When the osteogenic medium was supplemented with calcium chloride, OCN expression was upregulated and mineralization was discernable at 12 days of culture. Finally, this platform was used to screen various drug therapeutics that were assessed for their efficacy in preventing mineralization using optical density as a higher throughput readout. Collectively, these results suggest that matrix composition has a key role in supporting mineralization deposition within diseased valve tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Schroeder
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA; The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA
| | - Andrea Gonzalez Rodriguez
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA; The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA
| | - Kelly F Speckl
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA; The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA
| | - Cierra J Walker
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA; The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA
| | - Firaol S Midekssa
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA
| | - Joseph C Grim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA; The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA
| | - Robert M Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA; The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder CO 80303, USA.
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Wu X, Walsh K, Hoff BL, Camci-Unal G. Mineralization of Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering. Bioengineering (Basel) 2020; 7:E132. [PMID: 33092121 PMCID: PMC7711498 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering7040132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Mineralized biomaterials have been demonstrated to enhance bone regeneration compared to their non-mineralized analogs. As non-mineralized scaffolds do not perform as well as mineralized scaffolds in terms of their mechanical and surface properties, osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity, mineralization strategies are promising methods in the development of functional biomimetic bone scaffolds. In particular, the mineralization of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds has become a promising approach for guided bone regeneration. In this paper, we review the major approaches used for mineralizing tissue engineering constructs. The resulting scaffolds provide minerals chemically similar to the inorganic component of natural bone, carbonated apatite, Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(OH). In addition, we discuss the characterization techniques that are used to characterize the mineralized scaffolds, such as the degree of mineralization, surface characteristics, mechanical properties of the scaffolds, and the chemical composition of the deposited minerals. In vitro cell culture studies show that the mineralized scaffolds are highly osteoinductive. We also summarize, based on literature examples, the applications of 3D mineralized constructs, as well as the rationale behind their use. The mineralized scaffolds have improved bone regeneration in animal models due to the enhanced mechanical properties and cell recruitment capability making them a preferable option for bone tissue engineering over non-mineralized scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinchen Wu
- Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology Program, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA;
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA; (K.W.); (B.L.H.)
| | - Kierra Walsh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA; (K.W.); (B.L.H.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Brianna L. Hoff
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA; (K.W.); (B.L.H.)
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Gulden Camci-Unal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA; (K.W.); (B.L.H.)
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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Harnessing Mechanosensation in Next Generation Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10101419. [PMID: 33036467 PMCID: PMC7599461 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of the cells to sense mechanical cues is an integral component of ”social” cell behavior inside tissues with a complex architecture. Through ”mechanosensation” cells are in fact able to decrypt motion, geometries and physical information of surrounding cells and extracellular matrices by activating intracellular pathways converging onto gene expression circuitries controlling cell and tissue homeostasis. Additionally, only recently cell mechanosensation has been integrated systematically as a crucial element in tissue pathophysiology. In the present review, we highlight some of the current efforts to assess the relevance of mechanical sensing into pathology modeling and manufacturing criteria for a next generation of cardiovascular tissue implants.
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31
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Grim JC, Aguado BA, Vogt BJ, Batan D, Andrichik CL, Schroeder ME, Gonzalez-Rodriguez A, Yavitt FM, Weiss RM, Anseth KS. Secreted Factors From Proinflammatory Macrophages Promote an Osteoblast-Like Phenotype in Valvular Interstitial Cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020; 40:e296-e308. [PMID: 32938214 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.120.315261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Resident valvular interstitial cells (VICs) activate to myofibroblasts during aortic valve stenosis progression, which further promotes fibrosis or even differentiate into osteoblast-like cells that can lead to calcification of valve tissue. Inflammation is a hallmark of aortic valve stenosis, so we aimed to determine proinflammatory cytokines secreted from M1 macrophages that give rise to a transient VIC phenotype that leads to calcification of valve tissue. Approach and Results: We designed hydrogel biomaterials as valve extracellular matrix mimics enabling the culture of VICs in either their quiescent fibroblast or activated myofibroblast phenotype in response to the local matrix stiffness. When VIC fibroblasts and myofibroblasts were treated with conditioned media from THP-1-derived M1 macrophages, we observed robust reduction of αSMA (alpha smooth muscle actin) expression, reduced stress fiber formation, and increased proliferation, suggesting a potent antifibrotic effect. We further identified TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α and IL (interleukin)-1β as 2 cytokines in M1 media that cause the observed antifibrotic effect. After 7 days of culture in M1 conditioned media, VICs began differentiating into osteoblast-like cells, as measured by increased expression of RUNX2 (runt-related transcription factor 2) and osteopontin. We also identified and validated IL-6 as a critical mediator of the observed pro-osteogenic effect. CONCLUSIONS Proinflammatory cytokines in M1 conditioned media inhibit myofibroblast activation in VICs (eg, TNF-α and IL-1β) and promote their osteogenic differentiation (eg, IL-6). Together, our work suggests inflammatory M1 macrophages may drive a myofibroblast-to-osteogenic intermediate VIC phenotype, which may mediate the switch from fibrosis to calcification during aortic valve stenosis progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph C Grim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (J.C.G., B.A.A., B.J.V., C.L.A., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder.,BioFrontiers Institute (J.C.G., B.A.A., D.B., M.E.S., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder
| | - Brian A Aguado
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (J.C.G., B.A.A., B.J.V., C.L.A., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder.,BioFrontiers Institute (J.C.G., B.A.A., D.B., M.E.S., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder
| | - Brandon J Vogt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (J.C.G., B.A.A., B.J.V., C.L.A., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder
| | - Dilara Batan
- BioFrontiers Institute (J.C.G., B.A.A., D.B., M.E.S., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder.,Division of Biochemistry (D.B.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder
| | - Cassidy L Andrichik
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (J.C.G., B.A.A., B.J.V., C.L.A., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder
| | - Megan E Schroeder
- BioFrontiers Institute (J.C.G., B.A.A., D.B., M.E.S., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder.,Materials Science and Engineering Program (M.E.S., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder
| | - Andrea Gonzalez-Rodriguez
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (J.C.G., B.A.A., B.J.V., C.L.A., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder.,BioFrontiers Institute (J.C.G., B.A.A., D.B., M.E.S., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder
| | - F Max Yavitt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (J.C.G., B.A.A., B.J.V., C.L.A., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder.,BioFrontiers Institute (J.C.G., B.A.A., D.B., M.E.S., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder
| | - Robert M Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City (R.M.W.)
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (J.C.G., B.A.A., B.J.V., C.L.A., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder.,BioFrontiers Institute (J.C.G., B.A.A., D.B., M.E.S., A.G.-R., F.M.Y., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder.,Materials Science and Engineering Program (M.E.S., K.S.A.), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder
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32
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Aguado BA, Schuetze KB, Grim JC, Walker CJ, Cox AC, Ceccato TL, Tan AC, Sucharov CC, Leinwand LA, Taylor MRG, McKinsey TA, Anseth KS. Transcatheter aortic valve replacements alter circulating serum factors to mediate myofibroblast deactivation. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/509/eaav3233. [PMID: 31511425 PMCID: PMC6754739 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aav3233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment for patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS). However, alterations in serum factor composition and biological activity after TAVR remain unknown. Here, we quantified the systemic inflammatory effects of the TAVR procedure and hypothesized that alterations in serum factor composition would modulate valve and cardiac fibrosis. Serum samples were obtained from patients with AVS immediately before their TAVR procedure (pre-TAVR) and about 1 month afterward (post-TAVR). Aptamer-based proteomic profiling revealed alterations in post-TAVR serum composition, and ontological analysis identified inflammatory macrophage factors implicated in myofibroblast activation and deactivation. Hydrogel biomaterials used as valve matrix mimics demonstrated that post-TAVR serum reduced myofibroblast activation of valvular interstitial cells relative to pre-TAVR serum from the same patient. Transcriptomics and curated network analysis revealed a shift in myofibroblast phenotype from pre-TAVR to post-TAVR and identified p38 MAPK signaling as one pathway involved in pre-TAVR–mediated myofibroblast activation. Post-TAVR serum deactivated valve and cardiac myofibroblasts initially exposed to pre-TAVR serum to a quiescent fibroblast phenotype. Our in vitro deactivation data correlated with patient disease severity measured via echocardiography and multimorbidity scores, and correlations were dependent on hydrogel stiffness. Sex differences in cellular responses to male and female sera were also observed and may corroborate clinical observations regarding sex-specific TAVR outcomes. Together, alterations in serum composition after TAVR may lead to an antifibrotic fibroblast phenotype, which suggests earlier interventions may be beneficial for patients with advanced AVS to prevent further disease progression. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement alters a patient’s serum proteome, reversing valvular interstitial cell and cardiac myofibroblast activation. Aortic valve stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) contributes to inadequate blood flow, fibrosis, hypertrophy, and, ultimately, heart failure. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) improves blood flow, but little is known about cardiac remodeling after the procedure. Aguado and colleagues performed proteomics on serum samples collected from patients before and after TAVR and studied the effects of serum on valve and cardiac cells using hydrogel culture platforms. A role for p38 MAPK signaling in activating cells was identified using pre-TAVR serum, whereas post-TAVR serum returned cells to a quiescent state. Along with preliminary insights into sex-specific differences, the authors’ research supports a role for TAVR-induced alteration of circulating inflammatory cytokines in regulating valve cell phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A Aguado
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.,BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Katherine B Schuetze
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Joseph C Grim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.,BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Cierra J Walker
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Anne C Cox
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Tova L Ceccato
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Aik-Choon Tan
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Carmen C Sucharov
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Leslie A Leinwand
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Matthew R G Taylor
- Department of Medicine, Adult Clinical Genetics, University of Colorado Health Science Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Timothy A McKinsey
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. .,Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA. .,BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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33
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Voicu G, Rebleanu D, Constantinescu CA, Fuior EV, Ciortan L, Droc I, Uritu CM, Pinteala M, Manduteanu I, Simionescu M, Calin M. Nano-Polyplexes Mediated Transfection of Runx2-shRNA Mitigates the Osteodifferentiation of Human Valvular Interstitial Cells. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12060507. [PMID: 32498305 PMCID: PMC7355966 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12060507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a progressive disorder that increases in prevalence with age. An important role in aortic valve calcification is played by valvular interstitial cells (VIC), that with age or in pathological conditions acquire an osteoblast-like phenotype that advances the disease. Therefore, pharmacological interventions aiming to stop or reverse the osteoblastic transition of VIC may represent a therapeutic option for CAVD. In this study, we aimed at developing a nanotherapeutic strategy able to prevent the phenotypic switch of human aortic VIC into osteoblast-like cells. We hypothesize that nanocarriers designed for silencing the Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) will stop the progress or reverse the osteodifferentiation of human VIC, induced by high glucose concentrations and pro-osteogenic factors. We report here the potential of fullerene (C60)-polyethyleneimine (PEI)/short hairpin (sh)RNA-Runx2 nano-polyplexes to efficiently down-regulate Runx2 mRNA and protein expression leading subsequently to a significant reduction in the expression of osteogenic proteins (i.e. ALP, BSP, OSP and BMP4) in osteoblast-committed VIC. The data suggest that the silencing of Runx2 could represent a novel strategy to impede the osteoblastic phenotypic shift of VIC and the ensuing progress of CAVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geanina Voicu
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” of the Romanian Academy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania; (G.V.); (D.R.); (C.A.C.); (E.V.F.); (L.C.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Daniela Rebleanu
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” of the Romanian Academy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania; (G.V.); (D.R.); (C.A.C.); (E.V.F.); (L.C.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Cristina Ana Constantinescu
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” of the Romanian Academy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania; (G.V.); (D.R.); (C.A.C.); (E.V.F.); (L.C.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Elena Valeria Fuior
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” of the Romanian Academy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania; (G.V.); (D.R.); (C.A.C.); (E.V.F.); (L.C.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Letitia Ciortan
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” of the Romanian Academy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania; (G.V.); (D.R.); (C.A.C.); (E.V.F.); (L.C.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Ionel Droc
- Central Military Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila”, Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, 010825 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Cristina Mariana Uritu
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (C.M.U.); (M.P.)
- Advanced Centre for Research-Development in Experimental Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Mariana Pinteala
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (C.M.U.); (M.P.)
| | - Ileana Manduteanu
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” of the Romanian Academy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania; (G.V.); (D.R.); (C.A.C.); (E.V.F.); (L.C.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Maya Simionescu
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” of the Romanian Academy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania; (G.V.); (D.R.); (C.A.C.); (E.V.F.); (L.C.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Manuela Calin
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” of the Romanian Academy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania; (G.V.); (D.R.); (C.A.C.); (E.V.F.); (L.C.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +40-21-319-45-18
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34
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Wilson RL, Sylvester CB, Wiltz DC, Kumar A, Malik TH, Morrisett JD, Grande-Allen KJ. The Ryanodine Receptor Contributes to the Lysophosphatidylcholine-Induced Mineralization in Valvular Interstitial Cells. Cardiovasc Eng Technol 2020; 11:316-327. [PMID: 32356274 PMCID: PMC10558202 DOI: 10.1007/s13239-020-00463-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fibrocalcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is caused by the deposition of calcific nodules in the aortic valve leaflets, resulting in progressive loss of function that ultimately requires surgical intervention. This process is actively mediated by the resident valvular interstitial cells (VICs), which, in response to oxidized lipids, transition from a quiescent to an osteoblast-like state. The purpose of this study was to examine if the ryanodine receptor, an intracellular calcium channel, could be therapeutically targeted to prevent this phenotypic conversion. METHODS The expression of the ryanodine receptor in porcine aortic VICs was characterized by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Next, the VICs were exposed to lysophosphatidylcholine, an oxidized lipid commonly found in low-density lipoprotein, while the activity of the ryanodine receptor was modulated with ryanodine. The cultures were analyzed for markers of cellular mineralization, alkaline phosphatase activity, proliferation, and apoptosis. RESULTS Porcine aortic VICs predominantly express isoform 3 of the ryanodine receptors, and this protein mediates the cellular response to LPC. Exposure to LPC caused elevated intracellular calcium concentration in VICs, raised levels of alkaline phosphatase activity, and increased calcific nodule formation, but these changes were reversed when the activity of the ryanodine receptor was blocked. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest blocking the activity of the ryanodine receptor can attenuate the valvular mineralization caused by LPC. We conclude that oxidized lipids, such as LPC, play an important role in the development and progression of CAVD and that the ryanodine receptor is a promising target for pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reid L Wilson
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., MS 142, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Christopher B Sylvester
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., MS 142, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Dena C Wiltz
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., MS 142, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Aditya Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., MS 142, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Tahir H Malik
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., MS 142, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Joel D Morrisett
- Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - K Jane Grande-Allen
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., MS 142, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
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35
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Samani S, Bonakdar S, Farzin A, Hadjati J, Azami M. A facile way to synthesize a photocrosslinkable methacrylated chitosan hydrogel for biomedical applications. INT J POLYM MATER PO 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/00914037.2020.1760274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Samani
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ali Farzin
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jamshid Hadjati
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Azami
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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36
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Vadana M, Cecoltan S, Ciortan L, Macarie RD, Tucureanu MM, Mihaila AC, Droc I, Butoi E, Manduteanu I. Molecular mechanisms involved in high glucose-induced valve calcification in a 3D valve model with human valvular cells. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:6350-6361. [PMID: 32307869 PMCID: PMC7294117 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD)—the most common valvular heart disease—is accelerated in diabetes and has no pharmacotherapy. Although it is known that early CAVD is associated with inflammation and osteogenesis, the molecular mechanisms involved in diabetes‐associated CAVD still need to be uncovered. In this context, we have developed a 3D construct based on gelatin populated with human valvular endothelial cells (VEC) and valvular interstitial cells (VIC) and evaluated the effect of high glucose (HG) concentration on osteogenic molecules expression and on calcification mechanisms. First, we characterized the 3D model and assessed VIC remodelling properties at different time‐points. Then, we exposed it to normal glucose (NG) or high glucose (HG) for 7, 14 and 21 days after which the cells were isolated, separated and investigated individually. Our results showed that encapsulated VIC actively remodel the hydrogel, as demonstrated by an increased expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Moreover, exposure of the construct to HG triggered bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and TGF‐β signalling pathways, up‐regulating expression of osteogenic molecules—BMP‐2/‐4, osteocalcin, osteopontin, SMADs and Runt‐related transcription factor (Runx‐2)—and increased calcium deposits in an osteogenic environment. These findings underline the potential of the developed 3D model as a suitable system to investigate the mechanisms of human CAVD and may help to better understand the calcification mechanisms in CAVD associated to diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Vadana
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology 'Nicolae Simionescu', Biopathology and Therapy of Inflammation, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sergiu Cecoltan
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology 'Nicolae Simionescu', Biopathology and Therapy of Inflammation, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Letitia Ciortan
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology 'Nicolae Simionescu', Biopathology and Therapy of Inflammation, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Razvan D Macarie
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology 'Nicolae Simionescu', Biopathology and Therapy of Inflammation, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Monica M Tucureanu
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology 'Nicolae Simionescu', Biopathology and Therapy of Inflammation, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreea C Mihaila
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology 'Nicolae Simionescu', Biopathology and Therapy of Inflammation, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ionel Droc
- Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Central Military Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Elena Butoi
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology 'Nicolae Simionescu', Biopathology and Therapy of Inflammation, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ileana Manduteanu
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology 'Nicolae Simionescu', Biopathology and Therapy of Inflammation, Bucharest, Romania
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37
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Research Models for Studying Vascular Calcification. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062204. [PMID: 32210002 PMCID: PMC7139511 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcification of the vessel wall contributes to high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Vascular calcification (VC) is a systemic disease with multifaceted contributing and inhibiting factors in an actively regulated process. The exact underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated and reliable treatment options are lacking. Due to the complex pathophysiology, various research models exist evaluating different aspects of VC. This review aims to give an overview of the cell and animal models used so far to study the molecular processes of VC. Here, in vitro cell culture models of different origins, ex vivo settings using aortic tissue and various in vivo disease-induced animal models are summarized. They reflect different aspects and depict the (patho)physiologic mechanisms within the VC process.
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38
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Goody PR, Hosen MR, Christmann D, Niepmann ST, Zietzer A, Adam M, Bönner F, Zimmer S, Nickenig G, Jansen F. Aortic Valve Stenosis: From Basic Mechanisms to Novel Therapeutic Targets. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020; 40:885-900. [PMID: 32160774 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.119.313067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aortic valve stenosis is the most prevalent heart valve disease worldwide. Although interventional treatment options have rapidly improved in recent years, symptomatic aortic valve stenosis is still associated with high morbidity and mortality. Calcific aortic valve stenosis is characterized by a progressive fibro-calcific remodeling and thickening of the aortic valve cusps, which subsequently leads to valve obstruction. The underlying pathophysiology is complex and involves endothelial dysfunction, immune cell infiltration, myofibroblastic and osteoblastic differentiation, and, subsequently, calcification. To date, no pharmacotherapy has been established to prevent aortic valve calcification. However, novel promising therapeutic targets have been recently identified. This review summarizes the current knowledge of pathomechanisms involved in aortic valve calcification and points out novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Roger Goody
- From the Heart Center Bonn, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Bonn, Germany (P.R.G., M.R.H., D.C., S.T.N., S.Z., G.N., F.J.)
| | - Mohammed Rabiul Hosen
- From the Heart Center Bonn, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Bonn, Germany (P.R.G., M.R.H., D.C., S.T.N., S.Z., G.N., F.J.)
| | - Dominik Christmann
- From the Heart Center Bonn, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Bonn, Germany (P.R.G., M.R.H., D.C., S.T.N., S.Z., G.N., F.J.)
| | - Sven Thomas Niepmann
- From the Heart Center Bonn, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Bonn, Germany (P.R.G., M.R.H., D.C., S.T.N., S.Z., G.N., F.J.)
| | | | - Matti Adam
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Cologne, Germany (M.A.)
| | - Florian Bönner
- Clinic for Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Angiology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany (F.B.)
| | - Sebastian Zimmer
- From the Heart Center Bonn, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Bonn, Germany (P.R.G., M.R.H., D.C., S.T.N., S.Z., G.N., F.J.)
| | - Georg Nickenig
- From the Heart Center Bonn, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Bonn, Germany (P.R.G., M.R.H., D.C., S.T.N., S.Z., G.N., F.J.)
| | - Felix Jansen
- From the Heart Center Bonn, Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Bonn, Germany (P.R.G., M.R.H., D.C., S.T.N., S.Z., G.N., F.J.)
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Rogers MA, Aikawa E. Cardiovascular calcification: artificial intelligence and big data accelerate mechanistic discovery. Nat Rev Cardiol 2020; 16:261-274. [PMID: 30531869 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-018-0123-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular calcification is a health disorder with increasing prevalence and high morbidity and mortality. The only available therapeutic options for calcific vascular and valvular heart disease are invasive transcatheter procedures or surgeries that do not fully address the wide spectrum of these conditions; therefore, an urgent need exists for medical options. Cardiovascular calcification is an active process, which provides a potential opportunity for effective therapeutic targeting. Numerous biological processes are involved in calcific disease, including matrix remodelling, transcriptional regulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, calcium and phosphate signalling, endoplasmic reticulum stress, lipid and mineral metabolism, autophagy, inflammation, apoptosis, loss of mineralization inhibition, impaired mineral resorption, cellular senescence and extracellular vesicles that act as precursors of microcalcification. Advances in molecular imaging and big data technology, including in multiomics and network medicine, and the integration of these approaches are helping to provide a more comprehensive map of human disease. In this Review, we discuss ectopic calcification processes in the cardiovascular system, with an emphasis on emerging mechanistic knowledge obtained through patient data and advances in imaging methods, experimental models and multiomics-generated big data. We also highlight the potential and challenges of artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning to integrate imaging and mechanistic data for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximillian A Rogers
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elena Aikawa
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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40
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Millar SA, John SG, McIntyre CW, Ralevic V, Anderson SI, O'Sullivan SE. An Investigation Into the Role of Osteocalcin in Human Arterial Smooth Muscle Cell Calcification. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:369. [PMID: 32587575 PMCID: PMC7298126 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteocalcin (OCN) is a bone-derived protein that is detected within human calcified vascular tissue. Calcification is particularly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients but the role of OCN in calcification, whether active or passive, has not been elucidated. Part 1: The relationship between OCN, CKD and vascular calcification was assessed in CKD patients (n = 28) and age-matched controls (n = 19). Part 2: in vitro, we analyzed whether addition of uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOCN) influenced the rate or extent of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification. Human aortic VSMCs were cultured in control media or mineralisation inducing media (MM) containing increased phosphate with or without ucOCN (10 or 30 ng/mL) for up to 21 days. Markers of osteogenic differentiation and calcification were determined [alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, total intracellular OCN, Runx2 expression, α-SMA expression, alizarin red calcium staining, and calcium quantification]. Part 1 results: In our human population, calcification was present (mean age 76 years), but no differences were detected between CKD patients and controls. Plasma total OCN was increased in CKD patients compared to controls (14 vs. 9 ng/mL; p < 0.05) and correlated to estimated glomerular filtration rate (p < 0.05), however no relationship was detected between total OCN and calcification. Part 2 results: in vitro, ALP activity, α-SMA expression and calcium concentrations were significantly increased in MM treated VSMCs at day 21, but no effect of ucOCN was observed. Cells treated with control media+ucOCN for 21 days did not show increases in ALP activity nor calcification. In summary, although plasma total OCN was increased in CKD patients, this study did not find a relationship between OCN and calcification in CKD and non-CKD patients, and found no in vitro evidence of an active role of ucOCN in vascular calcification as assessed over 21 days. ucOCN appears not to be a mediator of vascular calcification, but further investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie A. Millar
- Division of Medical Sciences & Graduate Entry Medicine, School of Medicine, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham, Derby, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Sophie A. Millar
| | - Stephen G. John
- Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher W. McIntyre
- Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, United Kingdom
- London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - Vera Ralevic
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Susan I. Anderson
- Division of Medical Sciences & Graduate Entry Medicine, School of Medicine, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Saoirse E. O'Sullivan
- Division of Medical Sciences & Graduate Entry Medicine, School of Medicine, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham, Derby, United Kingdom
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41
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Simon LR, Masters KS. Disease-inspired tissue engineering: Investigation of cardiovascular pathologies. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 6:2518-2532. [PMID: 32974421 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b01067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Once focused exclusively on the creation of tissues to repair or replace diseased or damaged organs, the field of tissue engineering has undergone an important evolution in recent years. Namely, tissue engineering techniques are increasingly being applied to intentionally generate pathological conditions. Motivated in part by the wide gap between 2D cultures and animal models in the current disease modeling continuum, disease-inspired tissue-engineered platforms have numerous potential applications, and may serve to advance our understanding and clinical treatment of various diseases. This review will focus on recent progress toward generating tissue-engineered models of cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and ischemia reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, and calcific aortic valve disease, with an emphasis on how these disease-inspired platforms can be used to decipher disease etiology. Each pathology is discussed in the context of generating both disease-specific cells as well as disease-specific extracellular environments, with an eye toward future opportunities to integrate different tools to yield more complex and physiologically relevant culture platforms. Ultimately, the development of effective disease treatments relies upon our ability to develop appropriate experimental models; as cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, the insights yielded by improved in vitro disease modeling could have substantial ramifications for public health and clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- LaTonya R Simon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Kristyn S Masters
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705.,Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705
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42
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Parra-Izquierdo I, Castaños-Mollor I, López J, Gómez C, San Román JA, Sánchez Crespo M, García-Rodríguez C. Calcification Induced by Type I Interferon in Human Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells Is Larger in Males and Blunted by a Janus Kinase Inhibitor. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2019; 38:2148-2159. [PMID: 30026273 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.118.311504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective- Calcific aortic valve disease is the most prevalent valvulopathy in Western countries. An unanticipated pathogenetic clue involving IFN (interferon) was disclosed by the finding of constitutive type I IFN activity associated with aortic valve calcification in children with the atypical Singleton-Merten syndrome. On this basis, the role of type I IFN on inflammation and calcification in human aortic valve interstitial cells (AVIC) was examined. Approach and Results- IFN-α was weakly proinflammatory but potentiated lipopolysaccharide-mediated activation of NF (nuclear factor)-κB and the ensuing induction of proinflammatory molecules in human AVIC. Stimulation with IFN-α and in combination with lipopolysaccharide promoted osteoblast-like differentiation characterized by increased osteoblastic gene expression, BMP (bone morphogenetic protein)-2 secretion, and ectopic phosphatase activity. Sex differences were observed. Likewise, IFN-α treatment of human AVICs in osteogenic medium resulted in increased formation of calcific nodules. Strikingly, IFN-α-mediated calcification was significantly higher in AVICs from males, and was blocked by tofacitinib, a JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitor, and by a BMP antagonist. A female-specific protective mechanism involving the activation of PI3K-Akt (protein kinase B) pathways and cell survival was disclosed. Females exhibited higher levels of BCL2 in valve cells and tissues and lower annexin V staining on cell stimulation. Conclusions- IFN-α acts as a proinflammatory and pro-osteogenic cytokine in AVICs, its effects being potentiated by lipopolysaccharide. Results also uncovered sex differences with lower responses in female AVICs and sex-specific mechanisms involving apoptosis. Data point to JAK/STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) system as a potential therapeutic target for calcific aortic valve disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Parra-Izquierdo
- From the Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, CSIC-Universidad de Valladolid, Spain (I.P.-I., I.C.-M., C.G., M.S.C., C.G.-R.)
| | - Irene Castaños-Mollor
- From the Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, CSIC-Universidad de Valladolid, Spain (I.P.-I., I.C.-M., C.G., M.S.C., C.G.-R.)
| | - Javier López
- ICICOR, Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valladolid, Spain (J.L., J.A.S.R.).,CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain (J.L., J.A.S.R., C.G.-R.)
| | - Cristina Gómez
- From the Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, CSIC-Universidad de Valladolid, Spain (I.P.-I., I.C.-M., C.G., M.S.C., C.G.-R.)
| | - J Alberto San Román
- ICICOR, Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valladolid, Spain (J.L., J.A.S.R.).,CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain (J.L., J.A.S.R., C.G.-R.)
| | - Mariano Sánchez Crespo
- From the Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, CSIC-Universidad de Valladolid, Spain (I.P.-I., I.C.-M., C.G., M.S.C., C.G.-R.)
| | - Carmen García-Rodríguez
- From the Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, CSIC-Universidad de Valladolid, Spain (I.P.-I., I.C.-M., C.G., M.S.C., C.G.-R.).,CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain (J.L., J.A.S.R., C.G.-R.)
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43
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Goto S, Rogers MA, Blaser MC, Higashi H, Lee LH, Schlotter F, Body SC, Aikawa M, Singh SA, Aikawa E. Standardization of Human Calcific Aortic Valve Disease in vitro Modeling Reveals Passage-Dependent Calcification. Front Cardiovasc Med 2019; 6:49. [PMID: 31041314 PMCID: PMC6476921 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2019.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aortic valvular interstitial cells (VICs) isolated from patients undergoing valve replacement are commonly used as in vitro models of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Standardization of VIC calcification, however, has not been implemented, which impairs comparison of results from different studies. We hypothesized that different culture methods impact the calcification phenotype of human VICs. We sought to identify the key parameters impacting calcification in primary human VICs to standardize CAVD in vitro research. Here we report that in calcification media containing organic phosphate, termed osteogenic media (OM), primary human VICs exhibited a passage-dependent decrease in calcification potential, which was not observed in calcification media containing inorganic phosphate, termed pro-calcifying media (PM). We used Alizarin red staining to compare the calcification potential of VICs cultured in OM and PM between the first and fourth passages after cell isolation from human CAVD tissues. Human VICs showed consistent Alizarin red stain when cultured with PM in a passage-independent manner. VICs cultured in OM did not exhibit consistent calcification potential between donors in early passages and consistently lacked positive Alizarin red stain in late passages. We performed whole cell, cytoplasmic and nuclear fractionation proteomics to identify factors regulating VIC passage-dependent calcification in OM. Proteomics cluster analysis identified tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) as a regulator of passage-dependent calcification in OM. We verified an association of TNAP activity with calcification potential in VICs cultured in OM, but not in PM in which VICs calcified independent of TNAP activity. This study demonstrates that media culture conditions and cell passage impact the calcification potential of primary human VICs and should be taken into consideration in cell culture models of CAVD. Our results help standardize CAVD modeling as part of a greater effort to identify disease driving mechanisms and therapeutics for this unmet medical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Goto
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Maximillian A. Rogers
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mark C. Blaser
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hideyuki Higashi
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lang H. Lee
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Florian Schlotter
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Simon C. Body
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Masanori Aikawa
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sasha A. Singh
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Elena Aikawa
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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44
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Roosens A, Handoyo YP, Dubruel P, Declercq H. Impact of modified gelatin on valvular microtissues. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2019; 13:771-784. [DOI: 10.1002/term.2825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annelies Roosens
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Tissue Engineering GroupGhent University Ghent Belgium
| | | | - Peter Dubruel
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Centre of Macromolecular ChemistryGhent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Heidi Declercq
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Tissue Engineering GroupGhent University Ghent Belgium
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45
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Nehrenheim L, Raschke S, Stefanski A, Barth M, Isabel Selig J, Barbian A, Fernández-Colino A, Stühler K, Mela P, Albert A, Lichtenberg A, Akhyari P. Native aortic valve derived extracellular matrix hydrogel for three dimensional culture analyses with improved biomimetic properties. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 14:035014. [PMID: 30769335 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ab0791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common acquired heart valve disease with complex underlying pathomechanisms that are yet not fully understood. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models as opposed to conventional two-dimensional (2D) techniques may reveal new aspects of CAVD and serve as a transitional platform between conventional 2D cell culture and in vivo experiments. METHODS Here we report on fabrication and characterization of a novel 3D hydrogel derived from cell-free native aortic valves. A detailed analysis containing protein composition, rheological behavior, cytotoxic and proliferative effects as well as results of 3D cell culture experiments are presented. Moreover, this aortic valve derived hydrogel (AVdH) is compared to commercially available biological extracellular matrix (ECM) components to evaluate and classify AVdH with respect to other currently used ECM solutions, i.e. Collagen type I and Matrigel®. RESULTS On the biochemical level, a complex composition of native proteins was detected. Using different techniques, including mass spectrometry with Gene Ontology network and enrichment analysis, different fundamental biological functions of AVdH were identified, including peptidase-, peptidase inhibitor-, growth- and binding activity. No cytotoxic effects were detected and AVdH showed positive effects on cell growth and proliferation in vitro when compared to Collagen type I and Matrigel®. CONCLUSION These results suggest AVdH as an organotypic ECM supporting sophisticated 3D cell culture model studies, while mimicking the native environment of the aortic valve to a greater level for enhanced in vitro analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Nehrenheim
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, D-40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
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Näpänkangas J, Ohtonen P, Ohukainen P, Weisell J, Väisänen T, Peltonen T, Taskinen P, Rysä J. Increased mesenchymal podoplanin expression is associated with calcification in aortic valves. Cardiovasc Pathol 2019; 39:30-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Hutcheson JD, Blaser MC, Aikawa E. Giving Calcification Its Due: Recognition of a Diverse Disease: A First Attempt to Standardize the Field. Circ Res 2018; 120:270-273. [PMID: 28104767 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.116.310060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Hutcheson
- From the Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences (J.D.H., M.C.B., E.A.) and Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Cardiovascular Division (E.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami (J.D.H.)
| | - Mark C Blaser
- From the Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences (J.D.H., M.C.B., E.A.) and Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Cardiovascular Division (E.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami (J.D.H.)
| | - Elena Aikawa
- From the Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences (J.D.H., M.C.B., E.A.) and Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Cardiovascular Division (E.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami (J.D.H.).
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48
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Activation of human aortic valve interstitial cells by local stiffness involves YAP-dependent transcriptional signaling. Biomaterials 2018; 181:268-279. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Plazyo O, Liu R, Moazzem Hossain M, Jin JP. Deletion of calponin 2 attenuates the development of calcific aortic valve disease in ApoE -/- mice. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2018; 121:233-241. [PMID: 30053524 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.07.249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality and lacks non-surgical treatment. The pathogenesis of CAVD involves perturbation of valvular cells by mechanical stimuli, including shear stress, pressure load and leaflet stretch, of which the molecular mechanism requires further elucidation. We recently demonstrated that knockout (KO) of Cnn2 gene that encodes calponin isoform 2, a mechanoregulated cytoskeleton protein, attenuates atherosclerosis in ApoE KO mice. Here we report that Cnn2 KO also decreased calcification of the aortic valve in ApoE KO mice, an established model of CAVD. Although myeloid cell-specific Cnn2 KO highly effectively attenuated vascular atherosclerosis that shares many pathogenic processes with CAVD, it did not reduce aortic valve calcification in ApoE KO mice. Indicating a function in the pathogenesis of CAVD, calponin 2 participates in myofibroblast differentiation that is a leading step in the development of CAVD. The aortic valves of ApoE KO mice exhibited increased expression of calponin 2 and smooth muscle actin (SMA), a hallmark of myofibroblasts. The expression of calponin 2 increased during myofibroblast-like differentiation of primary sheep aortic valve interstitial cells and during the osteogenic differentiation of mouse myofibroblasts. Cnn2 KO attenuated TGFβ1-induced differentiation of myofibroblasts in culture as shown by the lower expression of SMA and less calcification than that of wild type (WT) cells. These findings present calponin 2 as a novel molecular target for the treatment and prevention of CAVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesya Plazyo
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Rong Liu
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - M Moazzem Hossain
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - J-P Jin
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
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Engineering a 3D-Bioprinted Model of Human Heart Valve Disease Using Nanoindentation-Based Biomechanics. NANOMATERIALS 2018; 8:nano8050296. [PMID: 29751516 PMCID: PMC5977310 DOI: 10.3390/nano8050296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), microcalcifications originating from nanoscale calcifying vesicles disrupt the aortic valve (AV) leaflets, which consist of three (biomechanically) distinct layers: the fibrosa, spongiosa, and ventricularis. CAVD has no pharmacotherapy and lacks in vitro models as a result of complex valvular biomechanical features surrounding resident mechanosensitive valvular interstitial cells (VICs). We measured layer-specific mechanical properties of the human AV and engineered a three-dimensional (3D)-bioprinted CAVD model that recapitulates leaflet layer biomechanics for the first time. Human AV leaflet layers were separated by microdissection, and nanoindentation determined layer-specific Young’s moduli. Methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)/methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA) hydrogels were tuned to duplicate layer-specific mechanical characteristics, followed by 3D-printing with encapsulated human VICs. Hydrogels were exposed to osteogenic media (OM) to induce microcalcification, and VIC pathogenesis was assessed by near infrared or immunofluorescence microscopy. Median Young’s moduli of the AV layers were 37.1, 15.4, and 26.9 kPa (fibrosa/spongiosa/ventricularis, respectively). The fibrosa and spongiosa Young’s moduli matched the 3D 5% GelMa/1% HAMA UV-crosslinked hydrogels. OM stimulation of VIC-laden bioprinted hydrogels induced microcalcification without apoptosis. We report the first layer-specific measurements of human AV moduli and a novel 3D-bioprinted CAVD model that potentiates microcalcification by mimicking the native AV mechanical environment. This work sheds light on valvular mechanobiology and could facilitate high-throughput drug-screening in CAVD.
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