1
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Mezher M, Dumbali S, Fenn I, Lamb C, Miller C, Sharmin S, Cabe JI, Bejar-Padilla V, Conway D, Maruthamuthu V. Vinculin is essential for sustaining normal levels of endogenous forces at cell-cell contacts. Biophys J 2023; 122:4518-4527. [PMID: 38350000 PMCID: PMC10719050 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Transmission of cell-generated (i.e., endogenous) tension at cell-cell contacts is crucial for tissue shape changes during morphogenesis and adult tissue repair in tissues such as epithelia. E-cadherin-based adhesions at cell-cell contacts are the primary means by which endogenous tension is transmitted between cells. The E-cadherin-β-catenin-α-catenin complex mechanically couples to the actin cytoskeleton (and thereby the cell's contractile machinery) both directly and indirectly. However, the key adhesion constituents required for substantial endogenous force transmission at these adhesions in cell-cell contacts are unclear. Due to the role of α-catenin as a mechanotransducer that recruits vinculin at cell-cell contacts, we expected α-catenin to be essential for sustaining normal levels of force transmission. Instead, using the traction force imbalance method to determine the inter-cellular force at a single cell-cell contact between cell pairs, we found that it is vinculin that is essential for sustaining normal levels of endogenous force transmission, with absence of vinculin decreasing the inter-cellular tension by over 50%. Our results constrain the potential mechanical pathways of force transmission at cell-cell contacts and suggest that vinculin can transmit forces at E-cadherin adhesions independent of α-catenin, possibly through β-catenin. Furthermore, we tested the ability of lateral cell-cell contacts to withstand external stretch and found that both vinculin and α-catenin are essential to maintain cell-cell contact stability under external forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazen Mezher
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Sandeep Dumbali
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Ian Fenn
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Carter Lamb
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Conrad Miller
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Saika Sharmin
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Jolene I Cabe
- Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Vidal Bejar-Padilla
- Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Daniel Conway
- Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Venkat Maruthamuthu
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.
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2
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Cheng L, Yue H, Zhang H, Liu Q, Du L, Liu X, Xie J, Shen Y. The influence of microenvironment stiffness on endothelial cell fate: Implication for occurrence and progression of atherosclerosis. Life Sci 2023; 334:122233. [PMID: 37918628 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, the primary cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), is characterized by phenotypic changes in fibrous proliferation, chronic inflammation and lipid accumulation mediated by vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) which are correlated with the stiffening and ectopic remodeling of local extracellular matrix (ECM). The native residents, ECs and SMCs, are not only affected by various chemical factors including inflammatory mediators and chemokines, but also by a range of physical stimuli, such as shear stress and ECM stiffness, presented in the microenvironmental niche. Especially, ECs, as a semi-selective barrier, can sense mechanical forces, respond quickly to changes in mechanical loading and provide context-specific adaptive responses to restore homeostasis. However, blood arteries undergo stiffening and lose their elasticity with age. Reports have shown that the ECM stiffening could influence EC fate by changing the cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, cell to cell contact, migration and even communication with SMCs. The cell behaviour changes mediated by ECM stiffening are dependent on the activation of a signaling cascade of mechanoperception and mechanotransduction. Although the substantial evidence directly indicates the importance of ECM stiffening on the native ECs, the understanding about this complex interplay is still largely limited. In this review, we systematically summarize the roles of ECM stiffening on the behaviours of endothelial cells and elucidate the underlying details in biological mechanism, aiming to provide the process of how ECs integrate ECM mechanics and the highlights for bioaffinity of tissue-specific engineered scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hongyan Yue
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Huaiyi Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiao Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lingyu Du
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaoheng Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Yang Shen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; JinFeng Laboratory, Chongqing 401329, China.
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3
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Bush J, Cabe JI, Conway D, Maruthamuthu V. E-cadherin adhesion dynamics as revealed by an accelerated force ramp are dependent upon the presence of α-catenin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 682:308-315. [PMID: 37837751 PMCID: PMC10615569 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.09.077] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Tissue remodeling and shape changes often rely on force-induced cell rearrangements occurring via cell-cell contact dynamics. Epithelial cell-cell contact shape changes are particularly dependent upon E-cadherin adhesion dynamics which are directly influenced by cell-generated and external forces. While both the mobility of E-cadherin adhesions and their adhesion strength have been reported before, it is not clear how these two aspects of E-cadherin adhesion dynamics are related. Here, using magnetic pulling cytometry, we applied an accelerated force ramp on the E-cadherin adhesion between an E-cadherin-coated magnetic microbead and an epithelial cell to ascertain this relationship. Our approach enables the determination of the adhesion strength and force-dependent mobility of individual adhesions, which revealed a direct correlation between these key characteristics. Since α-catenin has previously been reported to play a role in both E-cadherin mobility and adhesion strength when studied independently, we also probed epithelial cells in which α-catenin has been knocked out. We found that, in the absence of α-catenin, E-cadherin adhesions not only had lower adhesion strength, as expected, but were also more mobile. We observed that α-catenin was required for the recovery of strained cell-cell contacts and propose that the adhesion strength and force-dependent mobility of E-cadherin adhesions act in tandem to regulate cell-cell contact homeostasis. Our approach introduces a method which relates the force-dependent adhesion mobility to adhesion strength and highlights the morphological role played by α-catenin in E-cadherin adhesion dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Bush
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA; Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Jolene I Cabe
- Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Daniel Conway
- Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Venkat Maruthamuthu
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA.
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4
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Ndlovu E, Malpartida L, Sultana T, Dahms TES, Dague E. Host Cell Geometry and Cytoskeletal Organization Governs Candida-Host Cell Interactions at the Nanoscale. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37888912 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c09870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Candida is one of the most common opportunistic fungal pathogens in humans. Its adhesion to the host cell is required in parasitic states and is important for pathogenesis. Many studies have shown that there is an increased risk of developing candidiasis when normal tissue barriers are weakened or when immune defenses are compromised, for example, during cancer treatment that induces immunosuppression. The mechanical properties of malignant cells, such as adhesiveness and viscoelasticity, which contribute to cellular invasion and migration are different from those of noncancerous cells. To understand host invasion and its relationship with host cell health, we probed the interaction of Candida spp. with cancerous and noncancerous human cell lines using atomic force microscopy in the single-cell force spectroscopy mode. There was significant adhesion between Candida and human cells, with more adhesion to cancerous versus noncancerous cell lines. This increase in adhesion is related to the mechanobiological properties of cancer cells, which have a disorganized cytoskeleton and lower rigidity. Altered geometry and cytoskeletal disruption of the human cells impacted adhesion parameters, underscoring the role of cytoskeletal organization in Candida-human cell adhesion and implicating the manipulation of cell properties as a potential future therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Easter Ndlovu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina S4S 0A2, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Lucas Malpartida
- National Centre for Scientific Research, Laboratory for Analysis and Architecture of Systems (LAAS), 7 Avenue du Colonel Roche, BP 54200, Toulouse cedex 4 31031, France
| | - Taranum Sultana
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina S4S 0A2, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Tanya E S Dahms
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina S4S 0A2, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Etienne Dague
- National Centre for Scientific Research, Laboratory for Analysis and Architecture of Systems (LAAS), 7 Avenue du Colonel Roche, BP 54200, Toulouse cedex 4 31031, France
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5
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Patel A, Bhavanam B, Keenan T, Maruthamuthu V. Integrating Shear Flow and Trypsin Treatment to Assess Cell Adhesion Strength. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.26.559598. [PMID: 37808680 PMCID: PMC10557764 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.26.559598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Cell adhesion is of fundamental importance in cell and tissue organization, and for designing cell-laden constructs for tissue engineering. Prior methods to assess cell adhesion strength for strongly adherent cells using hydrodynamic shear flow either involved the use of specialized flow devices to generate high shear stress or used simpler implementations like larger height parallel plate chambers that enable multi-hour cell culture but generate low shear stress and are hence more applicable for weakly adherent cells. Here, we propose a shear flow assay for adhesion strength assessment of strongly adherent cells that employs off-the-shelf parallel plate chambers for shear flow as well as simultaneous trypsin treatment to tune down the adhesion strength of cells. We implement the assay with a strongly adherent cell type and show that shear stress in the 0.07 to 7 Pa range is sufficient to dislodge the cells with simultaneous trypsin treatment. Imaging of cells over a square centimeter area allows cell morphological analysis of hundreds of cells. We show that the cell area of cells that are dislodged, on average, does not monotonically increase with shear stress at the higher end of shear stresses used and suggest that this can be explained by the likely higher resistance of high circularity cells to trypsin digestion. The adhesion strength assay proposed can be easily adapted by labs to assess the adhesion strength of both weakly and strongly adherent cell types and has the potential to be adapted for substrate stiffness-dependent adhesion strength assessment in mechanobiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antra Patel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 USA
| | - Bhavana Bhavanam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 USA
| | - Trevor Keenan
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 USA
| | - Venkat Maruthamuthu
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 USA
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6
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Bai Y, Zhao F, Wu T, Chen F, Pang X. Actin polymerization and depolymerization in developing vertebrates. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1213668. [PMID: 37745245 PMCID: PMC10515290 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1213668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Development is a complex process that occurs throughout the life cycle. F-actin, a major component of the cytoskeleton, is essential for the morphogenesis of tissues and organs during development. F-actin is formed by the polymerization of G-actin, and the dynamic balance of polymerization and depolymerization ensures proper cellular function. Disruption of this balance results in various abnormalities and defects or even embryonic lethality. Here, we reviewed recent findings on the structure of G-actin and F-actin and the polymerization of G-actin to F-actin. We also focused on the functions of actin isoforms and the underlying mechanisms of actin polymerization/depolymerization in cellular and organic morphogenesis during development. This information will extend our understanding of the role of actin polymerization in the physiologic or pathologic processes during development and may open new avenues for developing therapeutics for embryonic developmental abnormalities or tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Bai
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingting Wu
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Fangchun Chen
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Pang
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
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7
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Bush J, Cabe JI, Conway D, Maruthamuthu V. α-Catenin Dependent E-cadherin Adhesion Dynamics as Revealed by an Accelerated Force Ramp. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.28.550975. [PMID: 37645773 PMCID: PMC10461907 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.28.550975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Tissue remodeling and shape changes often rely on force-induced cell rearrangements occurring via cell-cell contact dynamics. Epithelial cell-cell contact shape changes are particularly dependent upon E-cadherin adhesion dynamics which are directly influenced by cell-generated and external forces. While both the mobility of E-cadherin adhesions and their adhesion strength have been reported before, it is not clear how these two aspects of E-cadherin adhesion dynamics are related. Here, using magnetic pulling cytometry, we applied an accelerated force ramp on the E-cadherin adhesion between an E-cadherin-coated magnetic microbead and an epithelial cell to ascertain this relationship. Our approach enables the determination of the adhesion strength and force-dependent mobility of individual adhesions, which revealed a direct correlation between these key characteristics. Since α-catenin has previously been reported to play a role in both E-cadherin mobility and adhesion strength when studied independently, we also probed epithelial cells in which α-catenin has been knocked out. We found that, in the absence of α-catenin, E-cadherin adhesions not only had lower adhesion strength, as expected, but were also more mobile. We observed that α-catenin was required for the recovery of strained cell-cell contacts and propose that the adhesion strength and force-dependent mobility of E-cadherin adhesions act in tandem to regulate cell-cell contact homeostasis. Our approach introduces a method which relates the force-dependent adhesion mobility to adhesion strength and highlights the morphological role played by α-catenin in E-cadherin adhesion dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Bush
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 USA
- Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030
| | - Jolene I. Cabe
- Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298 USA
| | - Daniel Conway
- Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Venkat Maruthamuthu
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 USA
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8
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Patel A, Bhavanam B, Keenan T, Maruthamuthu V. Integrating shear flow and trypsin treatment to assess cell adhesion strength. Biointerphases 2022; 18:061002. [PMID: 38078793 PMCID: PMC10721339 DOI: 10.1116/6.0003028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell adhesion is of fundamental importance in cell and tissue organization and for designing cell-laden constructs for tissue engineering. Prior methods to assess cell adhesion strength for strongly adherent cells using hydrodynamic shear flow either involved the use of specialized flow devices to generate high shear stress or used simpler implementations like larger height parallel plate chambers that enable multihour cell culture but generate low wall shear stress and are, hence, more applicable for weakly adherent cells. Here, we propose a shear flow assay for adhesion strength assessment of strongly adherent cells that employs off-the-shelf parallel plate chambers for shear flow as well as simultaneous trypsin treatment to tune down the adhesion strength of cells. We implement the assay with a strongly adherent cell type and show that wall shear stress in the 0.07-7 Pa range is sufficient to dislodge the cells with simultaneous trypsin treatment. Imaging of cells over a square centimeter area allows cell morphological analysis of hundreds of cells. We show that the cell area of cells that are dislodged, on average, does not monotonically increase with wall shear stress at the higher end of wall shear stresses used and suggest that this can be explained by the likely higher resistance of high circularity cells to trypsin digestion. The adhesion strength assay proposed can be used to assess the adhesion strength of both weakly and strongly adherent cell types and has the potential to be adapted for substrate stiffness-dependent adhesion strength assessment in mechanobiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antra Patel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529
| | - Bhavana Bhavanam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529
| | - Trevor Keenan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529
| | - Venkat Maruthamuthu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529
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