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Konopka J, Żuchowska A, Jastrzębska E. Vascularized tumor-on-chip microplatforms for the studies of neovasculature as hope for more effective cancer treatments. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 249:115986. [PMID: 38194813 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. Multiple factors control its course. Disorders of the distribution of angiogenic agents are responsible for development of solid tumors and its metastases. Understanding of the molecular interactions regulating pathological angiogenesis will allow for development of more effective, even personalized treatment. A simulation of angiogenesis under microflow conditions is a promising alternative to previous studies conducted on animals and on 2D cell cultures. In this review, we summarize what has been discovered so far in the field of vascularized tumor-on-a-chip platforms. For this purpose, we describe different vascularization techniques used in microfluidics, present various attempts to induce angiogenesis-on-a-chip and report some approaches to recapitulate vascularized tumor microenvironment under microflow conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Konopka
- Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Medical Biotechnology, 00-664, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Żuchowska
- Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Medical Biotechnology, 00-664, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Jastrzębska
- Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Medical Biotechnology, 00-664, Warsaw, Poland.
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2
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Buckley M, Kramer M, Johnson B, Huskin G, Berry J, Sewell-Loftin MK. Mechanical activation and expression of HSP27 in epithelial ovarian cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2856. [PMID: 38310132 PMCID: PMC10838328 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52992-7] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the complex biomechanical tumor microenvironment (TME) is of critical importance in developing the next generation of anti-cancer treatment strategies. This is especially true in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers due to recurrent disease or chemoresistance. However, current models of EOC progression provide little control or ability to monitor how changes in biomechanical parameters alter EOC cell behaviors. In this study, we present a microfluidic device designed to permit biomechanical investigations of the ovarian TME. Using this microtissue system, we describe how biomechanical stimulation in the form of tensile strains upregulate phosphorylation of HSP27, a heat shock protein implicated in ovarian cancer chemoresistance. Furthermore, EOC cells treated with strain demonstrate decreased response to paclitaxel in the in vitro vascularized TME model. The results provide a direct link to biomechanical regulation of HSP27 as a mediator of EOC chemoresistance, possibly explaining the failure of such therapies in some patients. The work presented here lays a foundation to elucidating mechanobiological regulation of EOC progression, including chemoresistance and could provide novel targets for anti-cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Buckley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6thAvenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, UK
| | - Maranda Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6thAvenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, UK
| | - Bronte Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6thAvenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, UK
| | - Gillian Huskin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6thAvenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, UK
| | - Joel Berry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6thAvenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, UK
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, UK
| | - Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6thAvenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, UK.
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, UK.
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3
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Johnson BM, Johnson AM, Heim M, Buckley M, Mortimer B, Berry JL, Sewell-Loftin MK. Biomechanical stimulation promotes blood vessel growth despite VEGFR-2 inhibition. BMC Biol 2023; 21:290. [PMID: 38072992 PMCID: PMC10712065 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01792-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiogenesis, or the growth of new vasculature from existing blood vessels, is widely considered a primary hallmark of cancer progression. When a tumor is small, diffusion is sufficient to receive essential nutrients; however, as the tumor grows, a vascular supply is needed to deliver oxygen and nutrients into the increasing mass. Several anti-angiogenic cancer therapies target VEGF and the receptor VEGFR-2, which are major promoters of blood vessel development. Unfortunately, many of these cancer treatments fail to completely stop angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Since these therapies focus on the biochemical activation of VEGFR-2 via VEGF ligand binding, we propose that mechanical cues, particularly those found in the TME, may be a source of VEGFR-2 activation that promotes growth of blood vessel networks even in the presence of VEGF and VEGFR-2 inhibitors. RESULTS In this paper, we analyzed phosphorylation patterns of VEGFR-2, particularly at Y1054/Y1059 and Y1214, stimulated via either VEGF or biomechanical stimulation in the form of tensile strains. Our results show prolonged and enhanced activation at both Y1054/Y1059 and Y1214 residues when endothelial cells were stimulated with strain, VEGF, or a combination of both. We also analyzed Src expression, which is downstream of VEGFR-2 and can be activated through strain or the presence of VEGF. Finally, we used fibrin gels and microfluidic devices as 3D microtissue models to simulate the TME. We determined that regions of mechanical strain promoted increased vessel growth, even with VEGFR-2 inhibition through SU5416. CONCLUSIONS Overall, understanding both the effects that biomechanical and biochemical stimuli have on VEGFR-2 activation and angiogenesis is an important factor in developing effective anti-angiogenic therapies. This paper shows that VEGFR-2 can be mechanically activated through strain, which likely contributes to increased angiogenesis in the TME. These proof-of-concept studies show that small molecular inhibitors of VEGFR-2 do not fully prevent angiogenesis in 3D TME models when mechanical strains are introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronte Miller Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Allison McKenzie Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Michael Heim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Molly Buckley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Bryan Mortimer
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Joel L Berry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
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4
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Dazzi C, Mehl J, Benamar M, Gerhardt H, Knaus P, Duda GN, Checa S. External mechanical loading overrules cell-cell mechanical communication in sprouting angiogenesis during early bone regeneration. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011647. [PMID: 37956208 PMCID: PMC10681321 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sprouting angiogenesis plays a key role during bone regeneration. For example, insufficient early revascularization of the injured site can lead to delayed or non-healing. During sprouting, endothelial cells are known to be mechano-sensitive and respond to local mechanical stimuli. Endothelial cells interact and communicate mechanically with their surroundings, such as outer-vascular stromal cells, through cell-induced traction forces. In addition, external physiological loads act at the healing site, resulting in tissue deformations and impacting cellular arrangements. How these two distinct mechanical cues (cell-induced and external) impact angiogenesis and sprout patterning in early bone healing remains however largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relative role of externally applied and cell-induced mechanical signals in driving sprout patterning at the onset of bone healing. To investigate cellular self-organisation in early bone healing, an in silico model accounting for the mechano-regulation of sprouting angiogenesis and stromal cell organization was developed. Computer model predictions were compared to in vivo experiments of a mouse osteotomy model stabilized with a rigid or a semirigid fixation system. We found that the magnitude and orientation of principal strains within the healing region can explain experimentally observed sprout patterning, under both fixation conditions. Furthermore, upon simulating the selective inhibition of either cell-induced or externally applied mechanical cues, external mechanical signals appear to overrule the mechanical communication acting on a cell-cell interaction level. Such findings illustrate the relevance of external mechanical signals over the local cell-mediated mechanical cues and could be used in the design of fracture treatment strategies for bone regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Dazzi
- Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Mehl
- Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mounir Benamar
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Holger Gerhardt
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Knaus
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg N. Duda
- Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Centre for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Checa
- Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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5
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White MJ, Singh T, Wang E, Smith Q, Kutys ML. 'Chip'-ing away at morphogenesis - application of organ-on-chip technologies to study tissue morphogenesis. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261130. [PMID: 37795818 PMCID: PMC10565497 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261130] [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] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Emergent cell behaviors that drive tissue morphogenesis are the integrated product of instructions from gene regulatory networks, mechanics and signals from the local tissue microenvironment. How these discrete inputs intersect to coordinate diverse morphogenic events is a critical area of interest. Organ-on-chip technology has revolutionized the ability to construct and manipulate miniaturized human tissues with organotypic three-dimensional architectures in vitro. Applications of organ-on-chip platforms have increasingly transitioned from proof-of-concept tissue engineering to discovery biology, furthering our understanding of molecular and mechanical mechanisms that operate across biological scales to orchestrate tissue morphogenesis. Here, we provide the biological framework to harness organ-on-chip systems to study tissue morphogenesis, and we highlight recent examples where organ-on-chips and associated microphysiological systems have enabled new mechanistic insight in diverse morphogenic settings. We further highlight the use of organ-on-chip platforms as emerging test beds for cell and developmental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. White
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Tania Singh
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Program in Bioengineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Eric Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Quinton Smith
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Matthew L. Kutys
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Program in Bioengineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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6
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Whisler J, Shahreza S, Schlegelmilch K, Ege N, Javanmardi Y, Malandrino A, Agrawal A, Fantin A, Serwinski B, Azizgolshani H, Park C, Shone V, Demuren OO, Del Rosario A, Butty VL, Holroyd N, Domart MC, Hooper S, Szita N, Boyer LA, Walker-Samuel S, Djordjevic B, Sheridan GK, Collinson L, Calvo F, Ruhrberg C, Sahai E, Kamm R, Moeendarbary E. Emergent mechanical control of vascular morphogenesis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg9781. [PMID: 37566656 PMCID: PMC10421067 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg9781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Vascularization is driven by morphogen signals and mechanical cues that coordinately regulate cellular force generation, migration, and shape change to sculpt the developing vascular network. However, it remains unclear whether developing vasculature actively regulates its own mechanical properties to achieve effective vascularization. We engineered tissue constructs containing endothelial cells and fibroblasts to investigate the mechanics of vascularization. Tissue stiffness increases during vascular morphogenesis resulting from emergent interactions between endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and ECM and correlates with enhanced vascular function. Contractile cellular forces are key to emergent tissue stiffening and synergize with ECM mechanical properties to modulate the mechanics of vascularization. Emergent tissue stiffening and vascular function rely on mechanotransduction signaling within fibroblasts, mediated by YAP1. Mouse embryos lacking YAP1 in fibroblasts exhibit both reduced tissue stiffness and develop lethal vascular defects. Translating our findings through biology-inspired vascular tissue engineering approaches will have substantial implications in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Whisler
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Somayeh Shahreza
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Nil Ege
- Tumour Cell Biology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Mnemo Therapeutics, 101 Boulevard Murat, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Yousef Javanmardi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrea Malandrino
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Av. Eduard Maristany, 10-14 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ayushi Agrawal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alessandro Fantin
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via G. Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Bianca Serwinski
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- 199 Biotechnologies Ltd., Gloucester Road, London W2 6LD, UK
- Northeastern University London, London, E1W 1LP, UK
| | - Hesham Azizgolshani
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Clara Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Victoria Shone
- Experimental Histopathology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Olukunle O. Demuren
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amanda Del Rosario
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vincent L. Butty
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Natalie Holroyd
- UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Paul O'Gorman Building, 72 Huntley Street, London, UK
| | | | - Steven Hooper
- Tumour Cell Biology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Nicolas Szita
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Laurie A. Boyer
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Simon Walker-Samuel
- UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Paul O'Gorman Building, 72 Huntley Street, London, UK
| | - Boris Djordjevic
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- 199 Biotechnologies Ltd., Gloucester Road, London W2 6LD, UK
| | - Graham K. Sheridan
- School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Lucy Collinson
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Fernando Calvo
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Cantabria), Santander, Spain
| | | | - Erik Sahai
- Tumour Cell Biology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Roger Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Emad Moeendarbary
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- 199 Biotechnologies Ltd., Gloucester Road, London W2 6LD, UK
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7
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Shakiba D, Genin GM, Zustiak SP. Mechanobiology of cancer cell responsiveness to chemotherapy and immunotherapy: Mechanistic insights and biomaterial platforms. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 196:114771. [PMID: 36889646 PMCID: PMC10133187 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114771] [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: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical forces are central to how cancer treatments such as chemotherapeutics and immunotherapies interact with cells and tissues. At the simplest level, electrostatic forces underlie the binding events that are critical to therapeutic function. However, a growing body of literature points to mechanical factors that also affect whether a drug or an immune cell can reach a target, and to interactions between a cell and its environment affecting therapeutic efficacy. These factors affect cell processes ranging from cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix remodeling to transduction of signals by the nucleus to metastasis of cells. This review presents and critiques the state of the art of our understanding of how mechanobiology impacts drug and immunotherapy resistance and responsiveness, and of the in vitro systems that have been of value in the discovery of these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaram Shakiba
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Guy M Genin
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Silviya P Zustiak
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Science and Engineering, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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8
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Rollins ZA, Chan A, Shirure VS, George SC. Receptor-ligand non-equilibrium kinetics (RLNEK) 1.0: An integrated Trackmate laminar flow chamber analysis. J Immunol Methods 2022; 511:113381. [PMID: 36341963 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2022.113381] [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: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Although parallel plate flow chamber assays are widely performed, extraction of kinetic parameters is limited to specialized labs with mathematical expertise and customized video-microscopy tracking tools. The recent development of Trackmate has increased researcher accessibility to tracking particles in video-microscopy experiments; however, there is a lack of tools that analyze this tracking information. We report a software tool, compatible with Trackmate, that extracts Receptor Ligand Non-Equilibrium Kinetic (RLNEK) parameters from video-microscopy data. This software should be of particular interest to the community of researchers and scientists interrogating the target-specific binding and release of immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Rollins
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Allison Chan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Venktesh S Shirure
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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9
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Organotypic stromal cells impact endothelial cell transcriptome in 3D microvessel networks. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20434. [PMID: 36443378 PMCID: PMC9705391 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24013-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells line all major blood vessels and serve as integral regulators of many functions including vessel diameter, cellular trafficking, and transport of soluble mediators. Despite similar functions, the phenotype of endothelial cells is highly organ-specific, yet our understanding of the mechanisms leading to organ-level differentiation is incomplete. We generated 3D microvessel networks by combining a common naïve endothelial cell with six different stromal cells derived from the lung, skin, heart, bone marrow, pancreas, and pancreatic cancer. Single cell RNA-Seq analysis of the microvessel networks reveals five distinct endothelial cell populations, for which the relative proportion depends on the stromal cell population. Morphologic features of the organotypic vessel networks inversely correlate with a cluster of endothelial cells associated with protein synthesis. The organotypic stromal cells were each characterized by a unique subpopulation of cells dedicated to extracellular matrix organization and assembly. Finally, compared to cells in 2D monolayer, the endothelial cell transcriptome from the 3D in vitro heart, skin, lung, and pancreas microvessel networks are more similar to the in vivo endothelial cells from the respective organs. We conclude that stromal cells contribute to endothelial cell and microvessel network organ tropism, and create an endothelial cell phenotype that more closely resembles that present in vivo.
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10
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Budhwani KI, Patel ZH, Guenter RE, Charania AA. A hitchhiker's guide to cancer models. Trends Biotechnol 2022; 40:1361-1373. [PMID: 35534320 PMCID: PMC9588514 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.04.003] [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: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a complex and uniquely personal disease. More than 1.7 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every year. As the burden of cancer grows, so does the need for new, more effective therapeutics and for predictive tools to identify optimal, personalized treatment options for every patient. Cancer models that recapitulate various aspects of the disease are fundamental to making advances along the continuum of cancer treatment from benchside discoveries to bedside delivery. In this review, we use a thought experiment as a vehicle to arrive at four broad categories of cancer models and explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for each category in advancing our understanding of the disease and improving treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim I Budhwani
- CerFlux, Inc., Birmingham, AL, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL, USA; Department of Physics, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA, USA.
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11
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Miller B, Sewell-Loftin MK. Mechanoregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Angiogenesis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 8:804934. [PMID: 35087885 PMCID: PMC8787114 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.804934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelial cells that compose the vascular system in the body display a wide range of mechanotransductive behaviors and responses to biomechanical stimuli, which act in concert to control overall blood vessel structure and function. Such mechanosensitive activities allow blood vessels to constrict, dilate, grow, or remodel as needed during development as well as normal physiological functions, and the same processes can be dysregulated in various disease states. Mechanotransduction represents cellular responses to mechanical forces, translating such factors into chemical or electrical signals which alter the activation of various cell signaling pathways. Understanding how biomechanical forces drive vascular growth in healthy and diseased tissues could create new therapeutic strategies that would either enhance or halt these processes to assist with treatments of different diseases. In the cardiovascular system, new blood vessel formation from preexisting vasculature, in a process known as angiogenesis, is driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binding to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) which promotes blood vessel development. However, physical forces such as shear stress, matrix stiffness, and interstitial flow are also major drivers and effectors of angiogenesis, and new research suggests that mechanical forces may regulate VEGFR-2 phosphorylation. In fact, VEGFR-2 activation has been linked to known mechanobiological agents including ERK/MAPK, c-Src, Rho/ROCK, and YAP/TAZ. In vascular disease states, endothelial cells can be subjected to altered mechanical stimuli which affect the pathways that control angiogenesis. Both normalizing and arresting angiogenesis associated with tumor growth have been strategies for anti-cancer treatments. In the field of regenerative medicine, harnessing biomechanical regulation of angiogenesis could enhance vascularization strategies for treating a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including ischemia or permit development of novel tissue engineering scaffolds. This review will focus on the impact of VEGFR-2 mechanosignaling in endothelial cells (ECs) and its interaction with other mechanotransductive pathways, as well as presenting a discussion on the relationship between VEGFR-2 activation and biomechanical forces in the extracellular matrix (ECM) that can help treat diseases with dysfunctional vascular growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronte Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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12
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Zhang X, Karim M, Hasan MM, Hooper J, Wahab R, Roy S, Al-Hilal TA. Cancer-on-a-Chip: Models for Studying Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030648. [PMID: 35158914 PMCID: PMC8833392 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Microfluidic-based cancer-on-a-chip models are powerful tools to study the tumor microenvironment (TME). Two-dimensional cell culture cannot recapitulate TME. In vivo animal models can better represent the TME, but their physiology is vastly different from that of humans. Although three-dimensional tumor models can bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo examination, they are still unable to test many crucial cues from the TME, such as mechanical cues, cell–cell, and cell–extracellular interactions. Cancer-on-a-chip platforms enable studying the metastatic process in a step-wise manner with precise control. We present an overview of the recent advances in cancer-on-a-chip models on metastasis including models that mimic mechanical cues. This review article will provide knowledge of the latest progress made on cancer-on-a-chip models. Abstract The microfluidic-based cancer-on-a-chip models work as a powerful tool to study the tumor microenvironment and its role in metastasis. The models recapitulate and systematically simplify the in vitro tumor microenvironment. This enables the study of a metastatic process in unprecedented detail. This review examines the development of cancer-on-a-chip microfluidic platforms at the invasion/intravasation, extravasation, and angiogenesis steps over the last three years. The on-chip modeling of mechanical cues involved in the metastasis cascade are also discussed. Finally, the popular design of microfluidic chip models for each step are discussed along with the challenges and perspectives of cancer-on-a-chip models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; (X.Z.); (M.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.W.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; (J.H.); (S.R.)
| | - Mazharul Karim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; (X.Z.); (M.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.W.)
- Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, College of Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Md Mahedi Hasan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; (X.Z.); (M.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.W.)
- Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, College of Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Jacob Hooper
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; (J.H.); (S.R.)
| | - Riajul Wahab
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; (X.Z.); (M.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.W.)
| | - Sourav Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; (J.H.); (S.R.)
- Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Taslim A. Al-Hilal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; (X.Z.); (M.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.W.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; (J.H.); (S.R.)
- Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, College of Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-915-747-8390
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13
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Glaser DE, Curtis MB, Sariano PA, Rollins ZA, Shergill BS, Anand A, Deely AM, Shirure VS, Anderson L, Lowen JM, Ng NR, Weilbaecher K, Link DC, George SC. Organ-on-a-chip model of vascularized human bone marrow niches. Biomaterials 2022; 280:121245. [PMID: 34810038 PMCID: PMC10658812 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Bone marrow niches (endosteal and perivascular) play important roles in both normal bone marrow function and pathological processes such as cancer cell dormancy. Unraveling the mechanisms underlying these events in humans has been severely limited by models that cannot dissect dynamic events at the niche level. Utilizing microfluidic and stem cell technologies, we present a 3D in vitro model of human bone marrow that contains both the perivascular and endosteal niches, complete with dynamic, perfusable vascular networks. We demonstrate that our model can replicate in vivo bone marrow function, including maintenance and differentiation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, egress of neutrophils (CD66b+), and niche-specific responses to doxorubicin and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. Our platform provides opportunities to accelerate current understanding of human bone marrow function and drug response with high spatial and temporal resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew E Glaser
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Matthew B Curtis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Peter A Sariano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Zachary A Rollins
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Bainer 3106, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Bhupinder S Shergill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Aravind Anand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Alyssa M Deely
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Venktesh S Shirure
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Leif Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jeremy M Lowen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Natalie R Ng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, Campus Box 1100, St Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Katherine Weilbaecher
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S Euclid Ave, Campus Box 8066, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Daniel C Link
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S Euclid Ave, Campus Box 8066, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E Health Sciences Dr, GBSF 2303, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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14
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McCarthy A, Avegnon KLM, Holubeck PA, Brown D, Karan A, Sharma NS, John JV, Weihs S, Ley J, Xie J. Electrostatic flocking of salt-treated microfibers and nanofiber yarns for regenerative engineering. Mater Today Bio 2021; 12:100166. [PMID: 34901819 PMCID: PMC8640530 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.100166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrostatic flocking is a textile technology that employs a Coulombic driving force to launch short fibers from a charging source towards an adhesive-covered substrate, resulting in a dense array of aligned fibers perpendicular to the substrate. However, electrostatic flocking of insulative polymeric fibers remains a challenge due to their insufficient charge accumulation. We report a facile method to flock electrostatically insulative poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microfibers (MFs) and electrospun PCL nanofiber yarns (NFYs) by incorporating NaCl during pre-flock processing. Both MF and NFY were evaluated for flock functionality, mechanical properties, and biological responses. To demonstrate this platform's diverse applications, standalone flocked NFY and MF scaffolds were synthesized and evaluated as scaffold for cell growth. Employing the same methodology, scaffolds made from poly(glycolide-co-l-lactide) (PGLA) (90:10) MFs were evaluated for their wound healing capacity in a diabetic mouse model. Further, a flock-reinforced polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) disc was fabricated to create an anisotropic artificial vertebral disc (AVD) replacement potentially used as a treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease. Overall, a salt-based flocking method is described with MFs and NFYs, with wound healing and AVD repair applications presented. NaCl coatings enable sufficient charge accumulation on electrically insulative polymer fibers during electrostatic flocking. Flocked nanofiber yarns allow further functionalization of flocked scaffolds. Flocked fiber scaffolds sustain cell proliferation. Flocked PGLA (90:10) fiber scaffolds promote modest fiber-density dependent wound healing and angiogenesis. Flock fibers-reinforced elastomeric artificial vertebral discs are mechanically robust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec McCarthy
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 668198, USA
| | - Kossi Loic M Avegnon
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Phil A Holubeck
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 668198, USA
| | - Demi Brown
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 668198, USA
| | - Anik Karan
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 668198, USA
| | - Navatha Shree Sharma
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 668198, USA
| | - Johnson V John
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 668198, USA
| | - Shelbie Weihs
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 668198, USA
| | - Jazmin Ley
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Jingwei Xie
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 668198, USA.,Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
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15
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Huang Y, Huang Z, Tang Z, Chen Y, Huang M, Liu H, Huang W, Ye Q, Jia B. Research Progress, Challenges, and Breakthroughs of Organoids as Disease Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:740574. [PMID: 34869324 PMCID: PMC8635113 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.740574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional cell lines and xenograft models have been widely recognized and used in research. As a new research model, organoids have made significant progress and development in the past 10 years. Compared with traditional models, organoids have more advantages and have been applied in cancer research, genetic diseases, infectious diseases, and regenerative medicine. This review presented the advantages and disadvantages of organoids in physiological development, pathological mechanism, drug screening, and organ transplantation. Further, this review summarized the current situation of vascularization, immune microenvironment, and hydrogel, which are the main influencing factors of organoids, and pointed out the future directions of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisheng Huang
- Department of Oral Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhijie Huang
- Department of Oral Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhengming Tang
- Department of Oral Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanxin Chen
- Department of Oral Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingshu Huang
- Department of Oral Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongyu Liu
- Department of Oral Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weibo Huang
- Department of stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Corps Hospital, Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingsong Ye
- Center of Regenerative Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Bo Jia
- Department of Oral Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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16
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Browne S, Gill EL, Schultheiss P, Goswami I, Healy KE. Stem cell-based vascularization of microphysiological systems. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2058-2075. [PMID: 33836144 PMCID: PMC8452487 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPSs) (i.e., tissue or organ chips) exploit microfluidics and 3D cell culture to mimic tissue and organ-level physiology. The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology has accelerated the use of MPSs to study human disease in a range of organ systems. However, in the reduction of system complexity, the intricacies of vasculature are an often-overlooked aspect of MPS design. The growing library of pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cell and perivascular cell protocols have great potential to improve the physiological relevance of vasculature within MPS, specifically for in vitro disease modeling. Three strategic categories of vascular MPS are outlined: self-assembled, interface focused, and 3D biofabricated. This review discusses key features and development of the native vasculature, linking that to how hiPSC-derived vascular cells have been generated, the state of the art in vascular MPSs, and opportunities arising from interdisciplinary thinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Browne
- Department of Bioengineering and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Elisabeth L Gill
- Department of Bioengineering and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Paula Schultheiss
- Department of Bioengineering and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ishan Goswami
- Department of Bioengineering and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kevin E Healy
- Department of Bioengineering and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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17
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Cho HY, Choi JH, Kim KJ, Shin M, Choi JW. Microfluidic System to Analyze the Effects of Interleukin 6 on Lymphatic Breast Cancer Metastasis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:611802. [PMID: 33659239 PMCID: PMC7917128 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.611802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the primary cause of a large number of cancer-associated deaths. By portraying the precise environment of the metastasis process in vitro, the microfluidic system provides useful insights on the mechanisms underlying cancer cell migration, invasion, colonization, and the procurement of supplemental nutrients. However, current in vitro metastasis models are biased in studying blood vessel-based metastasis pathways and thus the understanding of lymphatic metastasis is limited which is also closely related to the inflammatory system. To understand the effects of inflammatory cytokines in lymphatic metastasis, we developed a three-channel microfluidic system by mimicking the lymph vessel-tissue-blood vessel (LTB) structure. Based on the LTB chip, we successfully confirmed the inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 (IL-6), -mediated intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment during lymphatic metastasis. The IL-6 exposure to different subtypes of breast cancer cells was induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and improved tissue invasion property (8-fold). And the growth of human vein endothelial cells toward the lymph vessel channel was observed by VEGF secretion from human lymphatic endothelial cells with IL-6 treatment. The proposed LTB chip can be applied to analyze the intercellular communication during the lymphatic metastasis process and be a unique tool to understand the intercellular communication in the cancer microenvironment under various extracellular stimuli such as inflammatory cytokines, stromal reactions, hypoxia, and nutrient deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon-Yeol Cho
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea.,Interdisciplinary Program for Bio-Health Convergence, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin-Ha Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyeong-Jun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Minkyu Shin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Woo Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea
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