1
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Undas A. Reviewing the Rich History of Fibrin Clot Research with a Focus on Clinical Relevance. Semin Thromb Hemost 2024. [PMID: 38604228 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1785485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Fibrin, described on a single-lens microscopy for the first time by Malpighi in 1666 and named by de Fourcroy, has been extensively studied by biochemists, biophysicists, and more recently by clinicians who recognized that fibrin is the major component of most thrombi. Elucidation of key reactions leading to fibrin clot formation in the 1950s and 1960s grew interest in the clinical relevance of altered fibrin characteristics. Implementation of scanning electron microscopy to image fibrin clots in 1947 and clot permeation studies in the 1970s to evaluate an average pore size enabled plasma clot characterization in cohorts of patients. Unfavorably altered fibrin clot structure was demonstrated by Blombäck's group in coronary artery disease in 1992 and in diabetes in 1996. Fifteen years ago, similar plasma fibrin clot alterations were reported in patients following venous thromboembolism. Multiple myeloma was the first malignant disease to be found to lead to abnormal fibrin clot phenotype in the 1970s. Apart from anticoagulant agents, in 1998, aspirin was first shown to increase fibrin clot permeability in cardiovascular patients. The current review presents key data on the rich history of fibrin research, in particular, those that first documented abnormal fibrin clot properties in a variety of human disease states, as well as factors affecting fibrin phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anetta Undas
- Department of Thromboembolic Diseases, Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, and Center for Research and Medical Technology, John Paul II Hospital, Cracow, Poland
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2
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Kang Y, Yeo M, Derman ID, Ravnic DJ, Singh YP, Alioglu MA, Wu Y, Makkar J, Driskell RR, Ozbolat IT. Intraoperative bioprinting of human adipose-derived stem cells and extra-cellular matrix induces hair follicle-like downgrowths and adipose tissue formation during full-thickness craniomaxillofacial skin reconstruction. Bioact Mater 2024; 33:114-128. [PMID: 38024230 PMCID: PMC10665670 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Craniomaxillofacial (CMF) reconstruction is a challenging clinical dilemma. It often necessitates skin replacement in the form of autologous graft or flap surgery, which differ from one another based on hypodermal/dermal content. Unfortunately, both approaches are plagued by scarring, poor cosmesis, inadequate restoration of native anatomy and hair, alopecia, donor site morbidity, and potential for failure. Therefore, new reconstructive approaches are warranted, and tissue engineered skin represents an exciting alternative. In this study, we demonstrated the reconstruction of CMF full-thickness skin defects using intraoperative bioprinting (IOB), which enabled the repair of defects via direct bioprinting of multiple layers of skin on immunodeficient rats in a surgical setting. Using a newly formulated patient-sourced allogenic bioink consisting of both human adipose-derived extracellular matrix (adECM) and stem cells (ADSCs), skin loss was reconstructed by precise deposition of the hypodermal and dermal components under three different sets of animal studies. adECM, even at a very low concentration such as 2 % or less, has shown to be bioprintable via droplet-based bioprinting and exhibited de novo adipogenic capabilities both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings demonstrate that the combinatorial delivery of adECM and ADSCs facilitated the reconstruction of three full-thickness skin defects, accomplishing near-complete wound closure within two weeks. More importantly, both hypodermal adipogenesis and downgrowth of hair follicle-like structures were achieved in this two-week time frame. Our approach illustrates the translational potential of using human-derived materials and IOB technologies for full-thickness skin loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngnam Kang
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Miji Yeo
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Irem Deniz Derman
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Dino J. Ravnic
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Yogendra Pratap Singh
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Mecit Altan Alioglu
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Yang Wu
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jasson Makkar
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Ryan R. Driskell
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Ibrahim T. Ozbolat
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Materials Research Institute, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cukurova University, Adana, 01130, Turkey
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3
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Martinez-Torres C, Grimbergen J, Koopman J, Koenderink GH. Interplay of fibrinogen α EC globular domains and factor XIIIa cross-linking dictates the extensibility and strain stiffening of fibrin networks. J Thromb Haemost 2024; 22:715-726. [PMID: 37940047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.10.025] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrinogen is a plasma protein forming the fibrin scaffold of blood clots. Its mechanical properties therefore affect the risk of bleeding as well as thrombosis. There has been much recent interest in the biophysical mechanisms controlling fibrin mechanics; however, the role of molecular heterogeneity of the circulating fibrinogen in determining clot mechanical function remains poorly characterized. OBJECTIVES By comparing 2 fibrinogen variants where the only difference is the Aα-chain length, with one variant having a globular domain at its C-terminus, this study aimed to reveal how the molecular structure impacts the structure and mechanics of fibrin networks. METHODS We characterized the mechanical response to large shear for networks formed from 2 recombinant fibrinogen variants: the most prevalent variant in circulation with a molecular weight of 340 kDa (recombinant human fibrinogen [rFib] 340) and a minor variant with a molecular weight of 420 kDa (rFib420). RESULTS We show that the elastic properties of the 2 variants are identical when fibrin is cross-linked with factor XIIIa but differ strongly in its absence. Uncross-linked rFib420 networks are softer and up to 3-fold more extensible than rFib340 networks. Electron microscopy imaging showed that the 2 variants formed networks with a comparable structure, except at 4 mg/mL, where rFib420 formed denser networks. CONCLUSION We propose that the αEC domains of rFib420 increase the extensibility of uncross-linked fibrin networks by promoting protofibril sliding, which is blocked by FXIIIa cross-linking. Our findings can help explain the functional role of different circulating fibrinogen variants in blood clot mechanics and tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Martinez-Torres
- AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
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4
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Zakharov A, Awan M, Cheng T, Gopinath A, Lee SJJ, Ramasubramanian AK, Dasbiswas K. Clots reveal anomalous elastic behavior of fiber networks. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadh1265. [PMID: 38198546 PMCID: PMC10780871 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh1265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The adaptive mechanical properties of soft and fibrous biological materials are relevant to their functionality. The emergence of the macroscopic response of these materials to external stress and intrinsic cell traction from local deformations of their structural components is not well understood. Here, we investigate the nonlinear elastic behavior of blood clots by combining microscopy, rheology, and an elastic network model that incorporates the stretching, bending, and buckling of constituent fibrin fibers. By inhibiting fibrin cross-linking in blood clots, we observe an anomalous softening regime in the macroscopic shear response as well as a reduction in platelet-induced clot contractility. Our model explains these observations from two independent macroscopic measurements in a unified manner, through a single mechanical parameter, the bending stiffness of individual fibers. Supported by experimental evidence, our mechanics-based model provides a framework for predicting and comprehending the nonlinear elastic behavior of blood clots and other active biopolymer networks in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Zakharov
- Department of Physics, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Myra Awan
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San José, CA 95192, USA
| | - Terrence Cheng
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San José, CA 95192, USA
| | - Arvind Gopinath
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Sang-Joon John Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, San José State University, San José, CA 95192, USA
| | - Anand K. Ramasubramanian
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San José, CA 95192, USA
| | - Kinjal Dasbiswas
- Department of Physics, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
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5
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Dang Y, Zhang Y, Jian M, Luo P, Anwar N, Ma Y, Zhang D, Wang X. Advances of Blood Coagulation Factor XIII in Bone Healing. TISSUE ENGINEERING. PART B, REVIEWS 2023; 29:591-604. [PMID: 37166415 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2023.0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The biologic process of bone healing is complicated, involving a variety of cells, cytokines, and growth factors. As a result of bone damage, the activation of a clotting cascade leads to hematoma with a high osteogenic potential in the initial stages of healing. A major factor involved in this course of events is clotting factor XIII (FXIII), which can regulate bone defect repair in different ways during various stages of healing. Autografts and allografts often have defects in clinical practice, making the development of advanced materials that support bone regeneration a critical requirement. Few studies, however, have examined the promotion of bone healing by FXIII in combination with biomaterials, in particular, its effect on blood coagulation and osteogenesis. Therefore, we mainly summarized the role of FXIII in promoting bone regeneration by regulating the extracellular matrix and type I collagen, bone-related cells, angiogenesis, and platelets, and described the research progress of FXIII = related biomaterials on osteogenesis. This review provides a reference for investigators to explore the mechanism by which FXIII promotes bone healing and the combination of FXIII with biomaterials to achieve targeted bone tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Dang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Hygiene Toxicology, School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Minghui Jian
- Department of Hygiene Toxicology, School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Nadia Anwar
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Yaping Ma
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Dingmei Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
- Center for Tissue Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Center for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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6
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Wolberg AS. Fibrinogen and fibrin: synthesis, structure, and function in health and disease. J Thromb Haemost 2023; 21:3005-3015. [PMID: 37625698 PMCID: PMC10592048 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Fibrinogen is an extraordinary molecule by any estimation. It is large, structurally intricate, and circulates at high concentrations. Its biological end product, insoluble fibrin(ogen) or fibrin, can assume a diverse array of conformations with the ability to interact with numerous plasma proteins and cells and withstand biochemical and biomechanical disruption to facilitate wound healing. Quantitative and qualitative defects in fibrinogen or fibrin are associated with bleeding, thrombosis, inflammation, and diseases affected by these processes. Numerous studies investigating mechanisms by which fibrin(ogen) and fibrin contribute to health and disease have been published. This review for the 20th-anniversary series in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis summarizes interesting aspects of fibrin(ogen) biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and physiology and highlights exciting findings published in the past 2 decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa S Wolberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
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7
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Kang Y, Yeo M, Derman ID, Ravnic DJ, Singh YP, Alioglu MA, Wu Y, Makkar J, Driskell RR, Ozbolat IT. Intraoperative Bioprinting of Human Adipose-derived Stem cells and Extra-cellular Matrix Induces Hair Follicle-Like Downgrowths and Adipose Tissue Formation during Full-thickness Craniomaxillofacial Skin Reconstruction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.03.560695. [PMID: 37873077 PMCID: PMC10592950 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Craniomaxillofacial (CMF) reconstruction is a challenging clinical dilemma. It often necessitates skin replacement in the form of autologous graft or flap surgery, which differ from one another based on hypodermal/dermal content. Unfortunately, both approaches are plagued by scarring, poor cosmesis, inadequate restoration of native anatomy and hair, alopecia, donor site morbidity, and potential for failure. Therefore, new reconstructive approaches are warranted, and tissue engineered skin represents an exciting alternative. In this study, we demonstrated the reconstruction of CMF full-thickness skin defects using intraoperative bioprinting (IOB), which enabled the repair of defects via direct bioprinting of multiple layers of skin on immunodeficient rats in a surgical setting. Using a newly formulated patient-sourced allogenic bioink consisting of both human adipose-derived extracellular matrix (adECM) and stem cells (ADSCs), skin loss was reconstructed by precise deposition of the hypodermal and dermal components under three different sets of animal studies. adECM, even at a very low concentration such as 2% or less, has shown to be bioprintable via droplet-based bioprinting and exhibited de novo adipogenic capabilities both in vitro and in vivo . Our findings demonstrate that the combinatorial delivery of adECM and ADSCs facilitated the reconstruction of three full-thickness skin defects, accomplishing near-complete wound closure within two weeks. More importantly, both hypodermal adipogenesis and downgrowth of hair follicle-like structures were achieved in this two-week time frame. Our approach illustrates the translational potential of using human-derived materials and IOB technologies for full-thickness skin loss.
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8
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Pawletko K, Jędrzejowska-Szypułka H, Bogus K, Pascale A, Fahmideh F, Marchesi N, Grajoszek A, Gendosz de Carrillo D, Barski JJ. After Ischemic Stroke, Minocycline Promotes a Protective Response in Neurons via the RNA-Binding Protein HuR, with a Positive Impact on Motor Performance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119446. [PMID: 37298395 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is the most common cause of adult disability and one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with a serious socio-economic impact. In the present work, we used a new thromboembolic model, recently developed in our lab, to induce focal cerebral ischemic (FCI) stroke in rats without reperfusion. We analyzed selected proteins implicated in the inflammatory response (such as the RNA-binding protein HuR, TNFα, and HSP70) via immunohistochemistry and western blotting techniques. The main goal of the study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of a single administration of minocycline at a low dose (1 mg/kg intravenously administered 10 min after FCI) on the neurons localized in the penumbra area after an ischemic stroke. Furthermore, given the importance of understanding the crosstalk between molecular parameters and motor functions following FCI, motor tests were also performed, such as the Horizontal Runway Elevated test, CatWalk™ XT, and Grip Strength test. Our results indicate that a single administration of a low dose of minocycline increased the viability of neurons and reduced the neurodegeneration caused by ischemia, resulting in a significant reduction in the infarct volume. At the molecular level, minocycline resulted in a reduction in TNFα content coupled with an increase in the levels of both HSP70 and HuR proteins in the penumbra area. Considering that both HSP70 and TNF-α transcripts are targeted by HuR, the obtained results suggest that, following FCI, this RNA-binding protein promotes a protective response by shifting its binding towards HSP70 instead of TNF-α. Most importantly, motor tests showed that reduced inflammation in the brain damaged area after minocycline treatment directly translated into a better motor performance, which is a fundamental outcome when searching for new therapeutic options for clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Pawletko
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
- Department for Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 4, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Halina Jędrzejowska-Szypułka
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bogus
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Alessia Pascale
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Foroogh Fahmideh
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Marchesi
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Aniela Grajoszek
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
- Department for Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 4, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Daria Gendosz de Carrillo
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
- Department of Histology and Cell Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Poniatowskiego 15, 40-055 Katowice, Poland
| | - Jarosław Jerzy Barski
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
- Department for Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 4, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
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9
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EzEldeen M, Moroni L, Nejad ZM, Jacobs R, Mota C. Biofabrication of engineered dento-alveolar tissue. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 148:213371. [PMID: 36931083 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Oral health is essential for a good overall health. Dento-alveolar conditions have a high prevalence, ranging from tooth decay periodontitis to alveolar bone resorption. However, oral tissues exhibit a limited regenerative capacity, and full recovery is challenging. Therefore, regenerative therapies for dento-alveolar tissue (e.g., alveolar bone, periodontal membrane, dentin-pulp complex) have gained much attention, and novel approaches have been proposed in recent decades. This review focuses on the cells, biomaterials and the biofabrication methods used to develop therapies for tooth root bioengineering. Examples of the techniques covered are the multitude of additive manufacturing techniques and bioprinting approaches used to create scaffolds or tissue constructs. Furthermore, biomaterials and stem cells utilized during biofabrication will also be described for different target tissues. As these new therapies gradually become a reality in the lab, the translation to the clinic is still minute, with a further need to overcome multiple challenges and broaden the clinical application of these alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa EzEldeen
- OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oral Health Sciences, KU Leuven and Paediatric Dentistry and Special Dental Care, University Hospitals Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine, Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Zohre Mousavi Nejad
- OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Biomaterials Research Group, Department of Nanotechnology and Advance Materials, Materials and Energy Research Center, P.O. Box: 31787-316, Karaj, Alborz, Iran
| | - Reinhilde Jacobs
- OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carlos Mota
- Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine, Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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10
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Wang Z, Lauko J, Kijas AW, Gilbert EP, Turunen P, Yegappan R, Zou D, Mata J, Rowan AE. Snake venom-defined fibrin architecture dictates fibroblast survival and differentiation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1029. [PMID: 36823141 PMCID: PMC9950370 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36437-9] [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: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrin is the provisional matrix formed after injury, setting the trajectory for the subsequent stages of wound healing. It is commonly used as a wound sealant and a natural hydrogel for three-dimensional (3D) biophysical studies. However, the traditional thrombin-driven fibrin systems are poorly controlled. Therefore, the precise roles of fibrin's biophysical properties on fibroblast functions, which underlie healing outcomes, are unknown. Here, we establish a snake venom-controlled fibrin system with precisely and independently tuned architectural and mechanical properties. Employing this defined system, we show that fibrin architecture influences fibroblast survival, spreading phenotype, and differentiation. A fine fibrin architecture is a key prerequisite for fibroblast differentiation, while a coarse architecture induces cell loss and disengages fibroblast's sensitivity towards TGF-β1. Our results demonstrate that snake venom-controlled fibrin can precisely control fibroblast differentiation. Applying these biophysical principles to fibrin sealants has translational significance in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Wang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jan Lauko
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Amanda W Kijas
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Elliot P Gilbert
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - Petri Turunen
- Microscopy Core Facility, Institute of Molecular Biology, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Ramanathan Yegappan
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Dongxiu Zou
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jitendra Mata
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - Alan E Rowan
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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11
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Pereira RVS, EzEldeen M, Ugarte-Berzal E, Martens E, Malengier-Devlies B, Vandooren J, Vranckx J, Matthys P, Opdenakker G. Physiological fibrin hydrogel modulates immune cells and molecules and accelerates mouse skin wound healing. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1170153. [PMID: 37168862 PMCID: PMC10165074 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1170153] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Wound healing is a complex process to restore homeostasis after injury and insufficient skin wound healing is a considerable problem in medicine. Whereas many attempts of regenerative medicine have been made for wound healing with growth factors and cell therapies, simple pharmacological and immunological studies are lagging behind. We investigated how fibrin hydrogels modulate immune cells and molecules in skin wound healing in mice. Methods Physiological fibrin hydrogels (3.5 mg/mL fibrinogen) were generated, biophysically analyzed for stiffness and protein contents and were structurally studied by scanning electron microscopy. Physiological fibrin hydrogels were applied to full thickness skin wounds and, after 3 days, cells and molecules in wound tissues were analyzed. Leukocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts and keratinocytes were explored with the use of Flow Cytometry, whereas cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases were analyzed with the use of qPCR, ELISAs and zymography. Skin wound healing was analyzed microscopically at day 3, macroscopically followed daily during repair in mice and compared with commercially available fibrin sealant Tisseel. Results Exogenous fibrin at physiological concentrations decreased neutrophil and increased non-classical Ly6Clow monocyte and resolutive macrophage (CD206+ and CX3CR1+) populations, at day 3 after injury. Fibrin hydrogel reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased IL-10 levels. In line with these findings, gelatinase B/MMP-9 was decreased, whereas gelatinase A/MMP-2 levels remained unaltered. Frequencies of dermal endothelial cells, fibroblasts and keratinocytes were increased and keratinocyte migration was enhanced by fibrin hydrogel. Importantly, physiological fibrin accelerated the healing of skin wounds in contrast to the highly concentrated fibrin sealant Tisseel, which delayed wound repair and possessed a higher fiber density. Conclusion Collectively, we show that adding a tailored fibrin hydrogel scaffold to a wound bed positively influences the healing process, modulating leukocyte populations and inflammatory responses towards a faster wound repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Vaz Sousa Pereira
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mostafa EzEldeen
- OMFS IMPATH Research Group, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Leuven, Belgium
- Pediatric Dentistry and Special Dental Care, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Estefania Ugarte-Berzal
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Erik Martens
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bert Malengier-Devlies
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jennifer Vandooren
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Jeroen Vranckx
- Department of Development and Regeneration, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Matthys
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ghislain Opdenakker
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Ghislain Opdenakker,
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12
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A Novel Improved Thromboembolism-Based Rat Stroke Model That Meets the Latest Standards in Preclinical Studies. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12121671. [PMID: 36552131 PMCID: PMC9776070 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12121671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The animal thromboembolic model of ischemia perfectly mimics human ischemic stroke which remains the leading cause of disability and mortality in humans. The development of new treatment strategies was therefore imperative. The purpose of this study is to improve the thromboembolic stroke model in rats in order to design experiments that use motor tests, and are in accordance with the 3R principles to prevent complications and maintain the same size of the infarct repeatedly. Tail vein dye application, a protective skull mask and a stress minimization protocol were used as additional modifications to the animal stroke model. These modifications significantly minimized the pain and stress severity of the procedures in this model. In our experimental group of Long-Evans rats, a photo-induced stroke was caused by the application of a photosensitive dye (Rose Bengal) activated with white-light irradiation, thus eliminating the need to perform a craniotomy. The animals' neurological status was evaluated using a runway elevated test. Histological examination of the brain tissue was performed at 12, 24 and 48 h, and seven days post-stroke. Tissue examination revealed necrotic foci in the cortex and the subcortical regions of the ipsilateral hemisphere in all experimental groups. Changes in the area, width and depth of the necrotic focus were observed over time. All the experimental groups showed motor disturbances after stroke survival. In the proposed model, photochemically-induced stroke caused long-term motor deficits, showed high reproducibility and low mortality rates. Consequently, the animals could participate in motor tests which are particularly suitable for assessing the efficacy of neuro-regenerative therapies, while remaining in line with the latest trends in animal experimental design.
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13
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Javed H, Singh S, Urs SUR, Oldenburg J, Biswas A. Genetic landscape in coagulation factor XIII associated defects – Advances in coagulation and beyond. Blood Rev 2022; 59:101032. [PMID: 36372609 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.101032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) acts as a fine fulcrum in blood plasma that maintains the balance between bleeding and thrombosis by covalently crosslinking the pre-formed fibrin clot into an insoluble one that is resistant to premature fibrinolysis. In plasma, FXIII circulates as a pro-transglutaminase complex composed of the dimeric catalytic FXIII-A encoded by the F13A1 gene and dimeric carrier/regulatory FXIII-B subunits encoded by the F13B gene. Growing evidence accumulated over decades of exhaustive research shows that not only does FXIII play major roles in both pathological extremes of hemostasis i.e. bleeding and thrombosis, but that it is, in fact, a pleiotropic protein with physiological roles beyond coagulation. However, the current FXIII genetic-epidemiological literature is overwhelmingly derived from the bleeding pathology associated with its deficiency. In this article we review the current clinical, functional, and molecular understanding of this fascinating multifaceted protein, especially putting into the same perspective its genetic landscape.
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14
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Belcher HA, Litwa K, Guthold M, Hudson NE. The Applicability of Current Turbidimetric Approaches for Analyzing Fibrin Fibers and Other Filamentous Networks. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12060807. [PMID: 35740932 PMCID: PMC9221518 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Turbidimetry is an experimental technique often used to study the structure of filamentous networks. To extract structural properties such as filament diameter from turbidimetric data, simplifications to light scattering theory must be employed. In this work, we evaluate the applicability of three commonly utilized turbidimetric analysis approaches, each using slightly different simplifications. We make a specific application towards analyzing fibrin fibers, which form the structural scaffold of blood clots, but the results are generalizable. Numerical simulations were utilized to assess the applicability of each approach across a range of fiber lengths and diameters. Simulation results indicated that all three turbidimetric approaches commonly underestimate fiber diameter, and that the “Carr-Hermans” approach, utilizing wavelengths in the range of 500−800 nm, provided <10% error for the largest number of diameter/length combinations. These theoretical results were confirmed, under select conditions, via the comparison of fiber diameters extracted from experimental turbidimetric data, with diameters obtained using super-resolution microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather A. Belcher
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA;
| | - Karen Litwa
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA;
| | - Martin Guthold
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA;
| | - Nathan E. Hudson
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-252-737-5349
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15
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Kar S, Vu K, Mottamal M, Al-Horani RA. Ethacrynic acid is an inhibitor of human factor XIIIa. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2022; 23:35. [PMID: 35642005 PMCID: PMC9158266 DOI: 10.1186/s40360-022-00575-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Ethacrynic acid (EA) is a loop diuretic that is approved orally and parenterally to manage edema-associated diseases. Nevertheless, it was earlier reported that it is also associated with bleeding upon its parenteral administration. In this report, we investigated the effects of EA on human factor XIIIa (FXIIIa) of the coagulation process using a variety of techniques.
Methods
A series of biochemical and computational methods have been used in this study. The potency and efficacy of human FXIIIa inhibition by EA was evaluated using a bisubstrate-based fluorescence trans-glutamination assay under near physiological conditions. To establish the physiological relevance of FXIIIa inhibition by EA, the effect on FXIIIa-mediated polymerization of fibrin(ogen) as well as the formation of fibrin(ogen) – α2-antiplasmin complex was evaluated using SDS-PAGE experiments. The selectivity profile of EA against other coagulation proteins was assessed by evaluating EA’s effect on human clotting times in the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and the prothrombin time (PT) assays. We also used molecular modeling studies to put forward a putative binding mode for EA in the active site of FXIIIa. Results involving EA were the average of at least three experiments and the standard error ± 1 was provided. In determining the inhibition parameters, we used non-linear regression analysis.
Results
FXIIIa is a transglutaminase that works at the end of the coagulation process to form an insoluble, rigid, and cross-linked fibrin rich blood clot. In fact, inhibition of FXIIIa-mediated biological processes has been reported to result in a bleeding diathesis. Inhibition of FXIIIa by EA was investigated given the nucleophilic nature of the thiol-containing active site of the enzyme and the Michael acceptor-based electrophilicity of EA. In a bisubstrate-based fluorescence trans-glutamination assay, EA inhibited FXIIIa with a moderate potency (IC50 ~ 105 µM) and efficacy (∆Y ~ 66%). In SDS-PAGE experiments, EA appears to significantly inhibit the FXIIIa-mediated polymerization of fibrin(ogen) as well as the formation of fibrin(ogen) – α2-antiplasmin complex which indicates that EA affects the physiological functions of FXIIIa. Interestingly, EA did not affect the clotting times of human plasma in the APTT and the PT assays at the highest concentration tested of 2.5 mM suggesting the lack of effects on the coagulation serine proteases and potentially the functional selectivity of EA with respect to the clotting process. Molecular modeling studies demonstrated that the Michael acceptor of EA forms a covalent bond with catalytic residue of Cys314 in the active site of FXIIIa.
Conclusions
Overall, our studies indicate that EA inhibits the physiological function of human FXIIIa in vitro which may potentially contribute to the bleeding complications that were reported with the association of the parenteral administration of EA.
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16
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Engineered Molecular Therapeutics Targeting Fibrin and the Coagulation System: a Biophysical Perspective. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:427-461. [PMID: 35399372 PMCID: PMC8984085 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-00950-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The coagulation cascade represents a sophisticated and highly choreographed series of molecular events taking place in the blood with important clinical implications. One key player in coagulation is fibrinogen, a highly abundant soluble blood protein that is processed by thrombin proteases at wound sites, triggering self-assembly of an insoluble protein hydrogel known as a fibrin clot. By forming the key protein component of blood clots, fibrin acts as a structural biomaterial with biophysical properties well suited to its role inhibiting fluid flow and maintaining hemostasis. Based on its clinical importance, fibrin is being investigated as a potentially valuable molecular target in the development of coagulation therapies. In this topical review, we summarize our current understanding of the coagulation cascade from a molecular, structural and biophysical perspective. We highlight single-molecule studies on proteins involved in blood coagulation and report on the current state of the art in directed evolution and molecular engineering of fibrin-targeted proteins and polymers for modulating coagulation. This biophysical overview will help acclimatize newcomers to the field and catalyze interdisciplinary work in biomolecular engineering toward the development of new therapies targeting fibrin and the coagulation system.
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17
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Matveeva VG, Senokosova EA, Sevostianova VV, Khanova MY, Glushkova TV, Akentieva TN, Antonova LV, Barbarash LS. Advantages of Fibrin Polymerization Method without the Use of Exogenous Thrombin for Vascular Tissue Engineering Applications. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040789. [PMID: 35453539 PMCID: PMC9026760 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrin is widely used in vascular tissue engineering. Typically, fibrin polymerization is initiated by adding exogenous thrombin. In this study, we proposed a protocol for the preparation of completely autologous fibrin without the use of endogenous thrombin and compared the properties of the prepared fibrin matrix with that obtained by the traditional method. Fibrinogen was obtained by ethanol precipitation followed by fibrin polymerization by adding either exogenous thrombin and calcium chloride (ExThr), or only calcium chloride (EnThr). We examined the structure, mechanical properties, thrombogenicity, degradation rate and cytocompatibility of fibrin matrices. Factor XIII (FXIII) quantitative assay was performed by ELISA, and FXIII activity was assessed by SDS-PAGE detection of γ-γ cross-links. The results show that network structure of EnThr fibrin was characterized by thinner fibers. The EnThr fibrin matrices had higher strength, stiffness and resistance to proteolytic degradation compared to ExThr fibrin. EnThr fibrin matrices exhibited less thrombogenicity in vitro than ExThr, and retained high cytocompatibility. Thus, the proposed approach has several advantages over the traditional method, namely the fabrication of a completely autologous coating material that has better mechanical properties, higher resistance to proteolysis and lower thrombogenicity.
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18
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Pancaldi F, Kim OV, Weisel JW, Alber M, Xu Z. Computational Biomechanical Modeling of Fibrin Networks and Platelet-Fiber Network Interactions. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2022; 22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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19
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Abstract
Mechanical properties have been extensively studied in pure elastic or viscous materials; however, most biomaterials possess both physical properties in a viscoelastic component. How the biomechanics of a fibrin clot is related to its composition and the microenvironment where it is formed is not yet fully understood. This review gives an outline of the building mechanisms for blood clot mechanical properties and how they relate to clot function. The formation of a blood clot in health conditions or the formation of a dangerous thrombus go beyond the mere polymerization of fibrinogen into a fibrin network. The complex composition and localization of in vivo fibrin clots demonstrate the interplay between fibrin and/or fibrinogen and blood cells. Studying these protein–cell interactions and clot mechanical properties may represent new methods for the evaluation of cardiovascular diseases (the leading cause of death worldwide), creating new possibilities for clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biophysics, Volume 51 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco M. Domingues
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Filomena A. Carvalho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nuno C. Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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20
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Feller T, Connell SDA, Ariёns RAS. Why fibrin biomechanical properties matter for hemostasis and thrombosis. J Thromb Haemost 2022; 20:6-16. [PMID: 34528378 DOI: 10.1111/jth.15531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Polymeric fibrin displays unique structural and biomechanical properties that contribute to its essential role of generating blood clots that stem bleeds. The aim of this review is to discuss how the fibrin clot is formed, how protofibrils make up individual fibrin fibers, what the relationship is between the molecular structure and fibrin biomechanical properties, and how fibrin biomechanical properties relate to the risk of thromboembolic disease. Fibrin polymerization is driven by different types of bonds, including knob-hole interactions displaying catch-slip characteristics, and covalent crosslinking of fibrin polypeptides by activated factor XIII. Key biophysical properties of fibrin polymer are its visco-elasticity, extensibility and resistance to rupture. The internal packing of protofibrils within fibers changes fibrin biomechanical behavior. There are several methods to analyze fibrin biomechanical properties at different scales, including AFM force spectroscopy, magnetic or optical tweezers and rheometry, amongst others. Clinically, fibrin biomechanical characteristics are key for the prevention of thromboembolic disorders such as pulmonary embolism. Future studies are needed to address unanswered questions regarding internal molecular structure of the fibrin polymer, the structural and molecular basis of its remarkable mechanical properties and the relationship of fibrin biomechanical characteristics with thromboembolism in patients with deep vein thrombosis and ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tímea Feller
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, School of Physics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Simon D A Connell
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, School of Physics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Robert A S Ariёns
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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21
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Differential sialic acid content in adult and neonatal fibrinogen mediates differences in clot polymerization dynamics. Blood Adv 2021; 5:5202-5214. [PMID: 34555851 PMCID: PMC9153052 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased sialic acid in neonatal fibrinogen influences fibrin knob-hole interactions during polymerization. Neonatal fibrin polymerization involves more B knob– and fewer A knob–mediated interactions compared with adults.
Neonates possess a molecular variant of fibrinogen, known as fetal fibrinogen, characterized by increased sialic acid, a greater negative charge, and decreased activity compared with adults. Despite these differences, adult fibrinogen is used for the treatment of bleeding in neonates, with mixed efficacy. To determine safe and efficacious bleeding protocols for neonates, more information on neonatal fibrin clot formation and the influence of sialic acid on these processes is needed. Here, we examine the influence of sialic acid on neonatal fibrin polymerization. We hypothesized that the increased sialic acid content of neonatal fibrinogen promotes fibrin B:b knob-hole interactions and consequently influences the structure and function of the neonatal fibrin matrix. We explored this hypothesis through analysis of structural properties and knob:hole polymerization dynamics of normal and desialylated neonatal fibrin networks and compared them with those formed with adult fibrinogen. We then characterized normal neonatal fibrin knob:hole interactions by forming neonatal and adult clots with either thrombin or snake-venom thrombin-like enzymes that preferentially cleave fibrinopeptide A or B. Sialic acid content of neonatal fibrinogen was determined to be a key determinant of resulting clot properties. Experiments analyzing knob:hole dynamics indicated that typical neonatal fibrin clots are formed with the release of more fibrinopeptide B and less fibrinopeptide A than adults. After the removal of sialic acid, fibrinopeptide release was roughly equivalent between adults and neonates, indicating the influence of sialic acid on fibrin neonatal fibrin polymerization mechanisms. These results could inform future studies developing neonatal-specific treatments of bleeding.
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22
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Montero A, Atienza C, Elvira C, Jorcano JL, Velasco D. Hyaluronic acid-fibrin hydrogels show improved mechanical stability in dermo-epidermal skin substitutes. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2021; 128:112352. [PMID: 34474900 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human plasma-derived bilayered skin substitutes have been successfully used by our group in different skin tissue engineering applications. However, several issues associated with their poor mechanical properties were observed, and they often resulted in rapid contraction and degradation. In this sense, hydrogels composed of plasma-derived fibrin and thiolated-hyaluronic acid (HA-SH, 0.05-0.2% w/v) crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, 2:1, 6:1, 10:1 and 14:1 mol of thiol to moles of acrylate) were developed to reduce the shrinking rates and enhance the mechanical properties of the plasma-derived matrices. Plasma/HA-SH-PEGDA hydrogels showed a decrease in the contraction behaviour ranging from 5% to 25% and an increase in Young's modulus. Furthermore, the results showed that a minimal amount of the added HA-SH was able to escape the plasma/HA-SH-PEGDA hydrogels after incubation in PBS. The results showed that the increase in rigidity of the matrices as well as the absence of adhesion cellular moieties in the second network of HA-SH/PEGDA, resulted in a decrease in contraction in the presence of the encapsulated primary human fibroblasts (hFBs), which may have been related to an overall decrease in proliferation of hFBs found for all hydrogels after 7 days with respect to the plasma control. The metabolic activity of hFB returned to the control levels at 14 days except for the 2:1 PEGDA crosslinking ratio. The metabolic activity of primary human keratinocytes (hKCs) seeded on the hydrogels showed a decrease when high amounts of HA-SH and PEGDA crosslinker were incorporated. Organotypic skins formed in vitro after 21 days with plasma/HA-SH-PEGDA hydrogels with an HA content of 0.05% w/v and a 2:1 crosslinking ratio were up to three times thicker than the plasma controls, evidencing a reduction in contraction, while they also showed better and more homogeneous keratin 10 (K10) expression in the supra-basal layer of the epidermis. Furthermore, filaggrin expression showed the formation of an enhanced stratum corneum for the constructs containing HA. These promising results indicate the potential of using these biomimetic hydrogels as in vitro skin models for pharmaceutical products and cosmetics and future work will elucidate their potential functionality for clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Montero
- Department of Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), Spain
| | - Clara Atienza
- Department of Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), Spain
| | - Carlos Elvira
- Institute of Polymer Science and Technology, CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - José Luis Jorcano
- Department of Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Diego Velasco
- Department of Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
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23
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Elastin-Plasma Hybrid Hydrogels for Skin Tissue Engineering. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13132114. [PMID: 34203144 PMCID: PMC8271496 DOI: 10.3390/polym13132114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Dermo-epidermal equivalents based on plasma-derived fibrin hydrogels have been extensively studied for skin engineering. However, they showed rapid degradation and contraction over time and low mechanical properties which limit their reproducibility and lifespan. In order to achieve better mechanical properties, elasticity and biological properties, we incorporated a elastin-like recombinamer (ELR) network, based on two types of ELR, one modified with azide (SKS-N3) and other with cyclooctyne (SKS-Cyclo) chemical groups at molar ratio 1:1 at three different SKS (serine-lysine-serine sequence) concentrations (1, 3, and 5 wt.%), into plasma-derived fibrin hydrogels. Our results showed a decrease in gelation time and contraction, both in the absence and presence of the encapsulated human primary fibroblasts (hFBs), higher mechanical properties and increase in elasticity when SKSs content is equal or higher than 3%. However, hFBs proliferation showed an improvement when the lowest SKS content (1 wt.%) was used but started decreasing when increasing SKS concentration at day 14 with respect to the plasma control. Proliferation of human primary keratinocytes (hKCs) seeded on top of the hybrid-plasma hydrogels containing 1 and 3% of SKS showed no differences to plasma control and an increase in hKCs proliferation was observed for hybrid-plasma hydrogels containing 5 wt.% of SKS. These promising results showed the need to achieve a balance between the reduced contraction, the better mechanical properties and biological properties and indicate the potential of using this type of hydrogel as a testing platform for pharmaceutical products and cosmetics, and future work will elucidate their potential.
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24
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Yang Y, Wang X, Zha K, Tian Z, Liu S, Sui X, Wang Z, Zheng J, Wang J, Tian X, Guo Q, Zhao J. Porcine fibrin sealant combined with autologous chondrocytes successfully promotes full-thickness cartilage regeneration in a rabbit model. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2021; 15:776-787. [PMID: 34044473 PMCID: PMC8453535 DOI: 10.1002/term.3224] [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: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Xenogeneic porcine fibrin sealant (PFS), derived from porcine blood, was used as a scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. PFS has a porous microstructure, biocompatibility and degradation, and it provides a perfect extracellular matrix environment for the adhesion and proliferation of chondrocytes. Recently, PFS in combination with autologous chondrocytes (ACs) were used to study the microstructure of PFS scaffolds and promotion effect on the proliferation and migration of ACs. In this study, we investigated the effects of PFS in combination with ACs on the healing of cartilage defects in rabbits. A full‐thickness cartilage defect was made in the femoral trochlear in rabbits, subsequently, three surgical procedures were used to repair the defect, namely: the defect was treated with microfracture (MF group); the defect was filled with PFS alone (PFS group) or in combination with ACs (PFS + ACs group); the unrepaired cartilage defects served as the control group (CD group). Three and 6 months after the operation, the reparative effect was evaluated using medical imaging, gross scoring, pathological staining, biomechanical testing and biochemical examination. The PFS group showed a limited effect on defect repair, this result was significantly worse than the MF group. The best reparative effect was observed in the PFS + ACs group. These results hinted that PFS in combination with autologous chondrocytes has broad prospects for clinical applications in cartilage tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yang
- Department of Orthopedics Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,Institute of Orthopedics, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries, PLA, Beijing, China.,The Second People's Hospital of Guiyang, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Institute of Orthopedics, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Kangkang Zha
- Institute of Orthopedics, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuang Tian
- Institute of Orthopedics, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Shuyun Liu
- Institute of Orthopedics, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Sui
- Institute of Orthopedics, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- Institute of Orthopedics, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Jilian Zheng
- The Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobin Tian
- Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Quanyi Guo
- Institute of Orthopedics, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Jinmin Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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25
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Fibrinolysis in Platelet Thrombi. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105135. [PMID: 34066261 PMCID: PMC8152010 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The extent and duration of occlusive thrombus formation following an arterial atherothrombotic plaque disruption may be determined by the effectiveness of endogenous fibrinolysis. The determinants of endogenous fibrinolysis are the subject of much research, and it is now broadly accepted that clot composition as well as the environment in which the thrombus was formed play a significant role. Thrombi with a high platelet content demonstrate significant resistance to fibrinolysis, and this may be attributable to an augmented ability for thrombin generation and the release of fibrinolysis inhibitors, resulting in a fibrin-dense, stable thrombus. Additional platelet activators may augment thrombin generation further, and in the case of coronary stenosis, high shear has been shown to strengthen the attachment of the thrombus to the vessel wall. Neutrophil extracellular traps contribute to fibrinolysis resistance. Additionally, platelet-mediated clot retraction, release of Factor XIII and resultant crosslinking with fibrinolysis inhibitors impart structural stability to the thrombus against dislodgment by flow. Further work is needed in this rapidly evolving field, and efforts to mimic the pathophysiological environment in vitro are essential to further elucidate the mechanism of fibrinolysis resistance and in providing models to assess the effects of pharmacotherapy.
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Chlorite oxidized oxyamylose differentially influences the microstructure of fibrin and self assembling peptide hydrogels as well as dental pulp stem cell behavior. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5687. [PMID: 33707502 PMCID: PMC7952722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84405-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tailored hydrogels mimicking the native extracellular environment could help overcome the high variability in outcomes within regenerative endodontics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the chemokine-binding and antimicrobial polymer, chlorite-oxidized oxyamylose (COAM), on the microstructural properties of fibrin and self-assembling peptide (SAP) hydrogels. A further goal was to assess the influence of the microstructural differences between the hydrogels on the in vitro behavior of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Structural and mechanical characterization of the hydrogels with and without COAM was performed by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to characterize their microstructure (roughness and fiber length, diameter, straightness, and alignment) and by nanoindentation to measure their stiffness (elastic modulus). Then, hDPSCs were encapsulated in hydrogels with and without COAM. Cell viability and circularity were determined using confocal microscopy, and proliferation was determined using DNA quantification. Inclusion of COAM did not alter the microstructure of the fibrin hydrogels at the fiber level while affecting the SAP hydrogel microstructure (homogeneity), leading to fiber aggregation. The stiffness of the SAP hydrogels was sevenfold higher than the fibrin hydrogels. The viability and attachment of hDPSCs were significantly higher in fibrin hydrogels than in SAP hydrogels. The DNA content was significantly affected by the hydrogel type and the presence of COAM. The microstructural stability after COAM inclusion and the favorable hDPSCs' response observed in fibrin hydrogels suggest this system as a promising carrier for COAM and application in endodontic regeneration.
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Memtsas VP, Arachchillage DRJ, Gorog DA. Role, Laboratory Assessment and Clinical Relevance of Fibrin, Factor XIII and Endogenous Fibrinolysis in Arterial and Venous Thrombosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031472. [PMID: 33540604 PMCID: PMC7867291 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases such as myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, peripheral vascular disease and venous thromboembolism are major contributors to morbidity and mortality. Procoagulant, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic pathways are finely regulated in healthy individuals and dysregulated procoagulant, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic pathways lead to arterial and venous thrombosis. In this review article, we discuss the (patho)physiological role and laboratory assessment of fibrin, factor XIII and endogenous fibrinolysis, which are key players in the terminal phase of the coagulation cascade and fibrinolysis. Finally, we present the most up-to-date evidence for their involvement in various disease states and assessment of cardiovascular risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vassilios P. Memtsas
- Cardiology Department, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 4AB, UK;
| | - Deepa R. J. Arachchillage
- Centre for Haematology, Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK;
- Department of Haematology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W2 1NY, UK
- Department of Haematology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London SW3 6NP, UK
| | - Diana A. Gorog
- Cardiology Department, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 4AB, UK;
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London SW3 6LY, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-207-0348841
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Probing fibrin's molecular response to shear and tensile deformation with coherent Raman microscopy. Acta Biomater 2021; 121:383-392. [PMID: 33321217 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Blood clots are essential biomaterials that prevent blood loss and provide a temporary scaffold for tissue repair. In their function, these materials must be capable of resisting mechanical forces from hemodynamic shear and contractile tension without rupture. Fibrin networks, the primary load-bearing element in blood clots, have unique nonlinear mechanical properties resulting from fibrin's hierarchical structure. This structure provides multiscale load bearing from fiber deformation to protein unfolding. Here, we study the fiber and molecular scale response of fibrin under shear and tensile loads in situ using a combination of fluorescence and vibrational (molecular) microscopy. Imaging protein fiber orientation and molecular vibrations, we find that fiber alignment and molecular unfolding in fibrin appear at much larger strains under shear compared to uniaxial tension. Alignment levels reached at 150% shear strain were reached already at 60% tensile strain, and molecular unfolding of fibrin was only detected at shear strains above 300%, whereas fibrin unfolding began already at 20% tensile strain. Moreover, shear deformation caused progressive changes in vibrational modes consistent with increased protofibril and fiber packing that were already present even at very low tensile deformation. Together with a bioinformatic analysis of the primary fibrinogen structure, we propose a scheme for the molecular response of fibrin from low to high deformation, which may relate to the teleological origin of fibrin's resistance to shear and tensile forces.
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Gerrits L, Hammink R, Kouwer PHJ. Semiflexible polymer scaffolds: an overview of conjugation strategies. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d0py01662d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Semiflexible polymers are excellent scaffolds for the presentation of a wide variety of (bio)molecules. This manuscript reviews advantages and challenges of the most common conjugation strategies for the major classes of semiflexible polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotte Gerrits
- Institute for Molecules and Materials
- Radboud University
- 6525 AJ Nijmegen
- The Netherlands
| | - Roel Hammink
- Department of Tumor Immunology
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences
- Radboud University Medical Center
- 6525 GA Nijmegen
- The Netherlands
| | - Paul H. J. Kouwer
- Institute for Molecules and Materials
- Radboud University
- 6525 AJ Nijmegen
- The Netherlands
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Ma J, Huang C. Composition and Mechanism of Three-Dimensional Hydrogel System in Regulating Stem Cell Fate. TISSUE ENGINEERING. PART B, REVIEWS 2020; 26:498-518. [PMID: 32272868 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2020.0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel systems integrating different types of stem cells and scaffolding biomaterials have an important application in tissue engineering. The biomimetic hydrogels that pattern cell suspensions within 3D configurations of biomaterial networks allow for the transport of bioactive factors and mimic the stem cell niche in vivo, thereby supporting the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. The composition of a 3D hydrogel system determines the physical and chemical characteristics that regulate stem cell function through a biological mechanism. Here, we discuss the natural and synthetic hydrogel compositions that have been employed in 3D scaffolding, focusing on their characteristics, fabrication, biocompatibility, and regulatory effects on stem cell proliferation and differentiation. We also discuss the regulatory mechanisms of cell-matrix interaction and cell-cell interaction in stem cell activities in various types of 3D hydrogel systems. Understanding hydrogel compositions and their cellular mechanisms can yield insights into how scaffolding biomaterials and stem cells interact and can lead to the development of novel hydrogel systems of stem cells in tissue engineering and stem cell-based regenerative medicine. Impact statement Three-dimensional hydrogel system of stem cell mimicking the stemcell niche holds significant promise in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Exactly how hydrogel composition regulates stem cell fate is not well understood. This review focuses on the composition of hydrogel, and how the hydrogel composition and its properties regulate the stem cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation. We propose that cell-matrix interaction and cell-cell interaction are important regulatory mechanisms in stem cell activities. Our review provides key insights into how the hydrogel composition regulates the stem cell fate, untangling the engineering of three-dimensional hydrogel systems for stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianrui Ma
- Center for Neurobiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Chengyang Huang
- Center for Neurobiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
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31
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Garcia-Abrego C, Zaunz S, Toprakhisar B, Subramani R, Deschaume O, Jooken S, Bajaj M, Ramon H, Verfaillie C, Bartic C, Patterson J. Towards Mimicking the Fetal Liver Niche: The Influence of Elasticity and Oxygen Tension on Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells Cultured in 3D Fibrin Hydrogels. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176367. [PMID: 32887387 PMCID: PMC7504340 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) are responsible for the generation of blood cells throughout life. It is believed that, in addition to soluble cytokines and niche cells, biophysical cues like elasticity and oxygen tension are responsible for the orchestration of stem cell fate. Although several studies have examined the effects of bone marrow (BM) niche elasticity on HSPC behavior, no study has yet investigated the effects of the elasticity of other niche sites like the fetal liver (FL), where HSPCs expand more extensively. In this study, we evaluated the effect of matrix stiffness values similar to those of the FL on BM-derived HSPC expansion. We first characterized the elastic modulus of murine FL tissue at embryonic day E14.5. Fibrin hydrogels with similar stiffness values as the FL (soft hydrogels) were compared with stiffer fibrin hydrogels (hard hydrogels) and with suspension culture. We evaluated the expansion of total nucleated cells (TNCs), Lin−/cKit+ cells, HSPCs (Lin−/Sca+/cKit+ (LSK) cells), and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs: LSK- Signaling Lymphocyte Activated Molecule (LSK-SLAM) cells) when cultured in 5% O2 (hypoxia) or in normoxia. After 10 days, there was a significant expansion of TNCs and LSK cells in all culture conditions at both levels of oxygen tension. LSK cells expanded more in suspension culture than in both fibrin hydrogels, whereas TNCs expanded more in suspension culture and in soft hydrogels than in hard hydrogels, particularly in normoxia. The number of LSK-SLAM cells was maintained in suspension culture and in the soft hydrogels but not in the hard hydrogels. Our results indicate that both suspension culture and fibrin hydrogels allow for the expansion of HSPCs and more differentiated progeny whereas stiff environments may compromise LSK-SLAM cell expansion. This suggests that further research using softer hydrogels with stiffness values closer to the FL niche is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Garcia-Abrego
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (C.G.-A.); (B.T.)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (O.D.); (S.J.); (C.B.)
| | - Samantha Zaunz
- Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.Z.); (M.B.); (C.V.)
| | - Burak Toprakhisar
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (C.G.-A.); (B.T.)
- Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.Z.); (M.B.); (C.V.)
| | - Ramesh Subramani
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (R.S.); (H.R.)
- Department of Food Processing Technology and Management, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore 641004, India
| | - Olivier Deschaume
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (O.D.); (S.J.); (C.B.)
| | - Stijn Jooken
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (O.D.); (S.J.); (C.B.)
| | - Manmohan Bajaj
- Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.Z.); (M.B.); (C.V.)
| | - Herman Ramon
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (R.S.); (H.R.)
| | | | - Carmen Bartic
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (O.D.); (S.J.); (C.B.)
| | - Jennifer Patterson
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (C.G.-A.); (B.T.)
- IMDEA Materials Institute, 28906 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
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32
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Windberger U, Läuger J. Blood Clot Phenotyping by Rheometry: Platelets and Fibrinogen Chemistry Affect Stress-Softening and -Stiffening at Large Oscillation Amplitude. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25173890. [PMID: 32858936 PMCID: PMC7503632 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Together with treatment protocols, viscoelastic tests are widely used for patient care. Measuring at broader ranges of deformation than currently done will add information on a clot’s mechanical phenotype because fibrin networks follow different stretching regimes, and blood flow compels clots into a dynamic non-linear response. (2) Methods: To characterize the influence of platelets on the network level, a stress amplitude sweep test (LAOStress) was applied to clots from native plasma with five platelet concentrations. Five species were used to validate the protocol (human, cow, pig, rat, horse). By Lissajous plots the oscillation cycle for each stress level was analyzed. (3) Results: Cyclic stress loading generates a characteristic strain response that scales with the platelet quantity at low stress, and that is independent from the platelet count at high shear stress. This general behavior is valid in the animal models except cow. Here, the specific fibrinogen chemistry induces a stiffer network and a variant high stress response. (4) Conclusions: The protocol provides several thresholds to connect the softening and stiffening behavior of clots with the applied shear stress. This points to the reversible part of deformation, and thus opens a new route to describe a blood clot’s phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Windberger
- Department for Biomedical Research, Decentralized Biomedical Facilities, Medical University Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: (U.W.); (J.L.); Tel.: +43-1-40160-37103 (U.W.)
| | - Jörg Läuger
- Anton Paar Germany GmbH, Helmuth-Hirth-Strasse 6, 73760 Ostfildern, Germany
- Correspondence: (U.W.); (J.L.); Tel.: +43-1-40160-37103 (U.W.)
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33
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Al-Horani RA, Kar S. Factor XIIIa inhibitors as potential novel drugs for venous thromboembolism. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 200:112442. [PMID: 32502864 PMCID: PMC7513741 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Human factor XIIIa (FXIIIa) is a multifunctional transglutaminase with a significant role in hemostasis. FXIIIa catalyzes the last step in the coagulation process. It stabilizes the blood clot by cross-linking the α- and γ-chains of fibrin. It also protects the newly formed clot from plasmin-mediated fibrinolysis, primarily by cross-linking α2-antiplasmin to fibrin. Furthermore, FXIIIa is a major determinant of clot size and clot's red blood cells content. Therefore, inhibitors targeting FXIIIa have been considered to develop a new generation of anticoagulants to prevent and/or treat venous thromboembolism. Several inhibitors of FXIIIa have been discovered or designed including active site and allosteric site small molecule inhibitors as well as natural and modified polypeptides. This work reviews the structural, biochemical, and pharmacological aspects of FXIIIa inhibitors so as to advance their molecular design to become more clinically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rami A Al-Horani
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, 70125, USA.
| | - Srabani Kar
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, 70125, USA
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34
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Okano S, Lobosky M, Dessoffy R, Horvath DJ, Fukamachi K, Karimov JH. Anti-clogging mechanisms of a motion-activated chest tube patency maintenance system: Histology and high-speed camera assessment. Artif Organs 2020; 44:1162-1170. [PMID: 32437592 DOI: 10.1111/aor.13740] [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: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The motion-activated system (MAS) employs vibration to prevent intraluminal chest tube clogging. We evaluated the intraluminal clot formation inside chest tubes using high-speed camera imaging and postexplant histology analysis of thrombus. The chest tube clogging was tested (MAS vs. control) in acute hemothorax porcine models (n = 5). The whole tubes with blood clots were fixed with formalin-acetic acid solution and cut into cross-sections, proceeded for H&E-stained paraffin-embedded tissue sections (MAS sections, n = 11; control sections, n = 11), and analyzed. As a separate effort, a high-speed camera (FASTCAM Mini AX200, 100-mm Zeiss lens) was used to visualize the whole blood clogging pattern inside the chest tube cross-sectional view. Histology revealed a thin string-like fibrin deposition, which showed spiral eddy or aggregate within the blood clots in most sections of Group MAS, but not in those of the control group. Histology findings were compatible with high-speed camera views. The high-speed camera images showed a device-specific intraluminal blood "swirling" pattern. Our findings suggest that a continuous spiral flow in blood within the chest tube (MAS vs. static control) contributes to the formation of a spiral string-like fibrin network during consumption of coagulation factors. As a result, the spiral flow may prevent formation of thick band-like fibrin deposits sticking to the inner tube surface and causing tube clogging, and thus may positively affect chest tube patency and drainage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Okano
- Transplant Center, Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mark Lobosky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Raymond Dessoffy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - David J Horvath
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kiyotaka Fukamachi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jamshid H Karimov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Shpichka A, Osipova D, Efremov Y, Bikmulina P, Kosheleva N, Lipina M, Bezrukov EA, Sukhanov RB, Solovieva AB, Vosough M, Timashev P. Fibrin-based Bioinks: New Tricks from an Old Dog. Int J Bioprint 2020; 6:269. [PMID: 33088984 PMCID: PMC7557349 DOI: 10.18063/ijb.v6i3.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
For the past 10 years, the main efforts of most bioprinting research teams have focused on creating new bioink formulations, rather than inventing new printing set-up concepts. New tissue-specific bioinks with good printability, shape fidelity, and biocompatibility are based on "old" (well-known) biomaterials, particularly fibrin. While the interest in fibrin-based bioinks is constantly growing, it is essential to provide a framework of material's properties and trends. This review aims to describe the fibrin properties and application in three-dimensional bioprinting and provide a view on further development of fibrin-based bioinks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Shpichka
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daria Osipova
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yuri Efremov
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Polina Bikmulina
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nastasia Kosheleva
- Department of Molecular and Cell Pathophysiology, FSBSI Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Embryology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina Lipina
- Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny A Bezrukov
- Department of Urology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman B Sukhanov
- Department of Urology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna B Solovieva
- Department of Polymers and Composites, NN Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Centre, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Peter Timashev
- Department of Advanced Biomaterials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Polymers and Composites, NN Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Photon Technologies, Federal Research Center Crystallography and Photonics RAS, Moscow, Russia
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36
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Use of Tisseel, a Fibrin Sealant, for Particulate Graft Stabilization. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2020; 78:1674-1681. [PMID: 32192927 DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2020.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
One clinical problem when augmenting a narrow or vertically deficient ridge is maintenance of the graft position during the immediate healing phase and preservation of the augmentation over time. The use of Tisseel (Baxter, Deerfield, IL), a fibrin sealant product, to stabilize particulate grafts, has been reported, and we have reviewed its use. Fibrinogen is converted to fibrin and forms a fibular network that binds the particulate graft. A protease inhibitor is included, which prevents lysis of the coagulum for at least 2 weeks and allows for fibrous ingrowth and graft stabilization. We have reviewed the reported data and included 2 case reports to demonstrate the use of Tisseel.
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37
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Pieters M, Guthold M, Nunes CM, de Lange Z. Interpretation and Validation of Maximum Absorbance Data Obtained from Turbidimetry Analysis of Plasma Clots. Thromb Haemost 2019; 120:44-54. [PMID: 31752041 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1698460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Turbidimetry is used to characterize fibrin clot properties. In purified systems, maximum absorbance (MA) directly relates to fibrin fiber cross-sectional area. However, in plasma samples there are discrepancies in the relationships between MA and fibrinogen concentration, fiber diameter, other clot properties, and cardiovascular disease outcomes, which complicate data interpretation. This study aims to advance understanding of MA of plasma clots through testing how well it relates to fundamental dependence on fibrinogen concentration and fiber diameter as predicted by light scattering theory, other clot properties and lifestyle, and biochemical variables. Plasma samples from 30 apparently healthy individuals with a fibrinogen concentration from 2.4 to 6.4 g/L were included. We performed turbidimetry, permeability, scanning electron microscopy, and rheometry on in vitro formed plasma clots. MA correlated more strongly with fibrinogen concentration (r = 0.65; p < 0.001) than with fiber diameter (r = 0.47; p = 0.01), which combined explained only 46% of the MA variance. Of additional variables measured, only low-density lipoprotein cholesterol correlated with MA (r = 0.46; p = 0.01) and clot lysis (r = 0.62; p < 0.0001) but not with fiber diameter or fibrinogen concentration. MA correlated with clot lysis time (r = 0.59; p = 0.001), storage modulus (r = 0.61; p = 0.001), and loss modulus (r = 0.59; p = 0.001), and negatively with clot permeability (r = -0.60; p = 0.001) also after adjustment for fibrinogen concentration and fiber diameter. Increased MA is indicative of a prothrombotic clot phenotype irrespective of fibrinogen concentration. MA is more indicative of overall clot density than of fiber diameter. Other plasma components can alter internal fiber density without altering fiber diameter and should be considered when interpreting MA of plasma samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlien Pieters
- Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Martin Guthold
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
| | - Claudia M Nunes
- Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Zelda de Lange
- Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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38
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Roberts IV, Bukhary D, Valdivieso CYL, Tirelli N. Fibrin Matrices as (Injectable) Biomaterials: Formation, Clinical Use, and Molecular Engineering. Macromol Biosci 2019; 20:e1900283. [PMID: 31769933 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201900283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
This review focuses on fibrin, starting from biological mechanisms (its production from fibrinogen and its enzymatic degradation), through its use as a medical device and as a biomaterial, and finally discussing the techniques used to add biological functions and/or improve its mechanical performance through its molecular engineering. Fibrin is a material of biological (human, and even patient's own) origin, injectable, adhesive, and remodellable by cells; further, it is nature's most common choice for an in situ forming, provisional matrix. Its widespread use in the clinic and in research is therefore completely unsurprising. There are, however, areas where its biomedical performance can be improved, namely achieving a better control over mechanical properties (and possibly higher modulus), slowing down degradation or incorporating cell-instructive functions (e.g., controlled delivery of growth factors). The authors here specifically review the efforts made in the last 20 years to achieve these aims via biomimetic reactions or self-assembly, as much via formation of hybrid materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwan Vaughan Roberts
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Science, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Deena Bukhary
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Science, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.,Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Nicola Tirelli
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Science, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.,Laboratory of Polymers and Biomaterials, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
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Mouapi KN, Wagner LJ, Stephens CA, Hindi MM, Wilkey DW, Merchant ML, Maurer MC. Evaluating the Effects of Fibrinogen αC Mutations on the Ability of Factor XIII to Crosslink the Reactive αC Glutamines (Q237, Q328, Q366). Thromb Haemost 2019; 119:1048-1057. [PMID: 31055797 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1687875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Fibrinogen (Fbg) levels and extent of fibrin polymerization have been associated with various pathological conditions such as cardiovascular disease, arteriosclerosis, and coagulation disorders. Activated factor XIII (FXIIIa) introduces γ-glutamyl-ε-lysinyl isopeptide bonds between reactive glutamines and lysines in the fibrin network to form a blood clot resistant to fibrinolysis. FXIIIa crosslinks the γ-chains and at multiple sites in the αC region of Fbg. Fbg αC contains a FXIII binding site involving αC (389-402) that is located near three glutamines whose reactivities rank Q237 >> Q366 ≈ Q328. Mass spectrometry and two-dimensional heteronuclear single-quantum correlation nuclear magnetic resonance assays were used to probe the anchoring role that αC E396 may play in controlling FXIII function and characterize the effects of Q237 on the reactivities of Q328 and Q366. Studies with αC (233-425) revealed that the E396A mutation does not prevent the transglutaminase function of FXIII A2 or A2B2. Other residues must play a compensatory role in targeting FXIII to αC. Unlike full Fbg, Fbg αC (233-425) did not promote thrombin cleavage of FXIII, an event contributing to activation. With the αC (233-425) E396A mutant, Q237 exhibited slower reactivities compared with αC wild-type (WT) consistent with difficulties in directing this N-terminal segment toward an anchored FXIII interacting at a weaker binding region. Q328 and Q366 became less reactive when Q237 was replaced with inactive N237. Q237 crosslinking is proposed to promote targeting of Q328 and Q366 to the FXIII active site. FXIII thus uses Fbg αC anchoring sites and distinct Q environments to regulate substrate specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Njine Mouapi
- Chemistry Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| | - Lucille J Wagner
- Chemistry Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| | - Chad A Stephens
- Chemistry Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| | - Mohammed M Hindi
- Chemistry Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| | - Daniel W Wilkey
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| | - Michael L Merchant
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| | - Muriel C Maurer
- Chemistry Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
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Protopopova AD, Ramirez A, Klinov DV, Litvinov RI, Weisel JW. Factor XIII topology: organization of B subunits and changes with activation studied with single-molecule atomic force microscopy. J Thromb Haemost 2019; 17:737-748. [PMID: 30773828 PMCID: PMC6917434 DOI: 10.1111/jth.14412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Essentials Factor XIII is a heterotetramer with 2 catalytic A subunits and 2 non-catalytic B subunits. Structure of active and inactive factor XIII was studied with atomic force microscopy. Inactive factor XIII is made of an A2 globule and 2 flexible B subunits extending from it. Activated factor XIII separates into a B2 homodimer and 2 monomeric active A subunits. SUMMARY: Background Factor XIII (FXIII) is a precursor of the blood plasma transglutaminase (FXIIIa) that is generated by thrombin and Ca2+ and covalently crosslinks fibrin to strengthen blood clots. Inactive plasma FXIII is a heterotetramer with two catalytic A subunits and two non-catalytic B subunits. Inactive A subunits have been characterized crystallographically, whereas the atomic structure of the entire FXIII and B subunits is unknown and the oligomerization state of activated A subunits remains controversial. Objectives Our goal was to characterize the (sub)molecular structure of inactive FXIII and changes upon activation. Methods Plasma FXIII, non-activated or activated with thrombin and Ca2+ , was studied by single-molecule atomic force microscopy. Additionally, recombinant separate A and B subunits were visualized and compared with their conformations and dimensions in FXIII and FXIIIa. Results and Conclusions We showed that heterotetrameric FXIII forms a globule composed of two catalytic A subunits with two flexible strands comprising individual non-catalytic B subunits that protrude on one side of the globule. Each strand corresponds to seven to eight out of 10 tandem repeats building each B subunit, called sushi domains. The remainder were not seen, presumably because they were tightly bound to the globular A2 dimer. Some FXIII molecules had one or no visible strands, suggesting dissociation of the B subunits from the globular core. After activation of FXIII with thrombin and Ca2+ , B subunits dissociated and formed B2 homodimers, whereas the activated globular A subunits dissociated into monomers. These results characterize the molecular organization of FXIII and changes with activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna D Protopopova
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrea Ramirez
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Dmitry V Klinov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Rustem I Litvinov
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation
| | - John W Weisel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Dibiasi C, Plewka J, Ploszczanski L, Glanz V, Lichtenegger H, Windberger U. Viscoelasticity and structure of blood clots generated in-vitro by rheometry: A comparison between human, horse, rat, and camel. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 2018; 69:515-531. [PMID: 29710696 DOI: 10.3233/ch-189203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the coagulation system is evolutionary well preserved, profound species differences exist in viscoelastic as well as in common laboratory tests of coagulation. OBJECTIVE Evaluating differences in clot formation and material characterisation of clots of four mammalian species on macro-, micro- and nanoscales by the means of rheometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). METHODS Blood samples were collected from healthy human volunteers, laboratory rats (HL/LE inbred strain), warmblood horses and dromedary camels. Clot formation was observed by oscillating shear rheometry until plateau formation of the shear storage modulus G', at which point selected clots were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. SEM images were analysed for fibre diameter and fractal dimension. Additionally, scattering profiles for plasma and whole blood samples were obtained with SAXS. RESULTS Viscoelasticity of clots showed great interspecies variation: clots of rats and horses exhibited shorter clotting times and higher G' plateau values, when compared to human clots. Camel clots showed unique clotting characteristics with no G' plateau formation in the timeframe observed. Less differentiating features were found with SEM and SAXS, although the rat fibre network appears to be more convoluted and dense, which resulted in a higher fractal dimension. CONCLUSION Clotting kinetic differs between the species, which is not only of clinical interest, but could also be an important finding for animal models of blood coagulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Dibiasi
- Department of Biomedical Research, Decentralized Biomedical Facilities, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leon Ploszczanski
- Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Glanz
- Department of Biomedical Research, Decentralized Biomedical Facilities, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Helga Lichtenegger
- Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ursula Windberger
- Department of Biomedical Research, Decentralized Biomedical Facilities, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
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Mendes BB, Gómez-Florit M, Pires RA, Domingues RMA, Reis RL, Gomes ME. Human-based fibrillar nanocomposite hydrogels as bioinstructive matrices to tune stem cell behavior. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:17388-17401. [PMID: 30203823 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr04273j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM)-biomimetic fibrillar structure of platelet lysate (PL) gels along with their enriched milieu of biomolecules has drawn significant interest in regenerative medicine applications. However, PL-based gels have poor structural stability, which severely limits their performance as a bioinstructive biomaterial. Here, rod-shaped cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are used as a novel approach to modulate the physical and biochemical microenvironment of PL gels enabling their effective use as injectable human-based cell scaffolds with a level of biomimicry that is difficult to recreate with synthetic biomaterials. The incorporation of CNC (0 to 0.61 wt%) into the PL fibrillar network during the coagulation cascade leads to decreased fiber branching, increased interfiber porosity (from 66 to 83%) and modulates fiber (from 1.4 ± 0.7 to 27 ± 12 kPa) and bulk hydrogel (from 18 ± 4 to 1256 ± 82 Pa) mechanical properties. As a result of these physicochemical alterations, nanocomposite PL hydrogels resist the typical extensive clot retraction (from 76 ± 1 to 24 ± 3 at day 7) and show favored retention of PL bioactive molecules. The feedback of these cues on the fate of human adipose-derived stem cells is evaluated, showing how it can be explored to modulate the commitment of encapsulated stem cells toward different genetic phenotypes without the need for additional external biological stimuli. These fibrillar nanocomposite hydrogels allow therefore the exploration of the outstanding biological properties of human-based PL as an efficient engineered ECM which can be tailored to trigger specific regenerative pathways in minimal invasive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara B Mendes
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Avepark - Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco - Guimarães, Portugal.
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43
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Wolberg AS. Fibrinogen and factor XIII: newly recognized roles in venous thrombus formation and composition. Curr Opin Hematol 2018; 25:358-364. [PMID: 29994896 PMCID: PMC6215450 DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In spite of significant morbidity and mortality associated with venous thromboembolism, the underlying pathogenesis remains poorly understood. RECENT FINDINGS Clues to operant pathogenic mechanisms are found in the unique morphology and composition of these thrombi, which have substantial red blood cell and fibrin content. Recent studies have revealed biochemical and biophysical mechanisms that dictate fibrin structure in venous thrombi and promote retention of red blood cells within the contracted clots. These mechanisms include newly recognized contributions of fibrin network structure and factor XIII(a)-mediated fibrin crosslinking to venous thrombus composition, size, and stability. SUMMARY Continued work to elucidate mechanisms by which fibrin(ogen), factor XIII, and red blood cells contribute to venous thrombus formation, structure, and stability may expose novel molecular targets and strategies for reducing thrombosis and thrombotic complications in certain at-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa S Wolberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Heher P, Mühleder S, Mittermayr R, Redl H, Slezak P. Fibrin-based delivery strategies for acute and chronic wound healing. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2018; 129:134-147. [PMID: 29247766 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Fibrin, a natural hydrogel, is the end product of the physiological blood coagulation cascade and naturally involved in wound healing. Beyond its role in hemostasis, it acts as a local reservoir for growth factors and as a provisional matrix for invading cells that drive the regenerative process. Its unique intrinsic features do not only promote wound healing directly via modulation of cell behavior but it can also be fine-tuned to evolve into a delivery system for sustained release of therapeutic biomolecules, cells and gene vectors. To further augment tissue regeneration potential, current strategies exploit and modify the chemical and physical characteristics of fibrin to employ combined incorporation of several factors and their timed release. In this work we show advanced therapeutic approaches employing fibrin matrices in wound healing and cover the many possibilities fibrin offers to the field of regenerative medicine.
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45
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Moussaddy A, Demchuk AM, Hill MD. Thrombolytic therapies for ischemic stroke: Triumphs and future challenges. Neuropharmacology 2018; 134:272-279. [PMID: 29505787 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Acute stroke therapy has significantly evolved over the last two decades. The two main advances have been the approval of intravenous chemical thrombolysis in 1995, and the approval of intra-arterial mechanical thrombectomy in 2015. This has led to significant improvement of functional outcomes in a disease known to be the first cause of disability worldwide. Subsequent studies have focused on identifying pre-treatment predictors of good treatment candidates, by developing biochemical and imaging biomarkers. Different doses and agents of thrombolysis are also being tested. In this review article, we explain the fundamentals of stroke therapy focusing on the time, recanalization and collateral perfusion factors. We then review recent advances in stroke thrombolysis, the most significant of which is the recent trials on a novel rtPA agent, tenecteplase, and approval of endovascular treatment as a standard of care. Looking ahead, defining the benefits and limitations of bridging chemical with mechanical thrombolysis is a key area of current interest. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Cerebral Ischemia'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimen Moussaddy
- Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Andrew M Demchuk
- Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Michael D Hill
- Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Vos BE, Liebrand LC, Vahabi M, Biebricher A, Wuite GJL, Peterman EJG, Kurniawan NA, MacKintosh FC, Koenderink GH. Programming the mechanics of cohesive fiber networks by compression. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:8886-8893. [PMID: 29057402 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01393k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibrous networks are ideal functional materials since they provide mechanical rigidity at low weight. Here, we demonstrate that fibrous networks of the blood clotting protein fibrin undergo a strong and irreversible increase in their mechanical rigidity in response to uniaxial compression. This rigidification can be precisely controlled by the level of applied compressive strain, providing a means to program the network rigidity without having to change its composition. To identify the underlying mechanism we measure single fiber-fiber interactions using optical tweezers. We further develop a minimal computational model of cohesive fiber networks that shows that stiffening arises due to the formation of new bonds in the compressed state, which develop tensile stress when the network is re-expanded. The model predicts that the network stiffness after a compression cycle obeys a power-law dependence on tensile stress, which we confirm experimentally. This finding provides new insights into how biological tissues can adapt themselves independently of any cellular processes, offering new perspectives to inspire the design of reprogrammable materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart E Vos
- Biological Soft Matter Group, AMOLF, 1098XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Nonuniform Internal Structure of Fibrin Fibers: Protein Density and Bond Density Strongly Decrease with Increasing Diameter. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:6385628. [PMID: 29130043 PMCID: PMC5654258 DOI: 10.1155/2017/6385628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The major structural component of a blood clot is a meshwork of fibrin fibers. It has long been thought that the internal structure of fibrin fibers is homogeneous; that is, the protein density and the bond density between protofibrils are uniform and do not depend on fiber diameter. We performed experiments to investigate the internal structure of fibrin fibers. We formed fibrin fibers with fluorescently labeled fibrinogen and determined the light intensity of a fiber, I, as a function of fiber diameter, D. The intensity and, thus, the total number of fibrin molecules in a cross-section scaled as D1.4. This means that the protein density (fibrin per cross-sectional area), ρp , is not homogeneous but instead strongly decreases with fiber diameter as D-0.6. Thinner fibers are denser than thicker fibers. We also determined Young's modulus, Y, as a function of fiber diameter. Y decreased strongly with increasing D; Y scaled as D-1.5. This implies that the bond density, ρb , also scales as D-1.5. Thinner fibers are stiffer than thicker fibers. Our data suggest that fibrin fibers have a dense, well-connected core and a sparse, loosely connected periphery. In contrast, electrospun fibrinogen fibers, used as a control, have a homogeneous cross-section.
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48
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Inhibition of Fibrinolysis by Coagulation Factor XIII. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:1209676. [PMID: 28761875 PMCID: PMC5518539 DOI: 10.1155/2017/1209676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The inhibitory effect of coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) on fibrinolysis has been studied for at least 50 years. Our insight into the underlying mechanisms has improved considerably, aided in particular by the discovery that activated FXIII cross-links α2-antiplasmin (α2AP) to fibrin. In this review, the most important effects of different cross-linking reactions on fibrinolysis are summarized. A distinction is made between fibrin-fibrin cross-links studied in purified systems and fibrin-α2AP cross-links studied in plasma or whole blood systems. While the formation of γ chain dimers in fibrin does not affect clot lysis, the formation of α chain polymers has a weak inhibitory effect. Only strong cross-linking of fibrin, associated with high molecular weight α chain polymers and/or γ chain multimers, results in a moderate inhibition fibrinolysis. The formation of fibrin-α2AP cross-links has only a weak effect on clot lysis, but this effect becomes strong when clot retraction occurs. Under these conditions, FXIII prevents α2AP being expelled from the clot and makes the clot relatively resistant to degradation by plasmin.
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Kurniawan NA, Vos BE, Biebricher A, Wuite GJL, Peterman EJG, Koenderink GH. Fibrin Networks Support Recurring Mechanical Loads by Adapting their Structure across Multiple Scales. Biophys J 2017; 111:1026-34. [PMID: 27602730 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissues and cells sustain recurring mechanical loads that span a wide range of loading amplitudes and timescales as a consequence of exposure to blood flow, muscle activity, and external impact. Both tissues and cells derive their mechanical strength from fibrous protein scaffolds, which typically have a complex hierarchical structure. In this study, we focus on a prototypical hierarchical biomaterial, fibrin, which is one of the most resilient naturally occurring biopolymers and forms the structural scaffold of blood clots. We show how fibrous networks composed of fibrin utilize irreversible changes in their hierarchical structure at different scales to maintain reversible stress stiffening up to large strains. To trace the origin of this paradoxical resilience, we systematically tuned the microstructural parameters of fibrin and used a combination of optical tweezers and fluorescence microscopy to measure the interactions of single fibrin fibers for the first time, to our knowledge. We demonstrate that fibrin networks adapt to moderate strains by remodeling at the network scale through the spontaneous formation of new bonds between fibers, whereas they adapt to high strains by plastic remodeling of the fibers themselves. This multiscale adaptation mechanism endows fibrin gels with the remarkable ability to sustain recurring loads due to shear flows and wound stretching. Our findings therefore reveal a microscopic mechanism by which tissues and cells can balance elastic nonlinearity and plasticity, and thus can provide microstructural insights into cell-driven remodeling of tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Kurniawan
- Department of Systems Biophysics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Bart E Vos
- Department of Systems Biophysics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Biebricher
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gijs J L Wuite
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin J G Peterman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- Department of Systems Biophysics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Kim OV, Litvinov RI, Chen J, Chen DZ, Weisel JW, Alber MS. Compression-induced structural and mechanical changes of fibrin-collagen composites. Matrix Biol 2017; 60-61:141-156. [PMID: 27751946 PMCID: PMC5392380 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2016.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2016] [Revised: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Fibrin and collagen as well as their combinations play an important biological role in tissue regeneration and are widely employed in surgery as fleeces or sealants and in bioengineering as tissue scaffolds. Earlier studies demonstrated that fibrin-collagen composite networks displayed improved tensile mechanical properties compared to the isolated protein matrices. Unlike previous studies, here unconfined compression was applied to a fibrin-collagen filamentous polymer composite matrix to study its structural and mechanical responses to compressive deformation. Combining collagen with fibrin resulted in formation of a composite hydrogel exhibiting synergistic mechanical properties compared to the isolated fibrin and collagen matrices. Specifically, the composite matrix revealed a one order of magnitude increase in the shear storage modulus at compressive strains>0.8 in response to compression compared to the mechanical features of individual components. These material enhancements were attributed to the observed structural alterations, such as network density changes, an increase in connectivity along with criss-crossing, and bundling of fibers. In addition, the compressed composite collagen/fibrin networks revealed a non-linear transformation of their viscoelastic properties with softening and stiffening regimes. These transitions were shown to depend on protein concentrations. Namely, a decrease in protein content drastically affected the mechanical response of the networks to compression by shifting the onset of stiffening to higher degrees of compression. Since both natural and artificially composed extracellular matrices experience compression in various (patho)physiological conditions, our results provide new insights into the structural biomechanics of the polymeric composite matrix that can help to create fibrin-collagen sealants, sponges, and tissue scaffolds with tunable and predictable mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- O V Kim
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States; Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States; Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - R I Litvinov
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - J Chen
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - D Z Chen
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - J W Weisel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
| | - M S Alber
- Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States; Department of Mathematics, University of California Riverside, CA 92521, United States; Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
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