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Nejati S, Mongeau L. In Vitro Investigation of Vocal Fold Cellular Response to Variations in Hydrogel Porosity and Elasticity. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024. [PMID: 38783819 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Tissue regeneration is intricately influenced by the dynamic interplay between the physical attributes of tissue engineering scaffolds and the resulting biological responses. A tunable microporous hydrogel system was engineered using gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), with polyethylene glycol (PEG) serving as a porogen. Through systematic variation of PEGDA molecular weights, hydrogels with varying mechanical and architectural properties were obtained. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the impact of substrate mechanics and architecture on the immunological and reparative activities of vocal fold tissues. Mechanical characterization of the hydrogels was performed using tensile strength measurements and rheometry. Their morphological properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy. A series of biological assays were conducted. Cellular morphology, differentiation, and collagen synthesis of human vocal fold fibroblasts (hVFFs) were evaluated using immunostaining. Fibroblast proliferation was studied using the WST-1 assay, and cell migration was investigated via the Boyden chamber assay. Macrophage polarization and secretions were also examined using immunostaining and ELISA. The results revealed that increasing the molecular weight of PEGDA from 700 Da to 10,000 Da resulted in decreased hydrogel stiffness, from 62.6 to 8.8 kPa, and increased pore dimensions from approximately 64.9 to 137.4 μm. Biological evaluations revealed that hydrogels with a higher stiffness promoted fibroblast proliferation and spreading, albeit with an increased propensity for fibrosis, as indicated by a surge in myofibroblast differentiation and collagen synthesis. In contrast, hydrogels with greater molecular weights had a softer matrix with expanded pores, enhancing cellular migration and promoting an M2 macrophage phenotype conducive to tissue healing. The findings show that the hydrogels formulated with a PEGDA molecular weight of 6000 Da are best among the hydrogels considered for vocal fold repair. The microporous hydrogels could be tuned to serve in other tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Nejati
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Luc Mongeau
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal H3A 0C3, Canada
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2
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Skelton M, Gentry JL, Astrab LR, Goedert JA, Earl EB, Pham EL, Bhat T, Caliari SR. Modular Multiwell Viscoelastic Hydrogel Platform for Two- and Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Applications. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:3280-3292. [PMID: 38608136 PMCID: PMC11094681 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogels have gained significant popularity as model platforms to study reciprocal interactions between cells and their microenvironment. While hydrogel tools to probe many characteristics of the extracellular space have been developed, fabrication approaches remain challenging and time-consuming, limiting multiplexing or widespread adoption. Thus, we have developed a modular fabrication approach to generate distinct hydrogel microenvironments within the same 96-well plate for increased throughput of fabrication as well as integration with existing high-throughput assay technologies. This approach enables in situ hydrogel mechanical characterization and is used to generate both elastic and viscoelastic hydrogels across a range of stiffnesses. Additionally, this fabrication method enabled a 3-fold reduction in polymer and up to an 8-fold reduction in fabrication time required per hydrogel replicate. The feasibility of this platform for two-dimensional (2D) cell culture applications was demonstrated by measuring both population-level and single-cell-level metrics via microplate reader and high-content imaging. Finally, a 96-well hydrogel array was utilized for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, demonstrating the ability to support high cell viability. Together, this work demonstrates a versatile and easily adaptable fabrication approach that can support the ever-expanding tool kit of hydrogel technologies for cell culture applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie
L. Skelton
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Psychology, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| | - James L. Gentry
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Psychology, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| | - Leilani R. Astrab
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Psychology, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| | - Joshua A. Goedert
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Psychology, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| | - E. Brynn Earl
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Psychology, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| | - Emily L. Pham
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Psychology, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| | - Tanvi Bhat
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Psychology, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| | - Steven R. Caliari
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Psychology, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
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3
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Ghosh B, Chatterjee J, Paul RR, Acuña S, Lahiri P, Pal M, Mitra P, Agarwal K. Molecular histopathology of matrix proteins through autofluorescence super-resolution microscopy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10524. [PMID: 38719976 PMCID: PMC11078950 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61178-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix diseases like fibrosis are elusive to diagnose early on, to avoid complete loss of organ function or even cancer progression, making early diagnosis crucial. Imaging the matrix densities of proteins like collagen in fixed tissue sections with suitable stains and labels is a standard for diagnosis and staging. However, fine changes in matrix density are difficult to realize by conventional histological staining and microscopy as the matrix fibrils are finer than the resolving capacity of these microscopes. The dyes further blur the outline of the matrix and add a background that bottlenecks high-precision early diagnosis of matrix diseases. Here we demonstrate the multiple signal classification method-MUSICAL-otherwise a computational super-resolution microscopy technique to precisely estimate matrix density in fixed tissue sections using fibril autofluorescence with image stacks acquired on a conventional epifluorescence microscope. We validated the diagnostic and staging performance of the method in extracted collagen fibrils, mouse skin during repair, and pre-cancers in human oral mucosa. The method enables early high-precision label-free diagnosis of matrix-associated fibrotic diseases without needing additional infrastructure or rigorous clinical training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswajoy Ghosh
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9019, Tromsø, Norway.
| | | | - Ranjan Rashmi Paul
- Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700114, India
| | | | - Pooja Lahiri
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India
| | - Mousumi Pal
- Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700114, India
| | - Pabitra Mitra
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India
| | - Krishna Agarwal
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9019, Tromsø, Norway.
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4
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Zhao Z, Fan C, Wang S, Wang H, Deng H, Zeng S, Tang S, Li L, Xiong Z, Qiu X. Single-nucleus RNA and multiomics in situ pairwise sequencing reveals cellular heterogeneity of the abnormal ligamentum teres in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27803. [PMID: 38524543 PMCID: PMC10958365 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the most common hip deformity in pediatric orthopedics. One of the common pathological changes in DDH is the thickening and hypertrophy of the ligamentum teres. However, the underlying pathogenic mechanism responsible for these changes remains unclear. This study represents the first time that the heterogeneity of cell subsets in the abnormal ligamentum teres of patients with DDH has been resolved at the single-cell and spatial levels by snRNA-Seq and MiP-Seq. Through gene set enrichment and intercellular communication network analyses, we found that receptor-like cells and ligament stem cells may play an essential role in the pathological changes resulting in ligamentum teres thickening and hypertrophy. Eight ligand-receptor pairs related to the ECM-receptor pathway were observed to be closely associated with DDH. Further, using the Monocle R package, we predicted a differentiation trajectory of pericytes into two branches, leading to junctional ligament stem cells or fibroblasts. The expression of extracellular matrix-related genes along pseudotemporal trajectories was also investigated. Using MiP-Seq, we determined the expression distribution of marker genes specific to different cell types within the ligamentum teres, as well as differentially expressed DDH-associated genes at the spatial level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhui Zhao
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Chuiqin Fan
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Shiyou Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Elements, Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Elements, Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Hansheng Deng
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shuaidan Zeng
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shengping Tang
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Li Li
- Shenzhen Luohu Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhu Xiong
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xin Qiu
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
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Streutker EM, Devamoglu U, Vonk MC, Verdurmen WPR, Le Gac S. Fibrosis-on-Chip: A Guide to Recapitulate the Essential Features of Fibrotic Disease. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2303991. [PMID: 38536053 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis, which is primarily marked by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, is a pathophysiological process associated with many disorders, which ultimately leads to organ dysfunction and poor patient outcomes. Despite the high prevalence of fibrosis, currently there exist few therapeutic options, and importantly, there is a paucity of in vitro models to accurately study fibrosis. This review discusses the multifaceted nature of fibrosis from the viewpoint of developing organ-on-chip (OoC) disease models, focusing on five key features: the ECM component, inflammation, mechanical cues, hypoxia, and vascularization. The potential of OoC technology is explored for better modeling these features in the context of studying fibrotic diseases and the interplay between various key features is emphasized. This paper reviews how organ-specific fibrotic diseases are modeled in OoC platforms, which elements are included in these existing models, and the avenues for novel research directions are highlighted. Finally, this review concludes with a perspective on how to address the current gap with respect to the inclusion of multiple features to yield more sophisticated and relevant models of fibrotic diseases in an OoC format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma M Streutker
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Utku Devamoglu
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnoloygy and TechMed Centre, Organ-on-Chip Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Enschede, 7522 NB, The Netherlands
| | - Madelon C Vonk
- Department of Rheumatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter P R Verdurmen
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Séverine Le Gac
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnoloygy and TechMed Centre, Organ-on-Chip Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Enschede, 7522 NB, The Netherlands
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6
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Nizamoglu M, Alleblas F, Koster T, Borghuis T, Vonk JM, Thomas MJ, White ES, Watson CK, Timens W, El Kasmi KC, Melgert BN, Heijink IH, Burgess JK. Three dimensional fibrotic extracellular matrix directs microenvironment fiber remodeling by fibroblasts. Acta Biomater 2024; 177:118-131. [PMID: 38350556 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), for which effective treatments are limited, results in excessive and disorganized deposition of aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM). An altered ECM microenvironment is postulated to contribute to disease progression through inducing profibrotic behavior of lung fibroblasts, the main producers and regulators of ECM. Here, we examined this hypothesis in a 3D in vitro model system by growing primary human lung fibroblasts in ECM-derived hydrogels from non-fibrotic (control) or IPF lung tissue. Using this model, we compared how control and IPF lung-derived fibroblasts responded in control and fibrotic microenvironments in a combinatorial manner. Culture of fibroblasts in fibrotic hydrogels did not alter in the overall amount of collagen or glycosaminoglycans but did cause a drastic change in fiber organization compared to culture in control hydrogels. High-density collagen percentage was increased by control fibroblasts in IPF hydrogels at day 7, but decreased at day 14. In contrast, IPF fibroblasts only decreased the high-density collagen percentage at day 14, which was accompanied by enhanced fiber alignment in IPF hydrogels. Similarly, stiffness of fibrotic hydrogels was increased only by control fibroblasts by day 14 while those of control hydrogels were not altered by fibroblasts. These data highlight how the ECM-remodeling responses of fibroblasts are influenced by the origin of both the cells and the ECM. Moreover, by showing how the 3D microenvironment plays a crucial role in directing cells, our study paves the way in guiding future investigations examining fibrotic processes with respect to ECM remodeling responses of fibroblasts. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, we investigated the influence of the altered extracellular matrix (ECM) in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), using a 3D in vitro model system composed of ECM-derived hydrogels from both IPF and control lungs, seeded with human IPF and control lung fibroblasts. While our results indicated that fibrotic microenvironment did not change the overall collagen or glycosaminoglycan content, it resulted in a dramatically alteration of fiber organization and mechanical properties. Control fibroblasts responded differently from IPF fibroblasts, highlighting the unique instructive role of the fibrotic ECM and the interplay with fibroblast origin. These results underscore the importance of 3D microenvironments in guiding pro-fibrotic responses, offering potential insights for future IPF therapies as well as other fibrotic diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Nizamoglu
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Frederique Alleblas
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Taco Koster
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Theo Borghuis
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Judith M Vonk
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew J Thomas
- Immunology & Respiratory Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Eric S White
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT, United States
| | - Carolin K Watson
- Immunology & Respiratory Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Wim Timens
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Karim C El Kasmi
- Immunology & Respiratory Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Barbro N Melgert
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen Research Institute for Pharmacy, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Irene H Heijink
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Janette K Burgess
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, W.J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science-FB41, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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7
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Jain N, Shashi Bhushan BL, Natarajan M, Mehta R, Saini DK, Chatterjee K. Advanced 3D In Vitro Lung Fibrosis Models: Contemporary Status, Clinical Uptake, and Prospective Outlooks. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:1235-1261. [PMID: 38335198 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01499] [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] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis has been characterized as a global health problem and ranks as one of the primary causes of organ dysfunction. Currently, there is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis, and limited therapeutic options are available due to an inadequate understanding of the disease pathogenesis. The absence of advanced in vitro models replicating dynamic temporal changes observed in the tissue with the progression of the disease is a significant impediment in the development of novel antifibrotic treatments, which has motivated research on tissue-mimetic three-dimensional (3D) models. In this review, we summarize emerging trends in preparing advanced lung models to recapitulate biochemical and biomechanical processes associated with lung fibrogenesis. We begin by describing the importance of in vivo studies and highlighting the often poor correlation between preclinical research and clinical outcomes and the limitations of conventional cell culture in accurately simulating the 3D tissue microenvironment. Rapid advancement in biomaterials, biofabrication, biomicrofluidics, and related bioengineering techniques are enabling the preparation of in vitro models to reproduce the epithelium structure and operate as reliable drug screening strategies for precise prediction. Improving and understanding these model systems is necessary to find the cross-talks between growing cells and the stage at which myofibroblasts differentiate. These advanced models allow us to utilize the knowledge and identify, characterize, and hand pick medicines beneficial to the human community. The challenges of the current approaches, along with the opportunities for further research with potential for translation in this field, are presented toward developing novel treatments for pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nipun Jain
- Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, C.V Raman Avenue, Bangalore 560012 India
| | - B L Shashi Bhushan
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore 560002 India
| | - M Natarajan
- Department of Pathology, Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore 560002 India
| | - Ravi Mehta
- Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care, Apollo Hospitals, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560011 India
| | - Deepak Kumar Saini
- Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, C.V Raman Avenue, Bangalore 560012 India
| | - Kaushik Chatterjee
- Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, C.V Raman Avenue, Bangalore 560012 India
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8
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Pitha I, Du L, Nguyen TD, Quigley H. IOP and glaucoma damage: The essential role of optic nerve head and retinal mechanosensors. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 99:101232. [PMID: 38110030 PMCID: PMC10960268 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2023.101232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
There are many unanswered questions on the relation of intraocular pressure to glaucoma development and progression. IOP itself cannot be distilled to a single, unifying value, because IOP level varies over time, differs depending on ocular location, and can be affected by method of measurement. Ultimately, IOP level creates mechanical strain that affects axonal function at the optic nerve head which causes local extracellular matrix remodeling and retinal ganglion cell death - hallmarks of glaucoma and the cause of glaucomatous vision loss. Extracellular tissue strain at the ONH and lamina cribrosa is regionally variable and differs in magnitude and location between healthy and glaucomatous eyes. The ultimate targets of IOP-induced tissue strain in glaucoma are retinal ganglion cell axons at the optic nerve head and the cells that support axonal function (astrocytes, the neurovascular unit, microglia, and fibroblasts). These cells sense tissue strain through a series of signals that originate at the cell membrane and alter cytoskeletal organization, migration, differentiation, gene transcription, and proliferation. The proteins that translate mechanical stimuli into molecular signals act as band-pass filters - sensing some stimuli while ignoring others - and cellular responses to stimuli can differ based on cell type and differentiation state. Therefore, to fully understand the IOP signals that are relevant to glaucoma, it is necessary to understand the ultimate cellular targets of IOP-induced mechanical stimuli and their ability to sense, ignore, and translate these signals into cellular actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Pitha
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Nanomedicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Glaucoma Center of Excellence, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Liya Du
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thao D Nguyen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Harry Quigley
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Glaucoma Center of Excellence, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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9
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He ZJ, Chu C, Dickson R, Okuda K, Cai LH. A gel-coated air-liquid-interface culture system with tunable substrate stiffness matching healthy and diseased lung tissues. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2024; 326:L292-L302. [PMID: 38252871 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00153.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Since its invention in the late 1980s, the air-liquid-interface (ALI) culture system has been the standard in vitro model for studying human airway biology and pulmonary diseases. However, in a conventional ALI system, cells are cultured on a porous plastic membrane that is much stiffer than human airway tissues. Here, we develop a gel-ALI culture system by simply coating the plastic membrane with a thin layer of hydrogel with tunable stiffness matching that of healthy and fibrotic airway tissues. We determine the optimum gel thickness that does not impair the transport of nutrients and biomolecules essential to cell growth. We show that the gel-ALI system allows human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) to proliferate and differentiate into pseudostratified epithelium. Furthermore, we discover that HBECs migrate significantly faster on hydrogel substrates with stiffness matching that of fibrotic lung tissues, highlighting the importance of mechanical cues in human airway remodeling. The developed gel-ALI system provides a facile approach to studying the effects of mechanical cues in human airway biology and in modeling pulmonary diseases.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In a conventional ALI system, cells are cultured on a plastic membrane that is much stiffer than human airway tissues. We develop a gel-ALI system by coating the plastic membrane with a thin layer of hydrogel with tunable stiffness matching that of healthy and fibrotic airway tissues. We discover that human bronchial epithelial cells migrate significantly faster on hydrogel substrates with pathological stiffness, highlighting the importance of mechanical cues in human airway remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Jian He
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
| | - Catherine Chu
- Soft Biomatter Laboratory, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
| | - Riley Dickson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
| | - Kenichi Okuda
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Li-Heng Cai
- Soft Biomatter Laboratory, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
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10
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Leask A, Fadl A, Naik A. A modest proposal: targeting αv integrin-mediated activation of latent TGFbeta as a novel therapeutic approach to treat scleroderma fibrosis. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2024; 33:279-285. [PMID: 38393748 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2323528] [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: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The potent profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been associated with the onset and progression of the fibrosis seen in the autoimmune connective tissue disease scleroderma (systemic sclerosis, SSc). AREA COVERED This review explores the data supporting the notion that TGF-β contributes to SSc fibrosis and examines why initiating clinical trials in SSc aimed at targeting integrin-mediated latent TGF-β activation is timely. EXPERT OPINION Targeting TGF-β directly has not been proven to be clinically effective in this disease. Conversely, targeting matrix stiffness, which perpetuates fibrosis, may have more promise. Intriguingly, targeting integrin-mediated activation of latent TGF-β, which bridges these concepts, may have therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Leask
- College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Asmaa Fadl
- College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Angha Naik
- College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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11
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Magdaleno C, Tschumperlin DJ, Rajasekaran N, Varadaraj A. SOCS domain targets ECM assembly in lung fibroblasts and experimental lung fibrosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.14.580347. [PMID: 38469152 PMCID: PMC10926664 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal disease defined by a progressive decline in lung function due to scarring and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The SOCS (Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling) domain is a 40 amino acid conserved domain known to form a functional ubiquitin ligase complex targeting the Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) protein for proteasomal degradation. Here we show that the SOCS conserved domain operates as a molecular tool, to disrupt collagen and fibronectin fibrils in the ECM associated with fibrotic lung myofibroblasts. Our results demonstrate that fibroblasts differentiated using TGFß, followed by transduction with the SOCS domain, exhibit significantly reduced levels of the contractile myofibroblast-marker, α-SMA. Furthermore, in support of its role to retard differentiation, we find that lung fibroblasts expressing the SOCS domain present with significantly reduced levels of α-SMA and fibrillar fibronectin after differentiation with TGFß. We show that adenoviral delivery of the SOCS domain in the fibrotic phase of experimental lung fibrosis in mice, significantly reduces collagen accumulation in disease lungs. These data underscore a novel function for the SOCS domain and its potential in ameliorating pathologic matrix deposition in lung fibroblasts and experimental lung fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Magdaleno
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Daniel J. Tschumperlin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Narendiran Rajasekaran
- Correspondence to: Archana Varadaraj, PO Box 5698, Science and Health Building, Rm430, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA. Tel: (928) 523-6394, Fax: (928) 523-8111, ; Narendiran Rajasekaran, PO Box 5698, Science and Health Building, Rm430, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA. Tel: (928) 523-6394, Fax: (928) 523-8111,
| | - Archana Varadaraj
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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Sousa de Almeida M, Lee A, Itel F, Maniura-Weber K, Petri-Fink A, Rothen-Rutishauser B. The Effect of Substrate Properties on Cellular Behavior and Nanoparticle Uptake in Human Fibroblasts and Epithelial Cells. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:342. [PMID: 38392715 PMCID: PMC10892529 DOI: 10.3390/nano14040342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The delivery of nanomedicines into cells holds enormous therapeutic potential; however little is known regarding how the extracellular matrix (ECM) can influence cell-nanoparticle (NP) interactions. Changes in ECM organization and composition occur in several pathophysiological states, including fibrosis and tumorigenesis, and may contribute to disease progression. We show that the physical characteristics of cellular substrates, that more closely resemble the ECM in vivo, can influence cell behavior and the subsequent uptake of NPs. Electrospinning was used to create two different substrates made of soft polyurethane (PU) with aligned and non-aligned nanofibers to recapitulate the ECM in two different states. To investigate the impact of cell-substrate interaction, A549 lung epithelial cells and MRC-5 lung fibroblasts were cultured on soft PU membranes with different alignments and compared against stiff tissue culture plastic (TCP)/glass. Both cell types could attach and grow on both PU membranes with no signs of cytotoxicity but with increased cytokine release compared with cells on the TCP. The uptake of silica NPs increased more than three-fold in fibroblasts but not in epithelial cells cultured on both membranes. This study demonstrates that cell-matrix interaction is substrate and cell-type dependent and highlights the importance of considering the ECM and tissue mechanical properties when designing NPs for effective cell targeting and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Sousa de Almeida
- Adolphe Merkle Institute and National Center of Competence in Research Bio-Inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; (M.S.d.A.); (A.L.); (A.P.-F.)
| | - Aaron Lee
- Adolphe Merkle Institute and National Center of Competence in Research Bio-Inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; (M.S.d.A.); (A.L.); (A.P.-F.)
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2BP, UK
| | - Fabian Itel
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland;
| | - Katharina Maniura-Weber
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biointerfaces, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland;
| | - Alke Petri-Fink
- Adolphe Merkle Institute and National Center of Competence in Research Bio-Inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; (M.S.d.A.); (A.L.); (A.P.-F.)
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
- Adolphe Merkle Institute and National Center of Competence in Research Bio-Inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; (M.S.d.A.); (A.L.); (A.P.-F.)
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13
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Ebrahimighaei R, Tarassova N, Bond SC, McNeill MC, Hathway T, Vohra H, Newby AC, Bond M. Extracellular matrix stiffness controls cardiac fibroblast proliferation via the nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) transcription factor. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119640. [PMID: 37996060 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119640] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The proliferative expansion of cardiac fibroblasts (CF) contributes towards cardiac fibrosis, which results in myocardial stiffening, cardiac dysfunction, and heart failure. CF sense and respond to increased stiffness of their local extracellular matrix, modulating their phenotype towards increased collagen synthesis and higher proliferation, leading potentially to a vicious circle of positive feedback. Here we describe a novel mechanism that mediates increased CF proliferation in response to a pathologically stiff Exteracellular matrix (ECM). The mechanism we describe is independent of the well-characterised mechano-sensitive transcript factors, YAP-TEAD and MKL1-SRF, which our data indicate are only responsible for part of the genes induced by stiffened ECM. Instead, our data identify Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y) as a novel mechanosensitive transcription factor, which mediates enhanced CF proliferation in response to a stiff ECM. We show that levels of NF-YA protein, the major regulatory subunit of NF-Y, and NF-Y transcriptional activity, are increased by a stiff ECM. Indeed, NF-Y activity drives the expression of multiple cell-cycle genes. Furthermore, NF-YA protein levels are dependent on FAK signalling suggesting a mechanistic link to ECM composition. Consistent with its role as a mechano-sensor, inhibition of NF-Y using siRNA or dominant negative mutant blocks CF proliferation on plastic in vitro, which models a stiff ECM, whereas ectopic expression of NF-YA increases the proliferation of cells interacting under conditions that model a physiologically soft ECM. In summary, our data demonstrate that NF-Y is a biomechanically sensitive transcription factor that promotes CF proliferation in a model of pathologically stiffened ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Ebrahimighaei
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom
| | - Nathalie Tarassova
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Samuel C Bond
- Clifton High School, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3JD, United Kingdom.
| | - Madeleine C McNeill
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Tom Hathway
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Hunaid Vohra
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew C Newby
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Mark Bond
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
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14
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Sumey JL, Harrell AM, Johnston PC, Caliari SR. Serial Passaging Affects Stromal Cell Mechanosensitivity on Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300110. [PMID: 37747449 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
There is a tremendous interest in developing hydrogels as tunable in vitro cell culture platforms to study cell response to mechanical cues in a controlled manner. However, little is known about how common cell culture techniques, such as serial expansion on tissue culture plastic, affect subsequent cell behavior when cultured on hydrogels. In this work, a methacrylated hyaluronic acid hydrogel platform is leveraged to study stromal cell mechanotransduction. Hydrogels are first formed through thiol-Michael addition to model normal soft tissue (e.g., lung) stiffness (E ≈ 1 kPa). Secondary cross-linking via radical photopolymerization of unconsumed methacrylates allows matching of early- (E ≈ 6 kPa) and late-stage fibrotic tissue (E ≈ 50 kPa). Early passage (P1) human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) display increased spreading, myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) nuclear localization, and focal adhesion size with increasing hydrogel stiffness. However, late passage (P5) hMSCs show reduced sensitivity to substrate mechanics with lower MRTF-A nuclear translocation and smaller focal adhesions on stiffer hydrogels compared to early passage hMSCs. Similar trends are observed in an immortalized human lung fibroblast line. Overall, this work highlights the implications of standard cell culture practices on investigating cell response to mechanical signals using in vitro hydrogel models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna L Sumey
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Abigail M Harrell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Peyton C Johnston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Steven R Caliari
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
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Southern BD, Li H, Mao H, Crish JF, Grove LM, Scheraga RG, Mansoor S, Reinhardt A, Abraham S, Deshpande G, Loui A, Ivanov AI, Rosenfeld SS, Bresnick AR, Olman MA. A novel mechanoeffector role of fibroblast S100A4 in myofibroblast transdifferentiation and fibrosis. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105530. [PMID: 38072048 PMCID: PMC10789633 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast to myofibroblast transdifferentiation mediates numerous fibrotic disorders, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We have previously demonstrated that non-muscle myosin II (NMII) is activated in response to fibrotic lung extracellular matrix, thereby mediating myofibroblast transdifferentiation. NMII-A is known to interact with the calcium-binding protein S100A4, but the mechanism by which S100A4 regulates fibrotic disorders is unclear. In this study, we show that fibroblast S100A4 is a calcium-dependent, mechanoeffector protein that is uniquely sensitive to pathophysiologic-range lung stiffness (8-25 kPa) and thereby mediates myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Re-expression of endogenous fibroblast S100A4 rescues the myofibroblastic phenotype in S100A4 KO fibroblasts. Analysis of NMII-A/actin dynamics reveals that S100A4 mediates the unraveling and redistribution of peripheral actomyosin to a central location, resulting in a contractile myofibroblast. Furthermore, S100A4 loss protects against murine in vivo pulmonary fibrosis, and S100A4 expression is dysregulated in IPF. Our data reveal a novel mechanosensor/effector role for endogenous fibroblast S100A4 in inducing cytoskeletal redistribution in fibrotic disorders such as IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Southern
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Haiyan Li
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Hongxia Mao
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - James F Crish
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Lisa M Grove
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Rachel G Scheraga
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sanaa Mansoor
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Amanda Reinhardt
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Susamma Abraham
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Gauravi Deshpande
- Lerner Research Institute Imaging Core, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Alicia Loui
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrei I Ivanov
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Steven S Rosenfeld
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Anne R Bresnick
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Mitchell A Olman
- Lerner Research Institute Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
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16
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Bonnevie ED, Scanzello CR, Mauck RL. Modulating mechanobiology as a therapeutic target for synovial fibrosis to restore joint lubrication. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2024; 32:41-51. [PMID: 37866546 PMCID: PMC10880438 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fibroses are disorders linked to persistence of myofibroblasts due to biochemical (e.g., Transforming growth factor-β) and biophysical cues (e.g., a stiff microenvironment). In the context of osteoarthritis, fibrotic changes in the joint-lining synovium have been linked with disease progression. The objective of this study was to probe synovial fibroblast mechanobiology and how essential functions (i.e., lubrication) are altered in fibrotic environments. DESIGN Both ex vivo and in vitro synovium models were assessed for fibrotic and lubrication biomarkers to better understand the role of mechanobiology and lubrication. Additionally, in vitro, work on small molecules targeting mechanobiology was assessed. RESULTS Our results indicated that modulating mechanobiology could rescue the fibrotic phenotype instigated by stiffening microenvironment that resulted in altered lubricant expression. A small molecule therapeutic, fasudil, blocked ROCK-mediated contractility and this inhibition of the fibrotic mechano-response of synovial fibroblasts restored proper lubrication function, providing insight into mechanisms of disease progression as well as a new avenue for therapeutic development. CONCLUSION This study identifies synovial fibrosis as a condition that potentially has joint-wide deficits through inhibiting lubrication. Additionally, modulating mechanobiology (i.e., ROCK-mediated contractility) may pose a potential target for small molecule therapies that can be delivered to the joint space. CLASSIFICATION Applied Biological Sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward D Bonnevie
- Translational Musculoskeletal Research Center, CMC VA Medical Center, United States; McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, United States.
| | - Carla R Scanzello
- Translational Musculoskeletal Research Center, CMC VA Medical Center, United States; Division of Rheumatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Robert L Mauck
- Translational Musculoskeletal Research Center, CMC VA Medical Center, United States; McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, United States.
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Feng A, Caro YM, Gardner C, Grischo G, Liang Y, Wickremasinghe PD, Polmann M, Kala M, Marlowe T, Black SM, Knox KS, Wang T. PTK2-associated gene signature could predict the prognosis of IPF. Respir Res 2023; 24:304. [PMID: 38053045 PMCID: PMC10699084 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02582-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal lung disease with a poor prognosis. Current/available clinical prediction tools have limited sensitivity and accuracy when evaluating clinical outcomes of IPF. Research has shown that focal adhesion kinase (FAK), produced by the protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) gene, is crucial in IPF development. FAK activation is a characteristic of lesional fibroblasts; Thus, FAK may be a valuable therapeutic target or prognostic biomarker for IPF. This study aimed to create a gene signature based on PTK2-associated genes and microarray data from blood cells to predict disease prognosis in patients with IPF. PTK2 levels were found to be higher in lung tissues of IPF patients compared to healthy controls, and PTK2 inhibitor Defactinib was found to reduce TGFβ-induced FAK activation and increase α-smooth muscle actin. Although the blood PTK2 levels were higher in IPF patients, blood PTK level alone could not predict IPF prognosis. From 196 PTK2-associated genes, 11 genes were prioritized to create a gene signature (PTK2 molecular signature) and a risk score system using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups using PTK2 molecular signature. Patients in the high-risk group experienced decreased survival rates compared to patients in the low-risk group across all discovery and validation cohorts. Further functional enrichment and immune cell proportion analyses revealed that the PTK2 molecular signature strongly reflected the activation levels of immune pathways and immune cells. These findings suggested that PTK2 is a molecular target of IPF and the PTK2 molecular signature is an effective IPF prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anlin Feng
- Center for Translational Science, and Department of Environmental Health, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, 36987, USA
| | - Yesenia Moreno Caro
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Colin Gardner
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Garrett Grischo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Ying Liang
- Center for Translational Science, and Department of Environmental Health, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, 36987, USA
| | - Praveen D Wickremasinghe
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Michaela Polmann
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Mrinalini Kala
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Timothy Marlowe
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Stephen M Black
- Center for Translational Science, and Department of Environmental Health, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, 36987, USA
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Kenneth S Knox
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Ting Wang
- Center for Translational Science, and Department of Environmental Health, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, 36987, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, 33199, USA.
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, 11350 SW Village Pkwy, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987, USA.
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Cappitti A, Palmieri F, Garella R, Tani A, Chellini F, Salzano De Luna M, Parmeggiani C, Squecco R, Martella D, Sassoli C. Development of accessible platforms to promote myofibroblast differentiation by playing on hydrogel scaffold composition. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 155:213674. [PMID: 37922662 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213674] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Mechanomimetic materials are particularly attractive for modeling in vitro fibroblast to myofibroblast (Myof) transition, a key process in the physiological repair of damaged tissue, and recognized as the core cellular mechanism of pathological fibrosis in different organs. In vivo, mechanical stimuli from the extracellular matrix (ECM) are crucial, together with cell-cell contacts and the pro-fibrotic transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, in promoting fibroblast differentiation. Here, we explore the impact of hydrogels made by polyacrylamide with different composition on fibroblast behavior. By appropriate modulation of the hydrogel composition (e.g. adjusting the crosslinker content), we produce and fully characterize three kinds of scaffolds with different Young modulus (E). We observe that soft hydrogels (E < 1 kPa) induced fibroblast differentiation better than stiffer ones, also in the absence of TGF-β1. This study provides a readily accessible biomaterial platform to promote Myof generation. The easy approach used and the commercial availability of the monomers make these hydrogels suitable to a wide range of biomedical applications combined with high reproducibility and simple preparation protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Cappitti
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesco Palmieri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Physiological Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Rachele Garella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Physiological Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Alessia Tani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, Imaging Platform, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Flaminia Chellini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, Imaging Platform, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Martina Salzano De Luna
- Department of chemical, materials and industrial production engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Napoli, Italy
| | - Camilla Parmeggiani
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Roberta Squecco
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Physiological Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
| | - Daniele Martella
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), 10135 Torino, Italy.
| | - Chiara Sassoli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, Imaging Platform, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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Biber JC, Sullivan A, Brazzo JA, Heo Y, Tumenbayar BI, Krajnik A, Poppenberg KE, Tutino VM, Heo SJ, Kolega J, Lee K, Bae Y. Survivin as a mediator of stiffness-induced cell cycle progression and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:046108. [PMID: 37915752 PMCID: PMC10618027 DOI: 10.1063/5.0150532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Stiffened arteries are a pathology of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and coronary artery disease and a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease events. The increased stiffness of arteries triggers a phenotypic switch, hypermigration, and hyperproliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), leading to neointimal hyperplasia and accelerated neointima formation. However, the mechanism underlying this trigger remains unknown. Our analyses of whole-transcriptome microarray data from mouse VSMCs cultured on stiff hydrogels simulating arterial pathology identified 623 genes that were significantly and differentially expressed (360 upregulated and 263 downregulated) relative to expression in VSMCs cultured on soft hydrogels. Functional enrichment and gene network analyses revealed that these stiffness-sensitive genes are linked to cell cycle progression and proliferation. Importantly, we found that survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein, mediates stiffness-dependent cell cycle progression and proliferation as determined by gene network and pathway analyses, RT-qPCR, immunoblotting, and cell proliferation assays. Furthermore, we found that inhibition of cell cycle progression did not reduce survivin expression, suggesting that survivin functions as an upstream regulator of cell cycle progression and proliferation in response to ECM stiffness. Mechanistically, we found that the stiffness signal is mechanotransduced via the FAK-E2F1 signaling axis to regulate survivin expression, establishing a regulatory pathway for how the stiffness of the cellular microenvironment affects VSMC behaviors. Overall, our findings indicate that survivin is necessary for VSMC cycling and proliferation and plays a role in regulating stiffness-responsive phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C. Biber
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Andra Sullivan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
| | - Joseph A. Brazzo
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | | | - Bat-Ider Tumenbayar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Amanda Krajnik
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | | | | | - Su-Jin Heo
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - John Kolega
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Kwonmoo Lee
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Yongho Bae
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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20
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Thiam F, Phogat S, Abokor FA, Osei ET. In vitro co-culture studies and the crucial role of fibroblast-immune cell crosstalk in IPF pathogenesis. Respir Res 2023; 24:298. [PMID: 38012580 PMCID: PMC10680329 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02608-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
IPF is a fatal lung disease characterized by intensive remodeling of lung tissue leading to respiratory failure. The remodeling in IPF lungs is largely characterized by uncontrolled fibrosis. Fibroblasts and their contractile phenotype the myofibroblast are the main cell types responsible for typical wound healing responses, however in IPF, these responses are aberrant and result in the overactivation of fibroblasts which contributes to the inelasticity of the lung leading to a decrease in lung function. The specific mechanisms behind IPF pathogenesis have been elusive, but recently the innate and adaptive immunity have been implicated in the fibrotic processes of the disease. In connection with this, several in vitro co-culture models have been used to investigate the specific interactions occurring between fibroblasts and immune cells and how this contributes to the pathobiology of IPF. In this review, we discuss the in vitro models that have been used to examine the abnormal interactions between fibroblasts and cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, and how these contribute to the fibrotic processes in the lungs of IPF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fama Thiam
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - Sakshi Phogat
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - Filsan Ahmed Abokor
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Twumasi Osei
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada.
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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21
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Sosa MJ, Shih AY, Bonney SK. The elusive brain perivascular fibroblast: a potential role in vascular stability and homeostasis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1283434. [PMID: 38075961 PMCID: PMC10704358 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1283434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In the brain, perivascular fibroblasts (PVFs) reside within the perivascular spaces (PVSs) of arterioles and large venules, however their physiological and pathophysiological roles remain largely unknown. PVFs express numerous extracellular matrix proteins that are found in the basement membrane and PVS surrounding large diameter vessels. PVFs are sandwiched between the mural cell layer and astrocytic endfeet, where they are poised to interact with mural cells, perivascular macrophages, and astrocytes. We draw connections between the more well-studied PVF pro-fibrotic response in ischemic injury and the less understood thickening of the vascular wall and enlargement of the PVS described in dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. We postulate that PVFs may be responsible for stability and homeostasis of the brain vasculature, and may also contribute to changes within the PVS during disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. Sosa
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Andy Y. Shih
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Stephanie K. Bonney
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
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22
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Kuroda K, Kiya K, Matsuzaki S, Takamura H, Otani N, Tomita K, Kawai K, Fujiwara T, Nakai K, Onishi A, Katayama T, Kubo T. Altered actin dynamics is possibly implicated in the inhibition of mechanical stimulation-induced dermal fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts. Exp Dermatol 2023; 32:2012-2022. [PMID: 37724850 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14933] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
The formation of hypertrophic scars and keloids is strongly associated with mechanical stimulation, and myofibroblasts are known to play a major role in abnormal scar formation. Wounds in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) become inconspicuous and lack the tendency to form abnormal scars. We hypothesized that there would be a unique response to mechanical stimulation and subsequent scar formation in NF1. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of differentiation into myofibroblasts in NF1-derived fibroblasts and neurofibromin-depleted fibroblasts and examined actin dynamics, which is involved in fibroblast differentiation, with a focus on the pathway linking LIMK2/cofilin to actin dynamics. In normal fibroblasts, expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), a marker of myofibroblasts, significantly increased after mechanical stimulation, whereas in NF1-derived and neurofibromin-depleted fibroblasts, α-SMA expression did not change. Phosphorylation of cofilin and subsequent actin polymerization did not increase in NF1-derived and neurofibromin-depleted fibroblasts after mechanical stimulation. Finally, in normal fibroblasts treated with Jasplakinolide, an actin stabilizer, α-SMA expression did not change after mechanical stimulation. Therefore, when neurofibromin was dysfunctional or depleted, subsequent actin polymerization did not occur in response to mechanical stimulation, which may have led to the unchanged expression of α-SMA. We believe this molecular pathway can be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of abnormal scars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Kuroda
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koichiro Kiya
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Matsuzaki
- Department of Child Development and Molecular Brain Science, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Faculty of Medical Science Technology, Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hironori Takamura
- Department of Child Development and Molecular Brain Science, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Naoya Otani
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koichi Tomita
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Kawai
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Fujiwara
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Nakai
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Fukui Hospital, Fukui, Japan
| | - Ayako Onishi
- Inclusive Medical Science Research Institute, Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, Osaka, Japan
| | - Taiichi Katayama
- Department of Child Development and Molecular Brain Science, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tateki Kubo
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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23
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Mao C, Liu X, Guo SW. Reduced endometrial expression of histone deacetylase 3 in women with adenomyosis who complained of heavy menstrual bleeding. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 47:103288. [PMID: 37690341 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION What role, if any, does histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) play in adenomyosis-associated heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)? DESIGN Seventy-two women with adenomyosis-associated HMB were recruited. Of these, 37 women reported moderate/heavy bleeding (MHB) and the remaining 35 women reported excessive bleeding (EXB). The stiffness of adenomyotic lesions and neighbouring endometrial-myometrial interface (EMI) was measured by transvaginal elastosonography, and full-thickness uterine tissue columns were processed for Masson trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry analyses. The protein expression levels of HDAC3 in endometrial cells cultured on substrates of different stiffnesses, and the protein concentrations of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit with HDAC3 suppression were evaluated. Mouse experiments were performed to assess the effect of adenomyosis on Hdac3 expression, endometrial repair and bleeding, and to evaluate the effect of HDAC3 inhibition on endometrial repair. RESULTS Compared with controls, the endometrial staining of HDAC3 was significantly lower in women with adenomyosis-associated HMB, concomitant with a greater extent of fibrosis. The stiffness of lesions and neighbouring EMI was significantly higher in the EXB group compared with the MHB group, as was the extent of fibrosis in lesions, their neighboring EMI and endometrium. Expression of HDAC3 was reduced significantly when endometrial epithelial cells were cultured in stiff substrates. Suppression of HDAC3 abrogated the activation and signalling of NF-κB. Mice with induced adenomyosis exhibited reduced Hdac3 staining and elevated fibrosis in endometrium, concomitant with disrupted endometrial repair and more bleeding. Hdac3 inhibition resulted in botched inflammation and increased bleeding. CONCLUSIONS Lesional fibrosis results in reduced endometrial HDAC3 expression and subsequent disruption in NF-κB signalling and inflammation, leading to adenomyosis-associated HMB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyu Mao
- Department of General Gynaecology, Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xishi Liu
- Department of General Gynaecology, Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sun-Wei Guo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Research Institute, Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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24
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Bril M, Saberi A, Jorba I, van Turnhout MC, Sahlgren CM, Bouten CV, Schenning AP, Kurniawan NA. Shape-Morphing Photoresponsive Hydrogels Reveal Dynamic Topographical Conditioning of Fibroblasts. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303136. [PMID: 37740666 PMCID: PMC10625123 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular environment defines a physical boundary condition with which cells interact. However, to date, cell response to geometrical environmental cues is largely studied in static settings, which fails to capture the spatiotemporally varying cues cells receive in native tissues. Here, a photoresponsive spiropyran-based hydrogel is presented as a dynamic, cell-compatible, and reconfigurable substrate. Local stimulation with blue light (455 nm) alters hydrogel swelling, resulting in on-demand reversible micrometer-scale changes in surface topography within 15 min, allowing investigation into cell response to controlled geometry actuations. At short term (1 h after actuation), fibroblasts respond to multiple rounds of recurring topographical changes by reorganizing their nucleus and focal adhesions (FA). FAs form primarily at the dynamic regions of the hydrogel; however, this propensity is abolished when the topography is reconfigured from grooves to pits, demonstrating that topographical changes dynamically condition fibroblasts. Further, this dynamic conditioning is found to be associated with long-term (72 h) maintenance of focal adhesions and epigenetic modifications. Overall, this study offers a new approach to dissect the dynamic interplay between cells and their microenvironment and shines a new light on the cell's ability to adapt to topographical changes through FA-based mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Bril
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Aref Saberi
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Ignasi Jorba
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Mark C. van Turnhout
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Cecilia M. Sahlgren
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Faculty of Science and EngineeringÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFI‐20520Finland
| | - Carlijn V.C. Bouten
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Albert P.H.J. Schenning
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Department of Chemical Engineering & ChemistryEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5612 AEThe Netherlands
| | - Nicholas A. Kurniawan
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
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25
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Skelton ML, Gentry JL, Astrab LR, Goedert JA, Earl EB, Pham EL, Bhat T, Caliari SR. Modular multiwell viscoelastic hydrogel platform for two- and three-dimensional cell culture applications. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.09.561449. [PMID: 37873098 PMCID: PMC10592709 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.09.561449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels have gained significant popularity as model platforms to study the reciprocal interactions between cells and their microenvironment. While hydrogel tools to probe many characteristics of the extracellular space have been developed, fabrication approaches remain challenging and time-consuming, limiting multiplexing or widespread adoption. Thus, we have developed a modular fabrication approach to generate distinct hydrogel microenvironments within 96-well plates for increased throughput of fabrication as well as integration with existing high-throughput assay technologies. This approach enables in situ hydrogel mechanical characterization and was used to generate both elastic and viscoelastic hydrogels across a range of stiffnesses. Additionally, this fabrication method enabled a 3-fold reduction in polymer and up to an 8-fold reduction in fabrication time required per hydrogel replicate. The feasibility of this platform for cell culture applications was demonstrated by measuring both population-level and single cell-level metrics via microplate reader and high-content imaging. Finally, the 96-well hydrogel array was utilized for 3D cell culture, demonstrating the ability to support high cell viability. Together, this work demonstrates a versatile and easily adoptable fabrication approach that can support the ever-expanding tool kit of hydrogel technologies for cell culture applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie L. Skelton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - James L. Gentry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Leilani R. Astrab
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Joshua A. Goedert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - E. Brynn Earl
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Emily L. Pham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Tanvi Bhat
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Steven R. Caliari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
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26
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Raktoe R, Kwee AKAL, Rietveld M, Marsidi N, Genders R, Quint K, van Doorn R, van Zuijlen P, Ghalbzouri AEL. Mimicking fat grafting of fibrotic scars using 3D-organotypic skin cultures. Exp Dermatol 2023; 32:1752-1762. [PMID: 37515391 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Wound healing of deep burn injuries is often accompanied by severe scarring, such as hypertrophic scar (HTS) formation. In severe burn wounds, where the subcutis is also damaged, the scars adhere to structures underneath, resulting in stiffness of the scar and impaired motion. Over the recent years, a promising solution has emerged: autologous fat grafting, also known as lipofilling. Previous clinical reports have shown that the anti-fibrotic effect has been attributed to the presence of adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSC). In the proposed study, we aim to investigate the effect of fat grafting in 3D organotypic skin cultures mimicking an HTS-like environment. To this end, organotypic skin cultures were embedded with normal skin fibroblasts (NF) or HTS-derived fibroblasts with or without incorporation of human adipose subcutaneous tissue (ADT) and one part was thermally wounded to examine their effect on epithelialization. The developed skin cultures were analysed on morphology and protein level. Analysis revealed that ADT-containing organotypic skin cultures comprise an improved epidermal homeostasis, and a fully formed basement membrane, similar to native human skin (NHS). Furthermore, the addition of ADT significantly reduced myofibroblast presence, which indicates its anti-fibrotic effect. Finally, re-epithelialization measurements showed that ADT reduced re-epithelialization in skin cultures embedded with NFs, whereas HTS-fibroblast-embedded skin cultures showed complete wound closure. In conclusion, we succeeded in developing a 3D organotypic HTS-skin model incorporated with subcutaneous tissue that allows further investigation on the molecular mechanism of fat grafting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv Raktoe
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anastasia K A L Kwee
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marion Rietveld
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nick Marsidi
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Roel Genders
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Dermatology, Roosevelt Clinics, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Koen Quint
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Dermatology, Roosevelt Clinics, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Remco van Doorn
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Paul van Zuijlen
- Burn Centre, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC (location VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Pediatric Surgical Centre, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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27
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Bandyopadhyay D, Mirsaeidi MS. Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary fibrosis: joining the dots. Eur Respir Rev 2023; 32:230085. [PMID: 37758275 PMCID: PMC10523156 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0085-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown aetiology. A minority of patients with sarcoidosis develop sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary fibrosis (SAPF), which may become progressive. Genetic profiles differ between patients with progressive and self-limiting disease. The mechanisms of fibrosis in SAPF are not fully understood, but SAPF is likely a distinct clinicopathological entity, rather than a continuum of acute inflammatory sarcoidosis. Risk factors for the development of SAPF have been identified; however, at present, it is not possible to make a robust prediction of risk for an individual patient. The bulk of fibrotic abnormalities in SAPF are located in the upper and middle zones of the lungs. A greater extent of SAPF on imaging is associated with a worse prognosis. Patients with SAPF are typically treated with corticosteroids, second-line agents such as methotrexate or azathioprine, or third-line agents such as tumour necrosis factor inhibitors. The antifibrotic drug nintedanib is an approved treatment for slowing the decline in lung function in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases, but more evidence is needed to assess its efficacy in SAPF. The management of patients with SAPF should include the identification and treatment of complications such as bronchiectasis and pulmonary hypertension. Further research is needed into the mechanisms underlying SAPF and biomarkers that predict its clinical course.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mehdi S Mirsaeidi
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
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28
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Angelini A, Trial J, Saltzman AB, Malovannaya A, Cieslik KA. A defective mechanosensing pathway affects fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition in the old male mouse heart. iScience 2023; 26:107283. [PMID: 37520701 PMCID: PMC10372839 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The cardiac fibroblast interacts with an extracellular matrix (ECM), enabling myofibroblast maturation via a process called mechanosensing. Although in the aging male heart, ECM is stiffer than in the young mouse, myofibroblast development is impaired, as demonstrated in 2-D and 3-D experiments. In old male cardiac fibroblasts, we found a decrease in actin polymerization, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Kindlin-2 expressions, the latter an effector of the mechanosensing. When Kindlin-2 levels were manipulated via siRNA interference, young fibroblasts developed an old-like fibroblast phenotype, whereas Kindlin-2 overexpression in old fibroblasts reversed the defective phenotype. Finally, inhibition of overactivated extracellular regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in the old male fibroblasts rescued actin polymerization and α-SMA expression. Pathological ERK1/2 overactivation was also attenuated by Kindlin-2 overexpression. In contrast, old female cardiac fibroblasts retained an operant mechanosensing pathway. In conclusion, we identified defective components of the Kindlin/ERK/actin/α-SMA mechanosensing axis in aged male fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Angelini
- Section of Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - JoAnn Trial
- Section of Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander B. Saltzman
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anna Malovannaya
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Katarzyna A. Cieslik
- Section of Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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29
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Sun L, Li Y, Wang H, Xiao X, Luo X, Yang R, Li J, Ma Y, Liu Q, Tu K, Shi Y. FOXC2-AS1/FOXC2 axis mediates matrix stiffness-induced trans-differentiation of hepatic stellate cells into fibrosis-promoting myofibroblasts. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:4206-4222. [PMID: 37705741 PMCID: PMC10496501 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.81581] [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: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Matrix stiffness is a central modulator of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and hepatic fibrogenesis. However, the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)-regulated transcriptional factors linking matrix stiffness to alterations in HSCs phenotype are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of matrix stiffness on HSCs activation and its potential mechanism. Through analysis the RNA-seq data with human primary HSCs cultured on 0.4 kPa and 25.6 kPa hydrogel, we identified that forkhead box protein C2 (FOXC2) and its antisense lncRNA FXOC2-AS1 as the new mechanosensing transcriptional regulators that coordinate HSCs responses to the matrix stiffness, moreover, FOXC2 and FOXC2-AS1 expression were also elevated in human fibrosis and cirrhosis tissues. The matrix stiffness was sufficient to activate HSCs into myofibroblasts, resulting in nuclear accumulation of FOXC2. Disrupting FOXC2 and FOXC2-AS1 level abrogated stiffness-induced activation of HSCs. Further mechanistic studies displayed that stiffness-upregulated lncRNA FOXC2-AS1 had no influence on transcription of FOXC2. FOXC2-AS1 exerted its biological function through maintaining the RNA stability of FOXC2, and protecting FOXC2 mRNA from degradation by RNA exosome complex. Additionally, rescue assays confirmed that reintroduction of FOXC2 in FOXC2-AS1-depleted HSCs reversed the repression of FOXC2-AS1 knockdown on stiffness-induced HSCs activation. In AAV6-treated mice fibrotic models, targeting FOXC2 in vivo lead to a reduced degree of liver fibrosis. In sum, our study uncovers a reciprocal crosstalk between matrix stiffness and FOXC2-AS1/FOXC2 axis leading to modulation of HSCs mechanoactivation and liver fibrosis, and present AAV6 shRNA as an effective strategy that targets FOXC2 leading to the resolution of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liankang Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Xuelian Xiao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Xuenan Luo
- Zonglian College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Ruida Yang
- Zonglian College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Jinyan Li
- Zonglian College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Yifei Ma
- Zonglian College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Qingguang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Kangsheng Tu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Yu Shi
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
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30
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Kundu AN, Dougan CE, Mahmoud S, Kilic A, Panagiotou A, Richbourg N, Irakoze N, Peyton SR. Tenascin-C Activation of Lung Fibroblasts in a 3D Synthetic Lung Extracellular Matrix Mimic. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2301493. [PMID: 37227134 PMCID: PMC10528529 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202301493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The lung extracellular matrix (ECM) maintains the structural integrity of the tissue and regulates the phenotype and functions of resident fibroblasts. Lung-metastatic breast cancer alters these cell-ECM interactions, promoting fibroblast activation. There is a need for bio-instructive ECM models that match the ECM composition and biomechanics of the lung to study these cell-matrix interactions in vitro. Here, a synthetic, bioactive hydrogel is synthesized that mimics the native lung modulus and includes a representative distribution of the most abundant ECM peptide motifs responsible for integrin-binding and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated degradation in the lung, which enables quiescent culture of human lung fibroblasts (HLFs). Stimulation with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), metastatic breast cancer conditioned media (CM), or tenascin-C-derived integrin-binding peptide activated hydrogel-encapsulated HLFs demonstrates multiple environmental methods to activate HLFs in a lung ECM-mimicking hydrogel. This lung hydrogel platform is a tunable, synthetic approach to studying the independent and combinatorial effects of ECM in regulating fibroblast quiescence and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aritra Nath Kundu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Carey E. Dougan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Samar Mahmoud
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Alara Kilic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Alexi Panagiotou
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Nathan Richbourg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Ninette Irakoze
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 240 Thatcher Way, Life Sciences Laboratory N531, Amherst, MA 01003
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Dabaghi M, Carpio MB, Saraei N, Moran-Mirabal JM, Kolb MR, Hirota JA. A roadmap for developing and engineering in vitro pulmonary fibrosis models. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:021302. [PMID: 38510343 PMCID: PMC10903385 DOI: 10.1063/5.0134177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe form of pulmonary fibrosis. IPF is a fatal disease with no cure and is challenging to diagnose. Unfortunately, due to the elusive etiology of IPF and a late diagnosis, there are no cures for IPF. Two FDA-approved drugs for IPF, nintedanib and pirfenidone, slow the progression of the disease, yet fail to cure or reverse it. Furthermore, most animal models have been unable to completely recapitulate the physiology of human IPF, resulting in the failure of many drug candidates in preclinical studies. In the last few decades, the development of new IPF drugs focused on changes at the cellular level, as it was believed that the cells were the main players in IPF development and progression. However, recent studies have shed light on the critical role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in IPF development, where the ECM communicates with cells and initiates a positive feedback loop to promote fibrotic processes. Stemming from this shift in the understanding of fibrosis, there is a need to develop in vitro model systems that mimic the human lung microenvironment to better understand how biochemical and biomechanical cues drive fibrotic processes in IPF. However, current in vitro cell culture platforms, which may include substrates with different stiffness or natural hydrogels, have shortcomings in recapitulating the complexity of fibrosis. This review aims to draw a roadmap for developing advanced in vitro pulmonary fibrosis models, which can be leveraged to understand better different mechanisms involved in IPF and develop drug candidates with improved efficacy. We begin with a brief overview defining pulmonary fibrosis and highlight the importance of ECM components in the disease progression. We focus on fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in the context of ECM biology and fibrotic processes, as most conventional advanced in vitro models of pulmonary fibrosis use these cell types. We transition to discussing the parameters of the 3D microenvironment that are relevant in pulmonary fibrosis progression. Finally, the review ends by summarizing the state of the art in the field and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadhossein Dabaghi
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health—Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada
| | - Mabel Barreiro Carpio
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Arthur N. Bourns Science Building, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Neda Saraei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Engineering Technology Building, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
| | | | - Martin R. Kolb
- Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health—Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada
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Jones DL, Hallström GF, Jiang X, Locke RC, Evans MK, Bonnevie ED, Srikumar A, Leahy TP, Nijsure MP, Boerckel JD, Mauck RL, Dyment NA. Mechanoepigenetic regulation of extracellular matrix homeostasis via Yap and Taz. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2211947120. [PMID: 37216538 PMCID: PMC10235980 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211947120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells integrate mechanical cues to direct fate specification to maintain tissue function and homeostasis. While disruption of these cues is known to lead to aberrant cell behavior and chronic diseases, such as tendinopathies, the underlying mechanisms by which mechanical signals maintain cell function are not well understood. Here, we show using a model of tendon de-tensioning that loss of tensile cues in vivo acutely changes nuclear morphology, positioning, and expression of catabolic gene programs, resulting in subsequent weakening of the tendon. In vitro studies using paired ATAC/RNAseq demonstrate that the loss of cellular tension rapidly reduces chromatin accessibility in the vicinity of Yap/Taz genomic targets while also increasing expression of genes involved in matrix catabolism. Concordantly, the depletion of Yap/Taz elevates matrix catabolic expression. Conversely, overexpression of Yap results in a reduction of chromatin accessibility at matrix catabolic gene loci, while also reducing transcriptional levels. The overexpression of Yap not only prevents the induction of this broad catabolic program following a loss of cellular tension, but also preserves the underlying chromatin state from force-induced alterations. Taken together, these results provide novel mechanistic details by which mechanoepigenetic signals regulate tendon cell function through a Yap/Taz axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota L. Jones
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Grey F. Hallström
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Xi Jiang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Ryan C. Locke
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Translational Musculoskeletal Research Center, Corporal Michael Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Mary Kate Evans
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Edward D. Bonnevie
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Translational Musculoskeletal Research Center, Corporal Michael Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Anjana Srikumar
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Thomas P. Leahy
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Madhura P. Nijsure
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Joel D. Boerckel
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Robert L. Mauck
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Translational Musculoskeletal Research Center, Corporal Michael Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Nathaniel A. Dyment
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
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Caven LT, Carabeo RA. The role of infected epithelial cells in Chlamydia-associated fibrosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1208302. [PMID: 37265500 PMCID: PMC10230099 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1208302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocular, genital, and anogenital infection by the obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis have been consistently associated with scar-forming sequelae. In cases of chronic or repeated infection of the female genital tract, infection-associated fibrosis of the fallopian tubes can result in ectopic pregnancy or infertility. In light of this urgent concern to public health, the underlying mechanism of C. trachomatis-associated scarring is a topic of ongoing study. Fibrosis is understood to be an outcome of persistent injury and/or dysregulated wound healing, in which an aberrantly activated myofibroblast population mediates hypertrophic remodeling of the basement membrane via deposition of collagens and other components of the extracellular matrix, as well as induction of epithelial cell proliferation via growth factor signaling. Initial study of infection-associated immune cell recruitment and pro-inflammatory signaling have suggested the cellular paradigm of chlamydial pathogenesis, wherein inflammation-associated tissue damage and fibrosis are the indirect result of an immune response to the pathogen initiated by host epithelial cells. However, recent work has revealed more direct routes by which C. trachomatis may induce scarring, such as infection-associated induction of growth factor signaling and pro-fibrotic remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Additionally, C. trachomatis infection has been shown to induce an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in host epithelial cells, prompting transdifferentiation into a myofibroblast-like phenotype. In this review, we summarize the field's current understanding of Chlamydia-associated fibrosis, reviewing key new findings and identifying opportunities for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam T. Caven
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Rey A. Carabeo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
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Gunatilaka A, Zhang S, Tan WSD, G Stewart A. Anti-fibrotic strategies and pulmonary fibrosis. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2023; 98:179-224. [PMID: 37524487 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2023.04.002] [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: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) results from the dysregulated process of injury and repair, which promotes scarring of the lung tissue and deposition of collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) components, that make the lung unphysiologically stiff. IPF presents a serious concern as its pathogenesis remains elusive, and current anti-fibrotic treatments are only effective in slowing rather than halting disease progression. The IPF disease pathogenesis is incompletely defined, complex and incorporates interplay between different fibrogenesis signaling pathways. Preclinical IPF experimental models used to validate drug candidates present significant limitations in modeling IPF pathobiology, with their limited time frame, simplicity and inaccurate representation of the disease and the mechanical influences of IPF. Potentially more accurate mimetic disease models that capture the cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction, such as 3D cultures, organoids and precision-cut lung slices (PCLS), may yield more meaningful clinical predictions for drug candidates. Recent advances in developing anti-fibrotic compounds have positioned drug towards targeting components of the fibrogenesis signaling pathway of IPF or the extracellular microenvironment. The major goals in this area of research focus on finding ways to reverse or halt the disease progression by utilizing more disease-relevant experimental models to improve the qualification of potential drug targets for treating pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avanka Gunatilaka
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; ARC Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephanie Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Wan Shun Daniel Tan
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Alastair G Stewart
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; ARC Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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Sumey JL, Johnston PC, Harrell AM, Caliari SR. Hydrogel mechanics regulate fibroblast DNA methylation and chromatin condensation. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:2886-2897. [PMID: 36880435 PMCID: PMC10329270 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm02058k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Cellular mechanotransduction plays a central role in fibroblast activation during fibrotic disease progression, leading to increased tissue stiffness and reduced organ function. While the role of epigenetics in disease mechanotransduction has begun to be appreciated, little is known about how substrate mechanics, particularly the timing of mechanical inputs, regulate epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and chromatin reorganization during fibroblast activation. In this work, we engineered a hyaluronic acid hydrogel platform with independently tunable stiffness and viscoelasticity to model normal (storage modulus, G' ∼ 0.5 kPa, loss modulus, G'' ∼ 0.05 kPa) to increasingly fibrotic (G' ∼ 2.5 and 8 kPa, G'' ∼ 0.05 kPa) lung mechanics. Human lung fibroblasts exhibited increased spreading and nuclear localization of myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) with increasing substrate stiffness within 1 day, with these trends holding steady for longer cultures. However, fibroblasts displayed time-dependent changes in global DNA methylation and chromatin organization. Fibroblasts initially displayed increased DNA methylation and chromatin decondensation on stiffer hydrogels, but both of these measures decreased with longer culture times. To investigate how culture time affected the responsiveness of fibroblast nuclear remodeling to mechanical signals, we engineered hydrogels amenable to in situ secondary crosslinking, enabling a transition from a compliant substrate mimicking normal tissue to a stiffer substrate resembling fibrotic tissue. When stiffening was initiated after only 1 day of culture, fibroblasts rapidly responded and displayed increased DNA methylation and chromatin decondensation, similar to fibroblasts on static stiffer hydrogels. Conversely, when fibroblasts experienced later stiffening at day 7, they showed no changes in DNA methylation and chromatin condensation, suggesting the induction of a persistent fibroblast phenotype. These results highlight the time-dependent nuclear changes associated with fibroblast activation in response to dynamic mechanical perturbations and may provide mechanisms to target for controlling fibroblast activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna L Sumey
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA.
| | | | | | - Steven R Caliari
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA
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36
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Heinrich MA, Uboldi I, Kuninty PR, Ankone MJ, van Baarlen J, Zhang YS, Jain K, Prakash J. Microarchitectural mimicking of stroma-induced vasculature compression in pancreatic tumors using a 3D engineered model. Bioact Mater 2023; 22:18-33. [PMID: 36203956 PMCID: PMC9516389 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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Toscano-Marquez F, Romero Y, Espina-Ordoñez M, Cisneros J. Absence of HDAC3 by Matrix Stiffness Promotes Chromatin Remodeling and Fibroblast Activation in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071020. [PMID: 37048093 PMCID: PMC10093275 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and fatal disease characterized by progressive and irreversible lung scarring associated with persistent activation of fibroblasts. Epigenetics could integrate diverse microenvironmental signals, such as stiffness, to direct persistent fibroblast activation. Histone modifications by deacetylases (HDAC) may play an essential role in the gene expression changes involved in the pathological remodeling of the lung. Particularly, HDAC3 is crucial for maintaining chromatin and regulating gene expression, but little is known about its role in IPF. In the study, control and IPF-derived fibroblasts were used to determine the influence of HDAC3 on chromatin remodeling and gene expression associated with IPF signature. Additionally, the cells were grown on hydrogels to mimic the stiffness of a fibrotic lung. Our results showed a decreased HDAC3 in the nucleus of IPF fibroblasts, which correlates with changes in nucleus size and heterochromatin loss. The inhibition of HDAC3 with a pharmacological inhibitor causes hyperacetylation of H3K9 and provokes an increased expression of Col1A1, ACTA2, and p21. Comparable results were found in hydrogels, where matrix stiffness promotes the loss of nuclear HDAC3 and increases the profibrotic signature. Finally, latrunculin b was used to confirm that changes by stiffness depend on the mechanotransduction signals. Together, these results suggest that HDAC3 could be a link between epigenetic mechanisms and the fibrotic microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Toscano-Marquez
- Laboratorio de Biopatología Pulmonar INER-Ciencias-UNAM, Departamento de Fibrosis Pulmonar, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City 14080, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Yair Romero
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Marco Espina-Ordoñez
- Laboratorio de Biopatología Pulmonar INER-Ciencias-UNAM, Departamento de Fibrosis Pulmonar, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City 14080, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - José Cisneros
- Laboratorio de Biopatología Pulmonar INER-Ciencias-UNAM, Departamento de Fibrosis Pulmonar, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Mexico City 14080, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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Sumey JL, Harrell AM, Johnston PC, Caliari SR. Serial passaging affects stromal cell mechanosensitivity on hyaluronic acid hydrogels. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.16.532853. [PMID: 36993247 PMCID: PMC10055097 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.16.532853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
There is tremendous interest in developing hydrogels as tunable in vitro cell culture platforms to study cell response to mechanical cues in a controlled manner. However, little is known about how common cell culture techniques, such as serial expansion on tissue culture plastic, affect subsequent cell behavior when cultured on hydrogels. In this work we leverage a methacrylated hyaluronic acid hydrogel platform to study stromal cell mechanotransduction. Hydrogels are first formed through thiol-Michael addition to model normal soft tissue (e.g., lung) stiffness ( E ~ 1 kPa). Secondary crosslinking via radical photopolymerization of unconsumed methacrylates allows matching of early- ( E ~ 6 kPa) and late-stage fibrotic tissue ( E ~ 50 kPa). Early passage (P1) primary human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) display increased spreading, myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) nuclear localization, and focal adhesion size with increasing hydrogel stiffness. However, late passage (P5) hMSCs show reduced sensitivity to substrate mechanics with lower MRTF-A nuclear translocation and smaller focal adhesions on stiffer hydrogels compared to early passage hMSCs. Similar trends are observed in an immortalized human lung fibroblast line. Overall, this work highlights the implications of standard cell culture practices on investigating cell response to mechanical signals using in vitro hydrogel models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna L. Sumey
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Abigail M. Harrell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Peyton C. Johnston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Steven R. Caliari
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
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Kundu AN, Dougan CE, Mahmoud S, Kilic A, Panagiotou A, Irakoze N, Richbourg N, Peyton SR. Tenascin-C activation of lung fibroblasts in a 3D synthetic lung extracellular matrix mimic. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.24.529926. [PMID: 36865293 PMCID: PMC9980292 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.24.529926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
The lung extracellular matrix (ECM) maintains the structural integrity of the tissue and regulates the phenotype and functions of resident fibroblasts. Lung-metastatic breast cancer alters these cell-ECM interactions, promoting fibroblast activation. There is a need for bio-instructive ECM models that contain the ECM composition and biomechanics of the lung to study these cell-matrix interactions in vitro . Here, we developed a synthetic, bioactive hydrogel that mimics the native lung modulus, and includes a representative distribution of the most abundant ECM peptide motifs responsible for integrin binding and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated degradation in the lung, which promotes quiescence of human lung fibroblasts (HLFs). Stimulation with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), metastatic breast cancer conditioned media (CM), or tenascin-C activated these hydrogel-encapsulated HLFs in a manner reflective of their native in vivo responses. We propose this lung hydrogel platform as a tunable, synthetic approach to study the independent and combinatorial effects of ECM in regulating fibroblast quiescence and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aritra Nath Kundu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Carey E. Dougan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Samar Mahmoud
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Alara Kilic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Alexi Panagiotou
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Ninette Irakoze
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Nathan Richbourg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 240 Thatcher Way, Life Sciences Laboratory N531, Amherst, MA 01003
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40
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Xie N, Xiao C, Shu Q, Cheng B, Wang Z, Xue R, Wen Z, Wang J, Shi H, Fan D, Liu N, Xu F. Cell response to mechanical microenvironment cues via Rho signaling: From mechanobiology to mechanomedicine. Acta Biomater 2023; 159:1-20. [PMID: 36717048 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical cues in the cell microenvironment such as those from extracellular matrix properties, stretching, compression and shear stress, play a critical role in maintaining homeostasis. Upon sensing mechanical stimuli, cells can translate these external forces into intracellular biochemical signals to regulate their cellular behaviors, but the specific mechanisms of mechanotransduction at the molecular level remain elusive. As a subfamily of the Ras superfamily, Rho GTPases have been recognized as key intracellular mechanotransduction mediators that can regulate multiple cell activities such as proliferation, migration and differentiation as well as biological processes such as cytoskeletal dynamics, metabolism, and organ development. However, the upstream mechanosensors for Rho proteins and downstream effectors that respond to Rho signal activation have not been well illustrated. Moreover, Rho-mediated mechanical signals in previous studies are highly context-dependent. In this review, we systematically summarize the types of mechanical cues in the cell microenvironment and provide recent advances on the roles of the Rho-based mechanotransduction in various cell activities, physiological processes and diseases. Comprehensive insights into the mechanical roles of Rho GTPase partners would open a new paradigm of mechanomedicine for a variety of diseases. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this review, we highlight the critical role of Rho GTPases as signal mediators to respond to physical cues in microenvironment. This article will add a distinct contribution to this set of knowledge by intensively addressing the relationship between Rho signaling and mechanobiology/mechanotransduction/mechanomedcine. This topic has not been discussed by the journal, nor has it yet been developed by the field. The comprehensive picture that will develop, from molecular mechanisms and engineering methods to disease treatment strategies, represents an important and distinct contribution to the field. We hope that this review would help researchers in various fields, especially clinicians, oncologists and bioengineers, who study Rho signal pathway and mechanobiology/mechanotransduction, understand the critical role of Rho GTPase in mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China; The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Cailan Xiao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China; The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Qiuai Shu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Bo Cheng
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China; The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Ziwei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Runxin Xue
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Zhang Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Jinhai Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Haitao Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Daiming Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an Shaanxi 710049, China.
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China; The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China.
| | - Feng Xu
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China; The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China.
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41
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Woodley JP, Lambert DW, Asencio IO. Reduced Fibroblast Activation on Electrospun Polycaprolactone Scaffolds. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10030348. [PMID: 36978739 PMCID: PMC10045272 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10030348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In vivo, quiescent fibroblasts reside in three-dimensional connective tissues and are activated in response to tissue injury before proliferating rapidly and becoming migratory and contractile myofibroblasts. When deregulated, chronic activation drives fibrotic disease. Fibroblasts cultured on stiff 2D surfaces display a partially activated phenotype, whilst many 3D environments limit fibroblast activation. Cell mechanotransduction, spreading, polarity, and integrin expression are controlled by material mechanical properties and micro-architecture. Between 3D culture systems, these features are highly variable, and the challenge of controlling individual properties without altering others has led to an inconsistent picture of fibroblast behaviour. Electrospinning offers greater control of mechanical properties and microarchitecture making it a valuable model to study fibroblast activation behaviour in vitro. Here, we present a comprehensive characterisation of the activation traits of human oral fibroblasts grown on a microfibrous scaffold composed of electrospun polycaprolactone. After over 7 days in the culture, we observed a reduction in proliferation rates compared to cells cultured in 2D, with low KI67 expression and no evidence of cellular senescence. A-SMA mRNA levels fell, and the expression of ECM protein-coding genes also decreased. Electrospun fibrous scaffolds, therefore, represent a tuneable platform to investigate the mechanisms of fibroblast activation and their roles in fibrotic disease.
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Singla A, Reuter S, Taube C, Peters M, Peters K. The molecular mechanisms of remodeling in asthma, COPD and IPF with a special emphasis on the complex role of Wnt5A. Inflamm Res 2023; 72:577-588. [PMID: 36658268 PMCID: PMC10023767 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-023-01692-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic inflammatory lung diseases are a common cause of suffering and death. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the reason for 6% of all deaths worldwide. A total of 262 million people are affected by asthma and 461,000 people died in 2019. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is diagnosed in 3 million people worldwide, with an onset over the age of 50 with a mean survival of only 24-30 months. These three diseases have in common that remodeling of the lung tissue takes place, which is responsible for an irreversible decline of lung function. Pathological lung remodeling is mediated by a complex interaction of different, often misguided, repair processes regulated by a variety of mediators. One group of these, as has recently become known, are the Wnt ligands. In addition to their well-characterized role in embryogenesis, this group of glycoproteins is also involved in immunological and structural repair processes. Depending on the combination of the Wnt ligand with its receptors and co-receptors, canonical and noncanonical signaling cascades can be induced. Wnt5A is a mediator that is described mainly in noncanonical Wnt signaling and has been shown to play an important role in different inflammatory diseases and malignancies. OBJECTIVES In this review, we summarize the literature available regarding the role of Wnt5A as an immune modulator and its role in the development of asthma, COPD and IPF. We will focus specifically on what is known about Wnt5A concerning its role in the remodeling processes involved in the chronification of the diseases. CONCLUSION Wnt5A has been shown to be involved in all three inflammatory lung diseases. Since the ligand affects both structural and immunological processes, it is an interesting target for the treatment of lung diseases whose pathology involves a restructuring of the lung tissue triggered in part by an inflammatory immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Singla
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Essen-Ruhrlandklinik, Essen, Germany
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Reuter
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Essen-Ruhrlandklinik, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Taube
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Essen-Ruhrlandklinik, Essen, Germany
| | - Marcus Peters
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Karin Peters
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
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43
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Graça AL, Domingues RMA, Gomez-Florit M, Gomes ME. Platelet-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promote Tenogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells on Bioengineered Living Fibers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043516. [PMID: 36834925 PMCID: PMC9959969 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Tendon mimetic scaffolds that recreate the tendon hierarchical structure and niche have increasing potential to fully restore tendon functionality. However, most scaffolds lack biofunctionality to boost the tenogenic differentiation of stem cells. In this study, we assessed the role of platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in stem cells' tenogenic commitment using a 3D bioengineered in vitro tendon model. First, we relied on fibrous scaffolds coated with collagen hydrogels encapsulating human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) to bioengineer our composite living fibers. We found that the hASCs in our fibers showed high elongation and cytoskeleton anisotropic organization, typical of tenocytes. Moreover, acting as biological cues, platelet-derived EVs boosted the hASCs' tenogenic commitment, prevented phenotypic drift, enhanced the deposition of the tendon-like extracellular matrix, and induced lower collagen matrix contraction. In conclusion, our living fibers provided an in vitro system for tendon tissue engineering, allowing us to study not only the tendon microenvironment but also the influence of biochemical cues on stem cell behavior. More importantly, we showed that platelet-derived EVs are a promising biochemical tool for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications that are worthy of further exploration, as paracrine signaling might potentiate tendon repair and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Graça
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s–PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui M. A. Domingues
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s–PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Manuel Gomez-Florit
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07010 Palma, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.G.-F.); (M.E.G.)
| | - Manuela E. Gomes
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s–PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.G.-F.); (M.E.G.)
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Materials and extracellular matrix rigidity highlighted in tissue damages and diseases: Implication for biomaterials design and therapeutic targets. Bioact Mater 2023; 20:381-403. [PMID: 35784640 PMCID: PMC9234013 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rigidity (or stiffness) of materials and extracellular matrix has proven to be one of the most significant extracellular physicochemical cues that can control diverse cell behaviors, such as contractility, motility, and spreading, and the resultant pathophysiological phenomena. Many 2D materials engineered with tunable rigidity have enabled researchers to elucidate the roles of matrix biophysical cues in diverse cellular events, including migration, lineage specification, and mechanical memory. Moreover, the recent findings accumulated under 3D environments with viscoelastic and remodeling properties pointed to the importance of dynamically changing rigidity in cell fate control, tissue repair, and disease progression. Thus, here we aim to highlight the works related with material/matrix-rigidity-mediated cell and tissue behaviors, with a brief outlook into the studies on the effects of material/matrix rigidity on cell behaviors in 2D systems, further discussion of the events and considerations in tissue-mimicking 3D conditions, and then examination of the in vivo findings that concern material/matrix rigidity. The current discussion will help understand the material/matrix-rigidity-mediated biological phenomena and further leverage the concepts to find therapeutic targets and to design implantable materials for the treatment of damaged and diseased tissues. Discuss the cutting-edge findings on the role of matrix rigidity in dictating diverse cell behaviors. Underscore the dynamic matrix rigidity that interplays with cells, and the related pathophysiological phenomena. Illuminate the significance of matrix rigidity in clinically-relevant settings.
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45
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Sokolova A, Galic M. Modulation of self-organizing circuits at deforming membranes by intracellular and extracellular factors. Biol Chem 2023; 404:417-425. [PMID: 36626681 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2022-0290] [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: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical forces exerted to the plasma membrane induce cell shape changes. These transient shape changes trigger, among others, enrichment of curvature-sensitive molecules at deforming membrane sites. Strikingly, some curvature-sensing molecules not only detect membrane deformation but can also alter the amplitude of forces that caused to shape changes in the first place. This dual ability of sensing and inducing membrane deformation leads to the formation of curvature-dependent self-organizing signaling circuits. How these cell-autonomous circuits are affected by auxiliary parameters from inside and outside of the cell has remained largely elusive. Here, we explore how such factors modulate self-organization at the micro-scale and its emerging properties at the macroscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Sokolova
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Straße 31, 48149 Münster, Germany.,CiM-IMRPS Graduate Program, Schlossplatz 5, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Milos Galic
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Straße 31, 48149 Münster, Germany.,'Cells in Motion' Interfaculty Centre, University of Münster, Röntgenstraße 16, 48149 Münster, Germany
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46
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Guo T, Jiang CS, Yang SZ, Zhu Y, He C, Carter AB, Antony VB, Peng H, Zhou Y. Mitochondrial fission and bioenergetics mediate human lung fibroblast durotaxis. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e157348. [PMID: 36422990 PMCID: PMC9870082 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.157348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by stiffening of the extracellular matrix. Fibroblasts migrate in the direction of greater stiffness, a phenomenon termed durotaxis. The mechanically guided fibroblast migration could be a crucial step in the progression of lung fibrosis. In this study, we found primary human lung fibroblasts sense increasing matrix stiffness with a change of mitochondrial dynamics in favor of mitochondrial fission and increased production of ATP. Mitochondria polarize in the direction of a physiologically relevant stiffness gradient, with conspicuous localization to the leading edge, primarily lamellipodia and filopodia, of migrating lung fibroblasts. Matrix stiffness-regulated mitochondrial fission and durotactic lung fibroblast migration are mediated by a dynamin-related protein 1/mitochondrial fission factor-dependent (DRP1/MFF-dependent) pathway. Importantly, we found that the DRP1/MFF pathway is activated in fibrotic lung myofibroblasts in both human IPF and bleomycin-induced mouse lung fibrosis. These findings suggest that energy-producing mitochondria need to be sectioned via fission and repositioned in durotactic lung fibroblasts to meet the higher energy demand. This represents a potentially new mechanism through which mitochondria may contribute to the progression of fibrotic lung diseases. Inhibition of durotactic migration of lung fibroblasts may play an important role in preventing the progression of human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Guo
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chun-sun Jiang
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Shan-Zhong Yang
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Yi Zhu
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Chao He
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - A. Brent Carter
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Veena B. Antony
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Hong Peng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong Zhou
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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47
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Advances in Medical Imaging for Wound Repair and Regenerative Medicine. Regen Med 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-6008-6_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
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48
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Guller A, Igrunkova A. Engineered Microenvironments for 3D Cell Culture and Regenerative Medicine: Challenges, Advances, and Trends. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 10:bioengineering10010017. [PMID: 36671589 PMCID: PMC9854955 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The overall goal of regenerative medicine is to restore the functional performance of the tissues and organs that have been severely damaged or lost due to traumas and diseases [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Guller
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Alexandra Igrunkova
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- World-Class Research Centre “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119992, Russia
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49
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Chen G, Deng Y, Xia B, Lv Y. In Situ Regulation and Mechanisms of 3D Matrix Stiffness on the Activation and Reversion of Hepatic Stellate Cells. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 12:e2202560. [PMID: 36519640 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a key event in the progression of liver fibrosis. HSCs transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts and secrete large amounts of extracellular matrix, resulting in increased liver stiffness. It is difficult for platforms constructed in vitro to simulate the structure, composition, and stiffness of the 3D microenvironment of HSCs in vivo. Here, 3D scaffolds with different stiffness are constructed by decellularizing rat livers at different stages of fibrosis. The effects of matrix stiffness on the proliferation, activation, and reversion of HSCs are studied. The results demonstrate these scaffolds have good cytocompatibility. It is also found that the high stiffness can significantly promote the activation of HSCs, and this process is accompanied by the activation of integrin β1 as well as the nucleation and activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP). Moreover, the low stiffness of the scaffold can promote the reversion of activated HSCs, which is associated with cell apoptosis and accompanied by the inactivation of integrin β1 and YAP. These results suggest that YAP may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of liver fibrosis and the theoretical feasibility of inducing activated HSCs reversion to the resting state by regulating matrix stiffness of liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobao Chen
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, P. R. China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Yaxin Deng
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, P. R. China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, P. R. China
| | - Bin Xia
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067, P. R. China
| | - Yonggang Lv
- State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing Technologies, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, 430200, P. R. China
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50
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Song J, Gao H, Zhang H, George OJ, Hillman AS, Fox JM, Jia X. Matrix Adhesiveness Regulates Myofibroblast Differentiation from Vocal Fold Fibroblasts in a Bio-orthogonally Cross-linked Hydrogel. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:51669-51682. [PMID: 36367478 PMCID: PMC10350853 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c13852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Repeated mechanical and chemical insults cause an irreversible alteration of extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and properties, giving rise to vocal fold scarring that is refractory to treatment. Although it is well known that fibroblast activation to myofibroblast is the key to the development of the pathology, the lack of a physiologically relevant in vitro model of vocal folds impedes mechanistic investigations on how ECM cues promote myofibroblast differentiation. Herein, we describe a bio-orthogonally cross-linked hydrogel platform that recapitulates the alteration of matrix adhesiveness due to enhanced fibronectin deposition when vocal fold wound healing is initiated. The synthetic ECM (sECM) was established via the cycloaddition reaction of tetrazine (Tz) with slow (norbornene, Nb)- and fast (trans-cyclooctene, TCO)-reacting dienophiles. The relatively slow Tz-Nb ligation allowed the establishment of the covalent hydrogel network for 3D cell encapsulation, while the rapid and efficient Tz-TCO reaction enabled precise conjugation of the cell-adhesive RGDSP peptide in the hydrogel network. To mimic the dynamic changes of ECM composition during wound healing, RGDSP was conjugated to cell-laden hydrogel constructs via a diffusion-controlled bioorthognal ligation method 3 days post encapsulation. At a low RGDSP concentration (0.2 mM), fibroblasts residing in the hydrogel remained quiescent when maintained in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-conditioned media. However, at a high concentration (2 mM), RGDSP potentiated TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation, as evidenced by the formation of an actin cytoskeleton network, including F-actin and alpha-smooth muscle actin. The RGDSP-driven fibroblast activation to myofibroblast was accompanied with an increase in the expression of wound healing-related genes, the secretion of profibrotic cytokines, and matrix contraction required for tissue remodeling. This work represents the first step toward the establishment of a 3D hydrogel-based cellular model for studying myofibroblast differentiation in a defined niche associated with vocal fold scarring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyeon Song
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Hanyuan Gao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - He Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Olivia J. George
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Ashlyn S. Hillman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Joseph. M. Fox
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Xinqiao Jia
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, Delaware, USA
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