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Shebindu A, Kaveti D, Umutoni L, Kirk G, Burton MD, Jones CN. A programmable microfluidic platform to monitor calcium dynamics in microglia during inflammation. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2024; 10:106. [PMID: 39101003 PMCID: PMC11294448 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00733-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is characterized by the elevation of cytokines and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which in turn activates microglia. These immunoregulatory molecules typically form gradients in vivo, which significantly influence microglial behaviors such as increasing calcium signaling, migration, phagocytosis, and cytokine secretion. Quantifying microglial calcium signaling in the context of inflammation holds the potential for developing precise therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases. However, the current calcium imaging systems are technically challenging to operate, necessitate large volumes of expensive reagents and cells, and model immunoregulatory molecules as uniform concentrations, failing to accurately replicate the in vivo microenvironment. In this study, we introduce a novel calcium monitoring micro-total analysis system (CAM-μTAS) designed to quantify calcium dynamics in microglia (BV2 cells) within defined cytokine gradients. Leveraging programmable pneumatically actuated lifting gate microvalve arrays and a Quake valve, CAM-μTAS delivers cytokine gradients to microglia, mimicking neuroinflammation. Our device automates sample handling and cell culture, enabling rapid media changes in just 1.5 s, thus streamlining the experimental workflow. By analyzing BV2 calcium transient latency to peak, we demonstrate location-dependent microglial activation patterns based on cytokine and ATP gradients, offering insights contrasting those of non-gradient-based perfusion systems. By harnessing advancements in microsystem technology to quantify calcium dynamics, we can construct simplified human models of neurological disorders, unravel the intricate mechanisms of cell-cell signaling, and conduct robust evaluations of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Shebindu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Durga Kaveti
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
| | - Linda Umutoni
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
| | - Gia Kirk
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
| | - Michael D. Burton
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
| | - Caroline N. Jones
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
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Gomez-Cruz C, Fernandez-de la Torre M, Lachowski D, Prados-de-Haro M, Del Río Hernández AE, Perea G, Muñoz-Barrutia A, Garcia-Gonzalez D. Mechanical and Functional Responses in Astrocytes under Alternating Deformation Modes Using Magneto-Active Substrates. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2312497. [PMID: 38610101 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312497] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
This work introduces NeoMag, a system designed to enhance cell mechanics assays in substrate deformation studies. NeoMag uses multidomain magneto-active materials to mechanically actuate the substrate, transmitting reversible mechanical cues to cells. The system boasts full flexibility in alternating loading substrate deformation modes, seamlessly adapting to both upright and inverted microscopes. The multidomain substrates facilitate mechanobiology assays on 2D and 3D cultures. The integration of the system with nanoindenters allows for precise evaluation of cellular mechanical properties under varying substrate deformation modes. The system is used to study the impact of substrate deformation on astrocytes, simulating mechanical conditions akin to traumatic brain injury and ischemic stroke. The results reveal local heterogeneous changes in astrocyte stiffness, influenced by the orientation of subcellular regions relative to substrate strain. These stiffness variations, exceeding 50% in stiffening and softening, and local deformations significantly alter calcium dynamics. Furthermore, sustained deformations induce actin network reorganization and activate Piezo1 channels, leading to an initial increase followed by a long-term inhibition of calcium events. Conversely, fast and dynamic deformations transiently activate Piezo1 channels and disrupt the actin network, causing long-term cell softening. These findings unveil mechanical and functional alterations in astrocytes during substrate deformation, illustrating the multiple opportunities this technology offers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Gomez-Cruz
- Department of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Fernandez-de la Torre
- Department of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dariusz Lachowski
- Department of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Martin Prados-de-Haro
- Department of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - Armando E Del Río Hernández
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Gertrudis Perea
- Department of Functional and Systems Neurobiology, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Av. Doctor Arce, 37., 28002, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - Arrate Muñoz-Barrutia
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
- Área de Ingeniería Biomédica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Calle del Doctor Esquerdo 46, Leganés, Madrid, ES28007, Spain
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA
| | - Daniel Garcia-Gonzalez
- Department of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
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Beltrán SM, Bobo J, Habib A, Kodavali CV, Edwards L, Mamindla P, Taylor RE, LeDuc PR, Zinn PO. Characterization of neural mechanotransduction response in human traumatic brain injury organoid model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13536. [PMID: 37598247 PMCID: PMC10439953 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40431-y] [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: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to model physiological systems through 3D neural in-vitro systems may enable new treatments for various diseases while lowering the need for challenging animal and human testing. Creating such an environment, and even more impactful, one that mimics human brain tissue under mechanical stimulation, would be extremely useful to study a range of human-specific biological processes and conditions related to brain trauma. One approach is to use human cerebral organoids (hCOs) in-vitro models. hCOs recreate key cytoarchitectural features of the human brain, distinguishing themselves from more traditional 2D cultures and organ-on-a-chip models, as well as in-vivo animal models. Here, we propose a novel approach to emulate mild and moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) using hCOs that undergo strain rates indicative of TBI. We subjected the hCOs to mild (2 s[Formula: see text]) and moderate (14 s[Formula: see text]) loading conditions, examined the mechanotransduction response, and investigated downstream genomic effects and regulatory pathways. The revealed pathways of note were cell death and metabolic and biosynthetic pathways implicating genes such as CARD9, ENO1, and FOXP3, respectively. Additionally, we show a steeper ascent in calcium signaling as we imposed higher loading conditions on the organoids. The elucidation of neural response to mechanical stimulation in reliable human cerebral organoid models gives insights into a better understanding of TBI in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana M Beltrán
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
| | - Justin Bobo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
| | - Ahmed Habib
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15232, PA, USA
| | - Chowdari V Kodavali
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15232, PA, USA
| | - Lincoln Edwards
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15232, PA, USA
| | - Priyadarshini Mamindla
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15232, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca E Taylor
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
| | - Philip R LeDuc
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA.
| | - Pascal O Zinn
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA.
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15232, PA, USA.
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Hanna ME, Pfister BJ. Advancements in in vitro models of traumatic brain injury. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Recent Advancements in In Vitro Models of Traumatic Brain Injury. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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