1
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Legere EA, Baumholtz AI, Lachance JFB, Archer M, Piontek J, Ryan AK. Claudin-3 in the non-neural ectoderm is essential for neural fold fusion in chicken embryos. Dev Biol 2024; 507:20-33. [PMID: 38154769 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2023.12.009] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The neural tube, the embryonic precursor to the brain and spinal cord, begins as a flat sheet of epithelial cells, divided into non-neural and neural ectoderm. Proper neural tube closure requires that the edges of the neural ectoderm, the neural folds, to elevate upwards and fuse along the dorsal midline of the embryo. We have previously shown that members of the claudin protein family are required for the early phases of chick neural tube closure. Claudins are transmembrane proteins, localized in apical tight junctions within epithelial cells where they are essential for regulation of paracellular permeability, strongly involved in apical-basal polarity, cell-cell adhesion, and bridging the tight junction to cytoplasmic proteins. Here we explored the role of Claudin-3 (Cldn3), which is specifically expressed in the non-neural ectoderm. We discovered that depletion of Cldn3 causes folic acid-insensitive primarily spinal neural tube defects due to a failure in neural fold fusion. Apical cell surface morphology of Cldn3-depleted non-neural ectodermal cells exhibited increased membrane blebbing and smaller apical surfaces. Although apical-basal polarity was retained, we observed altered Par3 and Pals1 protein localization patterns within the apical domain of the non-neural ectodermal cells in Cldn3-depleted embryos. Furthermore, F-actin signal was reduced at apical junctions. Our data presents a model of spina bifida, and the role that Cldn3 is playing in regulating essential apical cell processes in the non-neural ectoderm required for neural fold fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth-Ann Legere
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Canada; The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Amanda I Baumholtz
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Canada; The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | | | | | - Jörg Piontek
- Clinical Physiology/Nutritional Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Aimee K Ryan
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Canada; The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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2
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Li M, Sun H, Hou Z, Hao S, Jin L, Wang B. Engineering the Physical Microenvironment into Neural Organoids for Neurogenesis and Neurodevelopment. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2306451. [PMID: 37771182 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306451] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the signals from the physical microenvironment is critical for deciphering the processes of neurogenesis and neurodevelopment. The discovery of how surrounding physical signals shape human developing neurons is hindered by the bottleneck of conventional cell culture and animal models. Notwithstanding neural organoids provide a promising platform for recapitulating human neurogenesis and neurodevelopment, building neuronal physical microenvironment that accurately mimics the native neurophysical features is largely ignored in current organoid technologies. Here, it is discussed how the physical microenvironment modulates critical events during the periods of neurogenesis and neurodevelopment, such as neural stem cell fates, neural tube closure, neuronal migration, axonal guidance, optic cup formation, and cortical folding. Although animal models are widely used to investigate the impacts of physical factors on neurodevelopment and neuropathy, the important roles of human stem cell-derived neural organoids in this field are particularly highlighted. Considering the great promise of human organoids, building neural organoid microenvironments with mechanical forces, electrophysiological microsystems, and light manipulation will help to fully understand the physical cues in neurodevelopmental processes. Neural organoids combined with cutting-edge techniques, such as advanced atomic force microscopes, microrobots, and structural color biomaterials might promote the development of neural organoid-based research and neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Heng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Zongkun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province, School of Biology and Engineering/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Shilei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Liang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Bochu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
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3
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Larson BT. Perspectives on Principles of Cellular Behavior from the Biophysics of Protists. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:1405-1421. [PMID: 37496203 PMCID: PMC10755178 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad106] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells are the fundamental unit of biological organization. Although it may be easy to think of them as little more than the simple building blocks of complex organisms such as animals, single cells are capable of behaviors of remarkable apparent sophistication. This is abundantly clear when considering the diversity of form and function among the microbial eukaryotes, the protists. How might we navigate this diversity in the search for general principles of cellular behavior? Here, we review cases in which the intensive study of protists from the perspective of cellular biophysics has driven insight into broad biological questions of morphogenesis, navigation and motility, and decision making. We argue that applying such approaches to questions of evolutionary cell biology presents rich, emerging opportunities. Integrating and expanding biophysical studies across protist diversity, exploiting the unique characteristics of each organism, will enrich our understanding of general underlying principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben T Larson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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4
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Loffet EA, Durel JF, Nerurkar NL. Evo-Devo Mechanobiology: The Missing Link. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:1455-1473. [PMID: 37193661 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad033] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
While the modern framework of evolutionary development (evo-devo) has been decidedly genetic, historic analyses have also considered the importance of mechanics in the evolution of form. With the aid of recent technological advancements in both quantifying and perturbing changes in the molecular and mechanical effectors of organismal shape, how molecular and genetic cues regulate the biophysical aspects of morphogenesis is becoming increasingly well studied. As a result, this is an opportune time to consider how the tissue-scale mechanics that underlie morphogenesis are acted upon through evolution to establish morphological diversity. Such a focus will enable a field of evo-devo mechanobiology that will serve to better elucidate the opaque relations between genes and forms by articulating intermediary physical mechanisms. Here, we review how the evolution of shape is measured and related to genetics, how recent strides have been made in the dissection of developmental tissue mechanics, and how we expect these areas to coalesce in evo-devo studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise A Loffet
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - John F Durel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Nandan L Nerurkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
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5
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Matsuda M, Rozman J, Ostvar S, Kasza KE, Sokol SY. Mechanical control of neural plate folding by apical domain alteration. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8475. [PMID: 38123550 PMCID: PMC10733383 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43973-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: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate neural tube closure is associated with complex changes in cell shape and behavior, however, the relative contribution of these processes to tissue folding is not well understood. At the onset of Xenopus neural tube folding, we observed alternation of apically constricted and apically expanded cells. This apical domain heterogeneity was accompanied by biased cell orientation along the anteroposterior axis, especially at neural plate hinges, and required planar cell polarity signaling. Vertex models suggested that dispersed isotropically constricting cells can cause the elongation of adjacent cells. Consistently, in ectoderm, cell-autonomous apical constriction was accompanied by neighbor expansion. Thus, a subset of isotropically constricting cells may initiate neural plate bending, whereas a 'tug-of-war' contest between the force-generating and responding cells reduces its shrinking along the body axis. This mechanism is an alternative to anisotropic shrinking of cell junctions that are perpendicular to the body axis. We propose that apical domain changes reflect planar polarity-dependent mechanical forces operating during neural folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Matsuda
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jan Rozman
- Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sassan Ostvar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karen E Kasza
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sergei Y Sokol
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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6
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Masak G, Davidson LA. Constructing the pharyngula: Connecting the primary axial tissues of the head with the posterior axial tissues of the tail. Cells Dev 2023; 176:203866. [PMID: 37394035 PMCID: PMC10756936 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2023.203866] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The pharyngula stage of vertebrate development is characterized by stereotypical arrangement of ectoderm, mesoderm, and neural tissues from the anterior spinal cord to the posterior, yet unformed tail. While early embryologists over-emphasized the similarity between vertebrate embryos at the pharyngula stage, there is clearly a common architecture upon which subsequent developmental programs generate diverse cranial structures and epithelial appendages such as fins, limbs, gills, and tails. The pharyngula stage is preceded by two morphogenetic events: gastrulation and neurulation, which establish common shared structures despite the occurrence of cellular processes that are distinct to each of the species. Even along the body axis of a singular organism, structures with seemingly uniform phenotypic characteristics at the pharyngula stage have been established by different processes. We focus our review on the processes underlying integration of posterior axial tissue formation with the primary axial tissues that creates the structures laid out in the pharyngula. Single cell sequencing and novel gene targeting technologies have provided us with new insights into the differences between the processes that form the anterior and posterior axis, but it is still unclear how these processes are integrated to create a seamless body. We suggest that the primary and posterior axial tissues in vertebrates form through distinct mechanisms and that the transition between these mechanisms occur at different locations along the anterior-posterior axis. Filling gaps that remain in our understanding of this transition could resolve ongoing problems in organoid culture and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geneva Masak
- Integrative Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Lance A Davidson
- Integrative Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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7
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Pandini C, Rey F, Cereda C, Carelli S, Gandellini P. Study of lncRNAs in Pediatric Neurological Diseases: Methods, Analysis of the State-of-Art and Possible Therapeutic Implications. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1616. [PMID: 38004481 PMCID: PMC10675345 DOI: 10.3390/ph16111616] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as crucial regulators in various cellular processes, and their roles in pediatric neurological diseases are increasingly being explored. This review provides an overview of lncRNA implications in the central nervous system, both in its physiological state and when a pathological condition is present. We describe the role of lncRNAs in neural development, highlighting their significance in processes such as neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and synaptogenesis. Dysregulation of specific lncRNAs is associated with multiple pediatric neurological diseases, such as neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders and brain tumors. The collected evidence indicates that there is a need for further research to uncover the full spectrum of lncRNA involvement in pediatric neurological diseases and brain tumors. While challenges exist, ongoing advancements in technology and our understanding of lncRNA biology offer hope for future breakthroughs in the field of pediatric neurology, leveraging lncRNAs as potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Pandini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Federica Rey
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center “Fondazione Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi”, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (F.R.); (S.C.)
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20157 Milan, Italy;
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20157 Milan, Italy;
| | - Stephana Carelli
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center “Fondazione Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi”, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (F.R.); (S.C.)
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20157 Milan, Italy;
| | - Paolo Gandellini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy;
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8
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Zhao A, Varady S, O'Kelley-Bangsberg M, Deng V, Platenkamp A, Wijngaard P, Bern M, Gormley W, Kushkowski E, Thompson K, Tibbetts L, Conner AT, Noeckel D, Teran A, Ritz A, Applewhite DA. From network analysis to experimental validation: identification of regulators of non-muscle myosin II contractility using the folded-gastrulation signaling pathway. BMC Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:32. [PMID: 37821823 PMCID: PMC10568788 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-023-00492-3] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The morphogenetic process of apical constriction, which relies on non-muscle myosin II (NMII) generated constriction of apical domains of epithelial cells, is key to the development of complex cellular patterns. Apical constriction occurs in almost all multicellular organisms, but one of the most well-characterized systems is the Folded-gastrulation (Fog)-induced apical constriction that occurs in Drosophila. The binding of Fog to its cognizant receptors Mist/Smog results in a signaling cascade that leads to the activation of NMII-generated contractility. Despite our knowledge of key molecular players involved in Fog signaling, we sought to explore whether other proteins have an undiscovered role in its regulation. We developed a computational method to predict unidentified candidate NMII regulators using a network of pairwise protein-protein interactions called an interactome. We first constructed a Drosophila interactome of over 500,000 protein-protein interactions from several databases that curate high-throughput experiments. Next, we implemented several graph-based algorithms that predicted 14 proteins potentially involved in Fog signaling. To test these candidates, we used RNAi depletion in combination with a cellular contractility assay in Drosophila S2R + cells, which respond to Fog by contracting in a stereotypical manner. Of the candidates we screened using this assay, two proteins, the serine/threonine phosphatase Flapwing and the putative guanylate kinase CG11811 were demonstrated to inhibit cellular contractility when depleted, suggestive of their roles as novel regulators of the Fog pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy Zhao
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Sophia Varady
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | | | - Vicki Deng
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Amy Platenkamp
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Petra Wijngaard
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Miriam Bern
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Wyatt Gormley
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Elaine Kushkowski
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Kat Thompson
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Logan Tibbetts
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - A Tamar Conner
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - David Noeckel
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Aidan Teran
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA
| | - Anna Ritz
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA.
| | - Derek A Applewhite
- Reed College Department of Biology, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA.
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9
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Itoh K, Ossipova O, Matsuda M, Sokol SY. Myocardin-related transcription factors regulate morphogenetic events in vertebrate embryos by controlling F-actin organization and apical constriction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.27.559818. [PMID: 37808688 PMCID: PMC10557707 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.27.559818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Myocardin-related transcription factors (Mrtfa and Mrtfb), also known as megakaryoblastic leukemia proteins (Mkl1/MAL and Mkl2), associate with serum response factor (Srf) to regulate transcription in response to actin dynamics, however, the functions of Mrtfs in early vertebrate embryos remain largely unknown. Here we document the requirement of Mrtfs for blastopore closure at gastrulation and neural plate folding in Xenopus early embryos. Both stimulation and inhibition of Mrtf activity caused similar gross morphological phenotypes, yet the effects on F-actin distribution and cell behavior were different. Suppressing Mrtf-dependent transcription reduced overall F-actin levels and inhibited apical constriction during gastrulation and neurulation. By contrast, constitutively active Mrtf caused tricellular junction remodeling and induced apical constriction in superficial ectoderm. The underlying mechanism appeared distinct from the one utilized by known apical constriction inducers. We propose that the regulation of apical constriction is among the primary cellular responses to Mrtf. Our findings highlight a dedicated role of specific transcription factors, Mrtfs, in early morphogenetic processes.
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10
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Pierini G, Dahmann C. Hedgehog morphogen gradient is robust towards variations in tissue morphology in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8454. [PMID: 37231029 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34632-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
During tissue development, gradients of secreted signaling molecules known as morphogens provide cells with positional information. The mechanisms underlying morphogen spreading have been widely studied, however, it remains largely unexplored whether the shape of morphogen gradients is influenced by tissue morphology. Here, we developed an analysis pipeline to quantify the distribution of proteins within a curved tissue. We applied it to the Hedgehog morphogen gradient in the Drosophila wing and eye-antennal imaginal discs, which are flat and curved tissues, respectively. Despite a different expression profile, the slope of the Hedgehog gradient was comparable between the two tissues. Moreover, inducing ectopic folds in wing imaginal discs did not affect the slope of the Hedgehog gradient. Suppressing curvature in the eye-antennal imaginal disc also did not alter the Hedgehog gradient slope but led to ectopic Hedgehog expression. In conclusion, through the development of an analysis pipeline that allows quantifying protein distribution in curved tissues, we show that the Hedgehog gradient is robust towards variations in tissue morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Pierini
- School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Dahmann
- School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany.
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11
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Handler C, Scarcelli G, Zhang J. Time-lapse mechanical imaging of neural tube closure in live embryo using Brillouin microscopy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:263. [PMID: 36609620 PMCID: PMC9823106 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27456-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tube closure (NTC) is a complex process of embryonic development involving molecular, cellular, and biomechanical mechanisms. While the genetic factors and biochemical signaling have been extensively investigated, the role of tissue biomechanics remains mostly unexplored due to the lack of tools. Here, we developed an optical modality that can conduct time-lapse mechanical imaging of neural plate tissue as the embryo is experiencing neurulation. This technique is based on the combination of a confocal Brillouin microscope and a modified ex ovo culturing of chick embryo with an on-stage incubator. With this technique, for the first time, we captured the mechanical evolution of the neural plate tissue with live embryos. Specifically, we observed the continuous increase in tissue modulus of the neural plate during NTC for ex ovo cultured embryos, which is consistent with the data of in ovo culture as well as previous studies. Beyond that, we found that the increase in tissue modulus was highly correlated with the tissue thickening and bending. We foresee this non-contact and label-free technique opening new opportunities to understand the biomechanical mechanisms in embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Handler
- grid.164295.d0000 0001 0941 7177Fischell Department of Bioengineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
| | - Giuliano Scarcelli
- grid.164295.d0000 0001 0941 7177Fischell Department of Bioengineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
| | - Jitao Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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12
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Sutlive J, Seyyedhosseinzadeh H, Ao Z, Xiu H, Choudhury S, Gou K, Guo F, Chen Z. Mechanics of morphogenesis in neural development: In vivo, in vitro, and in silico. BRAIN MULTIPHYSICS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brain.2022.100062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
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13
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Christodoulou N, Skourides PA. Distinct spatiotemporal contribution of morphogenetic events and mechanical tissue coupling during Xenopus neural tube closure. Development 2022; 149:275604. [PMID: 35662330 PMCID: PMC9340557 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube closure (NTC) is a fundamental process during vertebrate development and is indispensable for the formation of the central nervous system. Here, using Xenopus laevis embryos, live imaging, single-cell tracking, optogenetics and loss-of-function experiments, we examine the roles of convergent extension and apical constriction, and define the role of the surface ectoderm during NTC. We show that NTC is a two-stage process with distinct spatiotemporal contributions of convergent extension and apical constriction at each stage. Convergent extension takes place during the first stage and is spatially restricted at the posterior tissue, whereas apical constriction occurs during the second stage throughout the neural plate. We also show that the surface ectoderm is mechanically coupled with the neural plate and its movement during NTC is driven by neural plate morphogenesis. Finally, we show that an increase in surface ectoderm resistive forces is detrimental for neural plate morphogenesis. Summary: Detailed characterization of the contribution of distinct morphogenetic processes and mechanical tissue coupling during neural tube closure, a process indispensable for central nervous system formation in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neophytos Christodoulou
- University of Cyprus Department of Biological Sciences , , P.O. Box 20537, 2109 Nicosia , Cyprus
| | - Paris A. Skourides
- University of Cyprus Department of Biological Sciences , , P.O. Box 20537, 2109 Nicosia , Cyprus
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14
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Marshall AR, Maniou E, Moulding D, Greene NDE, Copp AJ, Galea GL. Two-Photon Cell and Tissue Level Laser Ablation Methods to Study Morphogenetic Biomechanics. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2438:217-230. [PMID: 35147945 PMCID: PMC7614166 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2035-9_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Laser ablation is routinely performed to infer mechanical tension in cells and tissues. Here we describe our method of two-photon laser ablation at the cellular and tissue level in mouse embryos. The primary outcome of these experiments is initial retraction following ablation, which correlates with, and so can be taken as a measure of, the tensile stress that structure was under before ablation. Several experimental variables can affect interpretation of ablation tests. Pre-test factors include differences in physical properties such as viscoelasticity between experimental conditions. Factors relevant during the test include viability of the cells at the point of ablation, image acquisition rate and the potential for overzealous ablations to cause air bubbles through heat dissipation. Post-test factors include intensity-biased image registration that can artificially produce apparent directionality. Applied to the closing portion of the mouse spinal neural tube, these methods have demonstrated long-range biomechanical coupling of the embryonic structure and have identified highly contractile cell populations involved in its closure process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail R Marshall
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Eirini Maniou
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Dale Moulding
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Nicholas D E Greene
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Andrew J Copp
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Gabriel L Galea
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
- Comparative Bioveterinary Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
- Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL GOS ICH, London, UK.
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15
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Petzold J, Gentleman E. Intrinsic Mechanical Cues and Their Impact on Stem Cells and Embryogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:761871. [PMID: 34820380 PMCID: PMC8606660 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.761871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although understanding how soluble cues direct cellular processes revolutionised the study of cell biology in the second half of the 20th century, over the last two decades, new insights into how mechanical cues similarly impact cell fate decisions has gained momentum. During development, extrinsic cues such as fluid flow, shear stress and compressive forces are essential for normal embryogenesis to proceed. Indeed, both adult and embryonic stem cells can respond to applied forces, but they can also detect intrinsic mechanical cues from their surrounding environment, such as the stiffness of the extracellular matrix, which impacts differentiation and morphogenesis. Cells can detect changes in their mechanical environment using cell surface receptors such as integrins and focal adhesions. Moreover, dynamic rearrangements of the cytoskeleton have been identified as a key means by which forces are transmitted from the extracellular matrix to the cell and vice versa. Although we have some understanding of the downstream mechanisms whereby mechanical cues are translated into changes in cell behaviour, many of the signalling pathways remain to be defined. This review discusses the importance of intrinsic mechanical cues on adult cell fate decisions, the emerging roles of cell surface mechano-sensors and the cytoskeleton in enabling cells to sense its microenvironment, and the role of intracellular signalling in translating mechanical cues into transcriptional outputs. In addition, the contribution of mechanical cues to fundamental processes during embryogenesis such as apical constriction and convergent extension is discussed. The continued development of tools to measure the biomechanical properties of soft tissues in vivo is likely to uncover currently underestimated contributions of these cues to adult stem cell fate decisions and embryogenesis, and may inform on regenerative strategies for tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonna Petzold
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eileen Gentleman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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16
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Velagala V, Zartman JJ. Pinching and pushing: fold formation in the Drosophila dorsal epidermis. Biophys J 2021; 120:4202-4213. [PMID: 34461105 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial folding is a fundamental morphogenetic process that shapes planar epithelial sheets into complex three-dimensional structures. Multiple mechanisms can generate epithelial folds, including apical constriction, which acts locally at the cellular level, differential growth on the tissue scale, or buckling because of compression from neighboring tissues. Here, we investigate the formation of dorsally located epithelial folds at segment boundaries during the late stages of Drosophila embryogenesis. We found that the fold formation at the segment boundaries occurs through the juxtaposition of two key morphogenetic processes: local apical constriction and tissue-level compressive forces from posterior segments. Further, we found that epidermal spreading and fold formation are accompanied by spatiotemporal pulses of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. A computational model that incorporates the local forces generated from the differential tensions of the apical, basal, and lateral sides of the cell and active forces generated within the whole tissue recapitulates the overall fold formation process in wild-type and Hh overexpression conditions. In sum, this work demonstrates how epithelial folding depends on multiple, separable physical mechanisms to generate the final morphology of the dorsal epidermis. This work illustrates the modularity of morphogenetic unit operations that occur during epithelial morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Velagala
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana; Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Jeremiah J Zartman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana; Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.
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17
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Roth JG, Huang MS, Li TL, Feig VR, Jiang Y, Cui B, Greely HT, Bao Z, Paşca SP, Heilshorn SC. Advancing models of neural development with biomaterials. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:593-615. [PMID: 34376834 PMCID: PMC8612873 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00496-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells have emerged as a promising in vitro model system for studying the brain. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell culture paradigms have provided valuable insights into the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders, but they remain limited in their capacity to model certain features of human neural development. Specifically, current models do not efficiently incorporate extracellular matrix-derived biochemical and biophysical cues, facilitate multicellular spatio-temporal patterning, or achieve advanced functional maturation. Engineered biomaterials have the capacity to create increasingly biomimetic neural microenvironments, yet further refinement is needed before these approaches are widely implemented. This Review therefore highlights how continued progression and increased integration of engineered biomaterials may be well poised to address intractable challenges in recapitulating human neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien G Roth
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michelle S Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Thomas L Li
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Vivian R Feig
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yuanwen Jiang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bianxiao Cui
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Henry T Greely
- Stanford Law School, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zhenan Bao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sergiu P Paşca
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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18
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Mechanics of neural tube morphogenesis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 130:56-69. [PMID: 34561169 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The neural tube is an important model system of morphogenesis representing the developmental module of out-of-plane epithelial deformation. As the embryonic precursor of the central nervous system, the neural tube also holds keys to many defects and diseases. Recent advances begin to reveal how genetic, cellular and environmental mechanisms work in concert to ensure correct neural tube shape. A physical model is emerging where these factors converge at the regulation of the mechanical forces and properties within and around the tissue that drive tube formation towards completion. Here we review the dynamics and mechanics of neural tube morphogenesis and discuss the underlying cellular behaviours from the viewpoint of tissue mechanics. We will also highlight some of the conceptual and technical next steps.
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19
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Actuation enhances patterning in human neural tube organoids. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3192. [PMID: 34045434 PMCID: PMC8159931 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22952-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissues achieve their complex spatial organization through an interplay between gene regulatory networks, cell-cell communication, and physical interactions mediated by mechanical forces. Current strategies to generate in-vitro tissues have largely failed to implement such active, dynamically coordinated mechanical manipulations, relying instead on extracellular matrices which respond to, rather than impose mechanical forces. Here, we develop devices that enable the actuation of organoids. We show that active mechanical forces increase growth and lead to enhanced patterning in an organoid model of the neural tube derived from single human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC). Using a combination of single-cell transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that organoid mechanoregulation due to actuation operates in a temporally restricted competence window, and that organoid response to stretch is mediated extracellularly by matrix stiffness and intracellularly by cytoskeleton contractility and planar cell polarity. Exerting active mechanical forces on organoids using the approaches developed here is widely applicable and should enable the generation of more reproducible, programmable organoid shape, identity and patterns, opening avenues for the use of these tools in regenerative medicine and disease modelling applications. Mechanical forces, along with gene regulatory networks and cell-cell signalling, play an important role in the complex organization of tissues. Here the authors describe devices that actively apply mechanical force to developing neural tube, demonstrating that mechanical forces increase growth and enhance patterning.
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20
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Fu J, Warmflash A, Lutolf MP. Stem-cell-based embryo models for fundamental research and translation. NATURE MATERIALS 2021; 20:132-144. [PMID: 33199861 PMCID: PMC7855549 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-020-00829-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite its importance, understanding the early phases of human development has been limited by availability of human samples. The recent emergence of stem-cell-derived embryo models, a new field aiming to use stem cells to construct in vitro models to recapitulate snapshots of the development of the mammalian conceptus, opens up exciting opportunities to promote fundamental understanding of human development and advance reproductive and regenerative medicine. This Review provides a summary of the current knowledge of early mammalian development, using mouse and human conceptuses as models, and emphasizes their similarities and critical differences. We then highlight existing embryo models that mimic different aspects of mouse and human development. We further discuss bioengineering tools used for controlling multicellular interactions and self-organization critical for the development of these models. We conclude with a discussion of the important next steps and exciting future opportunities of stem-cell-derived embryo models for fundamental discovery and translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Aryeh Warmflash
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Matthias P Lutolf
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Science, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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21
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Muncie JM, Ayad NME, Lakins JN, Xue X, Fu J, Weaver VM. Mechanical Tension Promotes Formation of Gastrulation-like Nodes and Patterns Mesoderm Specification in Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Dev Cell 2020; 55:679-694.e11. [PMID: 33207224 PMCID: PMC7755684 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Embryogenesis is directed by morphogens that induce differentiation within a defined tissue geometry. Tissue organization is mediated by cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesions and is modulated by cell tension and tissue-level forces. Whether cell tension regulates development by modifying morphogen signaling is less clear. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) exhibit an intrinsic capacity for self-organization, which motivates their use as a tractable model of early human embryogenesis. We engineered patterned substrates that recapitulate the biophysical properties of the early embryo and mediate the self-organization of "gastrulation-like" nodes in cultured hESCs. Tissue geometries that generated local nodes of high cell-adhesion tension directed the spatial patterning of the BMP4-dependent "gastrulation-like" phenotype by enhancing phosphorylation and junctional release of β-catenin to promote Wnt signaling and mesoderm specification. Furthermore, direct force application via mechanical stretching promoted BMP-dependent mesoderm specification, confirming that tissue-level forces can directly regulate cell fate specification in early human development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon M Muncie
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California Berkeley, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Nadia M E Ayad
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California Berkeley, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Johnathon N Lakins
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Xufeng Xue
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Valerie M Weaver
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helen Diller Family Cancer Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Anatomy, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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22
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Brooks ER, Islam MT, Anderson KV, Zallen JA. Sonic hedgehog signaling directs patterned cell remodeling during cranial neural tube closure. eLife 2020; 9:60234. [PMID: 33103996 PMCID: PMC7655103 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural tube closure defects are a major cause of infant mortality, with exencephaly accounting for nearly one-third of cases. However, the mechanisms of cranial neural tube closure are not well understood. Here, we show that this process involves a tissue-wide pattern of apical constriction controlled by Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Midline cells in the mouse midbrain neuroepithelium are flat with large apical surfaces, whereas lateral cells are taller and undergo synchronous apical constriction, driving neural fold elevation. Embryos lacking the Shh effector Gli2 fail to produce appropriate midline cell architecture, whereas embryos with expanded Shh signaling, including the IFT-A complex mutants Ift122 and Ttc21b and embryos expressing activated Smoothened, display apical constriction defects in lateral cells. Disruption of lateral, but not midline, cell remodeling results in exencephaly. These results reveal a morphogenetic program of patterned apical constriction governed by Shh signaling that generates structural changes in the developing mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Brooks
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, United States
| | - Mohammed Tarek Islam
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, United States
| | - Kathryn V Anderson
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, United States
| | - Jennifer A Zallen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, United States
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23
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Stern T, Shvartsman SY, Wieschaus EF. Template-based mapping of dynamic motifs in tissue morphogenesis. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1008049. [PMID: 32822341 PMCID: PMC7442231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue morphogenesis relies on repeated use of dynamic behaviors at the levels of intracellular structures, individual cells, and cell groups. Rapidly accumulating live imaging datasets make it increasingly important to formalize and automate the task of mapping recurrent dynamic behaviors (motifs), as it is done in speech recognition and other data mining applications. Here, we present a "template-based search" approach for accurate mapping of sub- to multi-cellular morphogenetic motifs using a time series data mining framework. We formulated the task of motif mapping as a subsequence matching problem and solved it using dynamic time warping, while relying on high throughput graph-theoretic algorithms for efficient exploration of the search space. This formulation allows our algorithm to accurately identify the complete duration of each instance and automatically label different stages throughout its progress, such as cell cycle phases during cell division. To illustrate our approach, we mapped cell intercalations during germband extension in the early Drosophila embryo. Our framework enabled statistical analysis of intercalary cell behaviors in wild-type and mutant embryos, comparison of temporal dynamics in contracting and growing junctions in different genotypes, and the identification of a novel mode of iterative cell intercalation. Our formulation of tissue morphogenesis using time series opens new avenues for systematic decomposition of tissue morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomer Stern
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Stanislav Y. Shvartsman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- The Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute - Simons Foundation, New York, United States of America
| | - Eric F. Wieschaus
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- The Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
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24
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Schakenraad K, Ernst J, Pomp W, Danen EHJ, Merks RMH, Schmidt T, Giomi L. Mechanical interplay between cell shape and actin cytoskeleton organization. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:6328-6343. [PMID: 32490503 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00492h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the mechanical interplay between the spatial organization of the actin cytoskeleton and the shape of animal cells adhering on micropillar arrays. Using a combination of analytical work, computer simulations and in vitro experiments, we demonstrate that the orientation of the stress fibers strongly influences the geometry of the cell edge. In the presence of a uniformly aligned cytoskeleton, the cell edge can be well approximated by elliptical arcs, whose eccentricity reflects the degree of anisotropy of the cell's internal stresses. Upon modeling the actin cytoskeleton as a nematic liquid crystal, we further show that the geometry of the cell edge feeds back on the organization of the stress fibers by altering the length scale at which these are confined. This feedback mechanism is controlled by a dimensionless number, the anchoring number, representing the relative weight of surface-anchoring and bulk-aligning torques. Our model allows to predict both cellular shape and the internal structure of the actin cytoskeleton and is in good quantitative agreement with experiments on fibroblastoid (GDβ1, GDβ3) and epithelioid (GEβ1, GEβ3) cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen Schakenraad
- Instituut-Lorentz, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9506, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
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25
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Xue X, Wang RP, Fu J. Modeling of human neurulation using bioengineered pluripotent stem cell culture. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2020; 13:127-133. [PMID: 32328535 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2020.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Leveraging the developmental potential and self-organizing property of human pluripotent stem (hPS) cells, researchers have developed tractable models of human embryonic development. Owing to their compatibility to live imaging, genome editing, mechanical perturbation and measurement, these models offer promising quantitative experimental platforms to advance human embryology and regenerative medicine. Herein, we provide a review of recent progress in using hPS cells to generate models of early human neural development or neurulation, including neural induction and regional patterning of the neural tube. These models, even in their nascent developmental stages, have already revealed intricate cell-cell signaling and mechanoregulation mechanisms likely involved in tissue patterning during early neural development. We also discuss future opportunities in modeling early neural development by incorporating bioengineering tools to control precisely neural tissue morphology and architecture, morphogen dynamics, intracellular signaling events, and cell-cell interactions to further the development of this emerging field and expand its applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufeng Xue
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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26
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Träber N, Uhlmann K, Girardo S, Kesavan G, Wagner K, Friedrichs J, Goswami R, Bai K, Brand M, Werner C, Balzani D, Guck J. Polyacrylamide Bead Sensors for in vivo Quantification of Cell-Scale Stress in Zebrafish Development. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17031. [PMID: 31745109 PMCID: PMC6864055 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53425-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical stress exerted and experienced by cells during tissue morphogenesis and organ formation plays an important role in embryonic development. While techniques to quantify mechanical stresses in vitro are available, few methods exist for studying stresses in living organisms. Here, we describe and characterize cell-like polyacrylamide (PAAm) bead sensors with well-defined elastic properties and size for in vivo quantification of cell-scale stresses. The beads were injected into developing zebrafish embryos and their deformations were computationally analyzed to delineate spatio-temporal local acting stresses. With this computational analysis-based cell-scale stress sensing (COMPAX) we are able to detect pulsatile pressure propagation in the developing neural rod potentially originating from polarized midline cell divisions and continuous tissue flow. COMPAX is expected to provide novel spatio-temporal insight into developmental processes at the local tissue level and to facilitate quantitative investigation and a better understanding of morphogenetic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Träber
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - K Uhlmann
- Chair of Continuum Mechanics, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - S Girardo
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Staudtstraße 2, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - G Kesavan
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - K Wagner
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - J Friedrichs
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - R Goswami
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Staudtstraße 2, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - K Bai
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - M Brand
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - C Werner
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - D Balzani
- Chair of Continuum Mechanics, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
| | - J Guck
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Staudtstraße 2, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
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27
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Ayad NME, Kaushik S, Weaver VM. Tissue mechanics, an important regulator of development and disease. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20180215. [PMID: 31431174 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of work describes how physical forces in and around cells affect their growth, proliferation, migration, function and differentiation into specialized types. How cells receive and respond biochemically to mechanical signals is a process termed mechanotransduction. Disease may arise if a disruption occurs within this mechanism of sensing and interpreting mechanics. Cancer, cardiovascular diseases and developmental defects, such as during the process of neural tube formation, are linked to changes in cell and tissue mechanics. A breakdown in normal tissue and cellular forces activates mechanosignalling pathways that affect their function and can promote disease progression. The recent advent of high-resolution techniques enables quantitative measurements of mechanical properties of the cell and its extracellular matrix, providing insight into how mechanotransduction is regulated. In this review, we will address the standard methods and new technologies available to properly measure mechanical properties, highlighting the challenges and limitations of probing different length-scales. We will focus on the unique environment present throughout the development and maintenance of the central nervous system and discuss cases where disease, such as brain cancer, arises in response to changes in the mechanical properties of the microenvironment that disrupt homeostasis. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Forces in cancer: interdisciplinary approaches in tumour mechanobiology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia M E Ayad
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shelly Kaushik
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Valerie M Weaver
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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28
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A simple mechanochemical model for calcium signalling in embryonic epithelial cells. J Math Biol 2019; 78:2059-2092. [PMID: 30826846 PMCID: PMC6560504 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-019-01333-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Calcium signalling is one of the most important mechanisms of information propagation in the body. In embryogenesis the interplay between calcium signalling and mechanical forces is critical to the healthy development of an embryo but poorly understood. Several types of embryonic cells exhibit calcium-induced contractions and many experiments indicate that calcium signals and contractions are coupled via a two-way mechanochemical feedback mechanism. We present a new analysis of experimental data that supports the existence of this coupling during apical constriction. We then propose a simple mechanochemical model, building on early models that couple calcium dynamics to the cell mechanics and we replace the hypothetical bistable calcium release with modern, experimentally validated calcium dynamics. We assume that the cell is a linear, viscoelastic material and we model the calcium-induced contraction stress with a Hill function, i.e. saturating at high calcium levels. We also express, for the first time, the "stretch-activation" calcium flux in the early mechanochemical models as a bottom-up contribution from stretch-sensitive calcium channels on the cell membrane. We reduce the model to three ordinary differential equations and analyse its bifurcation structure semi-analytically as two bifurcation parameters vary-the [Formula: see text] concentration, and the "strength" of stretch activation, [Formula: see text]. The calcium system ([Formula: see text], no mechanics) exhibits relaxation oscillations for a certain range of [Formula: see text] values. As [Formula: see text] is increased the range of [Formula: see text] values decreases and oscillations eventually vanish at a sufficiently high value of [Formula: see text]. This result agrees with experimental evidence in embryonic cells which also links the loss of calcium oscillations to embryo abnormalities. Furthermore, as [Formula: see text] is increased the oscillation amplitude decreases but the frequency increases. Finally, we also identify the parameter range for oscillations as the mechanical responsiveness factor of the cytosol increases. This work addresses a very important and not well studied question regarding the coupling between chemical and mechanical signalling in embryogenesis.
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29
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Papalazarou V, Salmeron-Sanchez M, Machesky LM. Tissue engineering the cancer microenvironment-challenges and opportunities. Biophys Rev 2018; 10:1695-1711. [PMID: 30406572 PMCID: PMC6297082 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-018-0466-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanosensing is increasingly recognised as important for tumour progression. Tumours become stiff and the forces that normally balance in the healthy organism break down and become imbalanced, leading to increases in migration, invasion and metastatic dissemination. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of how extracellular matrix properties, such as stiffness, viscoelasticity and architecture control cell behaviour. In addition, we discuss how the tumour microenvironment can be modelled in vitro, capturing these mechanical aspects, to better understand and develop therapies against tumour spread. We argue that by gaining a better understanding of the microenvironment and the mechanical forces that govern tumour dynamics, we can make advances in combatting cancer dormancy, recurrence and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vassilis Papalazarou
- CRUK Beatson Institute for Cancer Research and Institute of cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Campus, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
- The Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | | | - Laura M Machesky
- CRUK Beatson Institute for Cancer Research and Institute of cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Campus, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.
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30
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Indra I, Gasparski AN, Beningo KA. An in vitro correlation of metastatic capacity and dual mechanostimulation. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207490. [PMID: 30427911 PMCID: PMC6241134 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells are under the influence of multiple forms of mechanical stimulation in vivo. For example, a cell is subjected to mechanical forces from tissue stiffness, shear and tensile stress and transient applied strain. Significant progress has been made in understanding the cellular mechanotransduction mechanisms in response to a single mechanical parameter. However, our knowledge of how a cell responds to multiple mechanical inputs is currently limited. In this study, we have tested the cellular response to the simultaneous application of two mechanical inputs: substrate compliance and transient tugging. Our results suggest that cells within a multicellular spheroid will restrict their response to a single mechanical input at a time and when provided with two mechanical inputs simultaneously, one will dominate. In normal and non-metastatic mammary epithelial cells, we found that they respond to applied stimulation and will override substrate compliance cues in favor of the applied mechanical stimulus. Surprisingly, however, metastatic mammary epithelial cells remain non-responsive to both mechanical cues. Our results suggest that, within our assay system, metastatic progression may involve the down-regulation of multiple mechanotransduction pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrajyoti Indra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Alexander N. Gasparski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Karen A. Beningo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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31
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Goodhill GJ. Theoretical Models of Neural Development. iScience 2018; 8:183-199. [PMID: 30321813 PMCID: PMC6197653 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Constructing a functioning nervous system requires the precise orchestration of a vast array of mechanical, molecular, and neural-activity-dependent cues. Theoretical models can play a vital role in helping to frame quantitative issues, reveal mathematical commonalities between apparently diverse systems, identify what is and what is not possible in principle, and test the abilities of specific mechanisms to explain the data. This review focuses on the progress that has been made over the last decade in our theoretical understanding of neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey J Goodhill
- Queensland Brain Institute and School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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32
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Shawky JH, Balakrishnan UL, Stuckenholz C, Davidson LA. Multiscale analysis of architecture, cell size and the cell cortex reveals cortical F-actin density and composition are major contributors to mechanical properties during convergent extension. Development 2018; 145:dev161281. [PMID: 30190279 PMCID: PMC6198471 DOI: 10.1242/dev.161281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The large-scale movements that construct complex three-dimensional tissues during development are governed by universal physical principles. Fine-grained control of both mechanical properties and force production is crucial to the successful placement of tissues and shaping of organs. Embryos of the frog Xenopus laevis provide a dramatic example of these physical processes, as dorsal tissues increase in Young's modulus by six-fold to 80 Pascal over 8 h as germ layers and the central nervous system are formed. These physical changes coincide with emergence of complex anatomical structures, rounds of cell division, and cytoskeletal remodeling. To understand the contribution of these diverse structures, we adopt the cellular solids model to relate bulk stiffness of a solid foam to the unit size of individual cells, their microstructural organization, and their material properties. Our results indicate that large-scale tissue architecture and cell size are not likely to influence the bulk mechanical properties of early embryonic or progenitor tissues but that F-actin cortical density and composition of the F-actin cortex play major roles in regulating the physical mechanics of embryonic multicellular tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H Shawky
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Uma L Balakrishnan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Carsten Stuckenholz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Lance A Davidson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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33
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Bredov D, Volodyaev I. Increasing complexity: Mechanical guidance and feedback loops as a basis for self-organization in morphogenesis. Biosystems 2018; 173:133-156. [PMID: 30292533 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The article is devoted to physical views on embryo development as a combination of structurally stable dynamics and symmetry-breaking events in the general process of self-organization. The first corresponds to the deterministic aspect of embryo development. The second type of processes is associated with sudden increase of variability in the periods of symmetry-breaking, which manifests unstable dynamics. The biological basis under these considerations includes chemokinetics (a system of inductors, repressors, and interaction with their next surrounding) and morphomechanics (i.e. mechanotransduction, mechanosensing, and related feedback loops). Although the latter research area is evolving rapidly, up to this time the role of mechanical properties of embryonic tissues and mechano-dependent processes in them are integrated in the general picture of embryo development to a lesser extent than biochemical signaling. For this reason, the present article is mostly devoted to experimental data on morphomechanics in the process of embryo development, also including analysis of its limitations and possible contradictions. The general system of feedback-loops and system dynamics delineated in this review is in large part a repetition of the views of Lev Beloussov, who was one of the founders of the whole areas of morphomechanics and morphodynamics, and to whose memory this article is dedicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Bredov
- Laboratory of Developmental biophysics, Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Ilya Volodyaev
- Laboratory of Developmental biophysics, Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia.
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34
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Zhang J, Raghunathan R, Rippy J, Wu C, Finnell RH, Larin KV, Scarcelli G. Tissue biomechanics during cranial neural tube closure measured by Brillouin microscopy and optical coherence tomography. Birth Defects Res 2018; 111:991-998. [PMID: 30239173 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Embryonic development involves the interplay of driving forces that shape the tissue and the mechanical resistance that the tissue offers in response. While increasing evidence has suggested the crucial role of physical mechanisms underlying embryo development, tissue biomechanics is not well understood because of the lack of techniques that can quantify the stiffness of tissue in situ with 3D high-resolution and in a noncontact manner. METHODS We used two all-optical techniques, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Brillouin microscopy, to map the longitudinal modulus of the tissue from mouse embryos in situ. RESULTS We acquired 2D mechanical maps of the neural tube region of embryos at embryonic day (E) 8.5 (n = 2) and E9.5 (n = 2) with submicron spatial resolution. We found the modulus of tissue varied distinctly within the neural tube region of the same embryo and between embryos at different development stages, suggesting our technique has enough sensitivity and spatial resolution to monitor the tissue mechanics during embryonic development in a noncontact and noninvasive manner. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated the capability of OCT-guided Brillouin microscopy to quantify tissue longitudinal modulus of mouse embryos in situ, and observed distinct change in the modulus during the closure of cranial neural tube. Although this preliminary work cannot provide definitive conclusions on biomechanics of neural tube closure yet as a result of the limited number of samples, it provides an approach of quantifying the tissue mechanics during embryo development in situ, thus could be helpful in investigating the role of tissue biomechanics in the regulation of embryonic development. Our next study involving more embryo samples will investigate systematic changes in tissue mechanics during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitao Zhang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, Maryland
| | - Raksha Raghunathan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Justin Rippy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Chen Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Kirill V Larin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas.,Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biophotonics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
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35
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Aparicio G, Arruti C, Zolessi FR. MARCKS phosphorylation by PKC strongly impairs cell polarity in the chick neural plate. Genesis 2018; 56:e23104. [PMID: 29603589 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neurulation involves a complex coordination of cellular movements that are in great part based on the modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. MARCKS, an F-actin-binding protein and the major substrate for PKC, is necessary for gastrulation and neurulation morphogenetic movements in mice, frogs, and fish. We previously showed that this protein accumulates at the apical region of the closing neural plate in chick embryos, and here further explore its role in this process and how it is regulated by PKC phosphorylation. PKC activation by PMA caused extensive neural tube closure defects in cultured chick embryos, together with MARCKS phosphorylation and redistribution to the cytoplasm. This was concomitant with an evident disruption of neural plate cell polarity and extensive apical cell extrusion. This effect was not due to actomyosin hypercontractility, but it was reproduced upon MARCKS knockdown. Interestingly, the overexpression of a nonphosphorylatable form of MARCKS was able to revert the cellular defects observed in the neural plate after PKC activation. Altogether, these results suggest that MARCKS function during neurulation would be to maintain neuroepithelial polarity through the stabilization of subapical F-actin, a function that appears to be counteracted by PKC activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Aparicio
- Laboratorio de Cultivo de Tejidos, Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Cell Biology of Neural Development Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cristina Arruti
- Laboratorio de Cultivo de Tejidos, Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Flavio R Zolessi
- Laboratorio de Cultivo de Tejidos, Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Cell Biology of Neural Development Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
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36
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Haas PA, Höhn SSMH, Honerkamp-Smith AR, Kirkegaard JB, Goldstein RE. The noisy basis of morphogenesis: Mechanisms and mechanics of cell sheet folding inferred from developmental variability. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2005536. [PMID: 30001335 PMCID: PMC6063725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Variability is emerging as an integral part of development. It is therefore imperative to ask how to access the information contained in this variability. Yet most studies of development average their observations and, discarding the variability, seek to derive models, biological or physical, that explain these average observations. Here, we analyse this variability in a study of cell sheet folding in the green alga Volvox, whose spherical embryos turn themselves inside out in a process sharing invagination, expansion, involution, and peeling of a cell sheet with animal models of morphogenesis. We generalise our earlier, qualitative model of the initial stages of inversion by combining ideas from morphoelasticity and shell theory. Together with three-dimensional visualisations of inversion using light sheet microscopy, this yields a detailed, quantitative model of the entire inversion process. With this model, we show how the variability of inversion reveals that two separate, temporally uncoupled processes drive the initial invagination and subsequent expansion of the cell sheet. This implies a prototypical transition towards higher developmental complexity in the volvocine algae and provides proof of principle of analysing morphogenesis based on its variability. Biological noise is unavoidable in—and even necessary for—development. Here, we ask whether this variability can teach us something about the process that underlies it. We show how to access the information hidden in the variability in an analysis of the variability of cell sheet folding in the green alga Volvox globator. Through a combination of light sheet microscopy and mathematical modelling, we show how the inversion process, by which the spherical embryos of Volvox turn themselves inside out, results from two separate mechanisms of bending and stretching (expansion and subsequent contraction). Our analysis therefore uncovers a prototypical transition of developmental complexity in Volvox and the related volvocine algae, from a morphogenetic process driven by a single mechanism to one driven by two separate mechanisms. This complements the similarly prototypical transition from one cell type to two cell types that has made the volvocine algae a model system for the evolution of multicellularity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre A. Haas
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie S. M. H. Höhn
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Aurelia R. Honerkamp-Smith
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Julius B. Kirkegaard
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Raymond E. Goldstein
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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37
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Xue X, Sun Y, Resto-Irizarry AM, Yuan Y, Aw Yong KM, Zheng Y, Weng S, Shao Y, Chai Y, Studer L, Fu J. Mechanics-guided embryonic patterning of neuroectoderm tissue from human pluripotent stem cells. NATURE MATERIALS 2018; 17:633-641. [PMID: 29784997 PMCID: PMC6622450 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-018-0082-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Classic embryological studies have successfully applied genetics and cell biology principles to understand embryonic development. However, it remains unresolved how mechanics, as an integral driver of development, is involved in controlling tissue-scale cell fate patterning. Here we report a micropatterned human pluripotent stem (hPS)-cell-based neuroectoderm developmental model, in which pre-patterned geometrical confinement induces emergent patterning of neuroepithelial and neural plate border cells, mimicking neuroectoderm regionalization during early neurulation in vivo. In this hPS-cell-based neuroectoderm patterning model, two tissue-scale morphogenetic signals-cell shape and cytoskeletal contractile force-instruct neuroepithelial/neural plate border patterning via BMP-SMAD signalling. We further show that ectopic mechanical activation and exogenous BMP signalling modulation are sufficient to perturb neuroepithelial/neural plate border patterning. This study provides a useful microengineered, hPS-cell-based model with which to understand the biomechanical principles that guide neuroectoderm patterning and hence to study neural development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufeng Xue
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yubing Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | | | - Ye Yuan
- School of the Gifted Young, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Koh Meng Aw Yong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shinuo Weng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yue Shao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yimin Chai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Lorenz Studer
- Developmental Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Center of Stem Cell Biology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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38
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Galea GL, Cho YJ, Galea G, Molè MA, Rolo A, Savery D, Moulding D, Culshaw LH, Nikolopoulou E, Greene NDE, Copp AJ. Biomechanical coupling facilitates spinal neural tube closure in mouse embryos. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E5177-E5186. [PMID: 28607062 PMCID: PMC5495245 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1700934114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural tube (NT) formation in the spinal region of the mammalian embryo involves a wave of "zippering" that passes down the elongating spinal axis, uniting the neural fold tips in the dorsal midline. Failure of this closure process leads to open spina bifida, a common cause of severe neurologic disability in humans. Here, we combined a tissue-level strain-mapping workflow with laser ablation of live-imaged mouse embryos to investigate the biomechanics of mammalian spinal closure. Ablation of the zippering point at the embryonic dorsal midline causes far-reaching, rapid separation of the elevating neural folds. Strain analysis revealed tissue expansion around the zippering point after ablation, but predominant tissue constriction in the caudal and ventral neural plate zone. This zone is biomechanically coupled to the zippering point by a supracellular F-actin network, which includes an actin cable running along the neural fold tips. Pharmacologic inhibition of F-actin or laser ablation of the cable causes neural fold separation. At the most advanced somite stages, when completion of spinal closure is imminent, the cable forms a continuous ring around the neuropore, and simultaneously, a new caudal-to-rostral zippering point arises. Laser ablation of this new closure initiation point causes neural fold separation, demonstrating its biomechanical activity. Failure of spinal closure in pre-spina bifida Zic2Ku mutant embryos is associated with altered tissue biomechanics, as indicated by greater neuropore widening after ablation. Thus, this study identifies biomechanical coupling of the entire region of active spinal neurulation in the mouse embryo as a prerequisite for successful NT closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel L Galea
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom;
| | - Young-June Cho
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Gauden Galea
- Division of Noncommunicable Diseases and Promoting Health Through the Life Course, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Matteo A Molè
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Rolo
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Dawn Savery
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Dale Moulding
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy H Culshaw
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Evanthia Nikolopoulou
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas D E Greene
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J Copp
- Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
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39
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Goodwin K, Nelson CM. Generating tissue topology through remodeling of cell-cell adhesions. Exp Cell Res 2017; 358:45-51. [PMID: 28322823 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
During tissue morphogenesis, cellular rearrangements give rise to a large variety of three-dimensional structures. Final tissue architecture varies greatly across organs, and many develop to include combinations of folds, tubes, and branched networks. To achieve these different tissue geometries, constituent cells must follow different programs that dictate changes in shape and/or migratory behavior. One essential component of these changes is the remodeling of cell-cell adhesions. Invasive migratory behavior and separation between tissues require localized breakdown of cadherin-mediated adhesions. Conversely, tissue folding and fusion require the formation and reinforcement of cell-cell adhesions. Cell-cell adhesion plays a critical role in tissue morphogenesis; its manipulation may therefore prove to be invaluable in generating complex topologies ex vivo. Recapitulating these shapes in engineered tissues would enable a better understanding of how these processes occur in vivo, and may lead to improved design of organs for clinical applications. In this review, we discuss work investigating the formation of folds, tubes, and branched networks with an emphasis on known or possible roles for cell-cell adhesion. We then examine recently developed tools that could be adapted to manipulate cell-cell adhesion in engineered tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Goodwin
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Celeste M Nelson
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States.
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40
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Goldstein B, Zallen JA. Cell polarity and morphogenesis: new technologies and new findings. Mol Biol Cell 2017; 28:699-700. [PMID: 28292911 PMCID: PMC5349773 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e16-11-0797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bob Goldstein
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Jennifer A Zallen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065
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