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Yang S, Zhang J, Tan Y, Wang Y. Unraveling the mechanobiology of cornea: From bench side to the clinic. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:953590. [PMID: 36263359 PMCID: PMC9573972 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.953590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cornea is a transparent, dome-shaped structure on the front part of the eye that serves as a major optic element and a protector from the external environment. Recent evidence shows aberrant alterations of the corneal mechano-environment in development and progression of various corneal diseases. It is, thus, critical to understand how corneal cells sense and respond to mechanical signals in physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we summarize the corneal mechano-environment and discuss the impact of these mechanical cues on cellular functions from the bench side (in a laboratory research setting). From a clinical perspective, we comprehensively review the mechanical changes of corneal tissue in several cornea-related diseases, including keratoconus, myopia, and keratectasia, following refractive surgery. The findings from the bench side and clinic underscore the involvement of mechanical cues in corneal disorders, which may open a new avenue for development of novel therapeutic strategies by targeting corneal mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Yang
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First People’s Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- School of Optometry, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Youhua Tan
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Youhua Tan, ; Yan Wang,
| | - Yan Wang
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Youhua Tan, ; Yan Wang,
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The Response of Corneal Endothelial Cells to Shear Stress in an In Vitro Flow Model. J Ophthalmol 2021; 2021:9217866. [PMID: 34873452 PMCID: PMC8643247 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9217866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Corneal endothelial cells are usually exposed to shear stress caused by the aqueous humour, which is similar to the exposure of vascular endothelial cells to shear stress caused by blood flow. However, the effect of fluid shear stress on corneal endothelial cells is still poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to explore whether the shear stress that results from the aqueous humour influences corneal endothelial cells. Methods An in vitro model was established to generate fluid flow on cells, and the effect of fluid flow on corneal endothelial cells after exposure to two levels of shear stress for different durations was investigated. The mRNA and protein expression of corneal endothelium-related markers in rabbit corneal endothelial cells was evaluated by real-time PCR and western blotting. Results The expression of the corneal endothelium-related markers ZO-1, N-cadherin, and Na+-K+-ATPase in rabbit corneal endothelial cells (RCECs) was upregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels after exposure to shear stress. Conclusion This study demonstrates that RCECs respond favourably to fluid shear stress, which may contribute to the maintenance of corneal endothelial cell function. Furthermore, this study also provides a theoretical foundation for further investigating the response of human corneal endothelial cells to the shear stress caused by the aqueous humour.
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Schmid R, Tarau IS, Rossi A, Leonhardt S, Schwarz T, Schuerlein S, Lotz C, Hansmann J. In Vivo-Like Culture Conditions in a Bioreactor Facilitate Improved Tissue Quality in Corneal Storage. Biotechnol J 2017; 13. [PMID: 28873283 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The cornea is the most-transplanted tissue worldwide. However, the availability and quality of grafts are limited due to the current methods of corneal storage. In this study, a dynamic bioreactor system is employed to enable the control of intraocular pressure and the culture at the air-liquid interface. Thereby, in vivo-like storage conditions are achieved. Different media combinations for endothelium and epithelium are tested in standard and dynamic conditions to enhance the viability of the tissue. In contrast to culture conditions used in eye banks, the combination of the bioreactor and biochrom medium 1 allows to preserve the corneal endothelium and the epithelium. Assessment of transparency, swelling, and the trans-epithelial-electrical-resistance (TEER) strengthens the impact of the in vivo-like tissue culture. For example, compared to corneas stored under static conditions, significantly lower optical densities and significantly higher TEER values were measured (p-value <0.05). Furthermore, healing of epithelial defects is enabled in the bioreactor, characterized by re-epithelialization and initiated stromal regeneration. Based on the obtained results, an easy-to-use 3D-printed bioreactor composed of only two parts was derived to translate the technology from the laboratory to the eye banks. This optimized bioreactor facilitates noninvasive microscopic monitoring. The improved storage conditions ameliorate the quality of corneal grafts and the storage time in the eye banks to increase availability and reduce re-grafting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Schmid
- R. Schmid, Dr. A. Rossi, T. Schwarz, Dr. J. Hansmann, Translational Center Wuerzburg of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Röntgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ioana-Sandra Tarau
- Dr. I.-S. Tarau, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Ophthalmic Clinic and Policlinic, Joseph-Schneider-Straße 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Angela Rossi
- R. Schmid, Dr. A. Rossi, T. Schwarz, Dr. J. Hansmann, Translational Center Wuerzburg of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Röntgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Leonhardt
- S. Leonhardt, Technical University Munich, Institute of Medical and Polymer Engineering, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Thomas Schwarz
- R. Schmid, Dr. A. Rossi, T. Schwarz, Dr. J. Hansmann, Translational Center Wuerzburg of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Röntgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schuerlein
- Dr. S. Schuerlein, C. Lotz, Dr. J. Hansmann, Department Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Röntgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Lotz
- Dr. S. Schuerlein, C. Lotz, Dr. J. Hansmann, Department Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Röntgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Hansmann
- Dr. S. Schuerlein, C. Lotz, Dr. J. Hansmann, Department Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Röntgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany.,R. Schmid, Dr. A. Rossi, T. Schwarz, Dr. J. Hansmann, Translational Center Wuerzburg of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Röntgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany
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Molladavoodi S, Robichaud M, Wulff D, Gorbet M. Corneal epithelial cells exposed to shear stress show altered cytoskeleton and migratory behaviour. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178981. [PMID: 28662184 PMCID: PMC5491001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells that form the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the cornea, are exposed to shear stress through blinking during waking hours. In this in vitro study, the effect of fluid shear stress on human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) was investigated. Following exposure to shear stresses of 4 and 8 dyn/cm2, HCECs showed cytoskeletal rearrangement with more prominent, organized and elongated filamentous actin. Cytoskeletal changes were time-dependent, and were most significant after 24 hours of shear stress. Higher rates of migration and proliferation, as evaluated by a scratch assay, were also observed following 24 hours of low shear stress exposure (4 dyn/cm2). This result contrasted the poor migration observed in samples scratched before shear exposure, indicating that shear-induced cytoskeletal changes played a key role in improved wound healing and must therefore precede any damage to the cell layer. HCEC cytoskeletal changes were accompanied by an upregulation in integrin β1 and downregulation of ICAM-1. These results demonstrate that HCECs respond favourably to flow-induced shear stress, impacting their proliferation and migration properties as well as phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Molladavoodi
- Department of System Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew Robichaud
- Department of System Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Wulff
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maud Gorbet
- Department of System Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Deng X, Zhang G, Shen C, Yin J, Meng Q. Hollow fiber culture accelerates differentiation of Caco-2 cells. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2013; 97:6943-55. [PMID: 23689647 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-013-4975-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Revised: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 05/01/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Caco-2 cells usually require 21 days of culture for developing sufficient differentiation in traditional two-dimensional Transwell culture, deviating far away from the quick differentiation of enterocytes in vivo. The recently proposed three-dimensional cultures of Caco-2 cells, though imitating the villi/crypt-like microstructure of intestinal epithelium, showed no effect on accelerating the differentiation of Caco-2 cells. In this study, a novel culture of Caco-2 cells on hollow fiber bioreactor was applied to morphologically mimic the human small intestine lumen for accelerating the expression of intestine functions. The porous hollow fibers of polyethersulfone (PES), a suitable membrane material for Caco-2 cell culture, successfully promoted cells to form confluent monolayer on the inner surface. The differentiated functions of Caco-2 cells, represented by alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, and P-glycoprotein activity, were greatly higher in a 10-day hollow fiber culture than in a 21-day Transwell culture. Moreover, the Caco-2 cells on PES hollow fibers expressed higher F-actin and zonula occludens-1 protein than those on Transwell culture, indicative of an increased mechanical stress in Caco-2 cells on PES hollow fibers. The accelerated differentiation of Caco-2 cells on PES hollow fibers was unassociated with membrane chemical composition and surface roughness, but could be stimulated by hollow fiber configuration, since PES flat membranes with either rough or smooth surface failed to enhance the differentiation of Caco-2. Therefore, the accelerated expression of Caco-2 cell function on hollow fiber culture might show great values in simulation of the tissue microenvironment in vivo and guide the construction of intestinal tissue engineering apparatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Deng
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310027, People's Republic of China
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