1
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Sitte Z, Miranda Buzetta AA, Jones SJ, Lin ZW, Whitman NA, Lockett MR. Paper-Based Coculture Platform to Evaluate the Effects of Fibroblasts on Estrogen Signaling in ER+ Breast Cancers. ACS MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AU 2023; 3:479-487. [PMID: 38145029 PMCID: PMC10740124 DOI: 10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.3c00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based assays enable molecular-level studies of cellular responses to drug candidates or potential toxins. Transactivation assays quantify the activation or inhibition of nuclear receptors, key transcriptional regulators of gene targets in mamalian cells. One such assay couples the expression of luciferase to the transcriptional activity of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα). While this assay is regularly used to screen for agonists and antagonists of the estrogen signaling pathway, the setup relies on monolayer cultures in which cells are plated directly onto the surface of cell-compatible plasticware. The tumor microenvironment is more than a collection of cancerous cells and is profoundly influenced by tissue architecture, the presence of extracellular matrices, and intercellular signaling molecules produced by non-cancerous neighboring cells (e.g., fibroblasts). There exists a need for three-dimensional culture platforms that can be rapidly prototyped to assess new configurations and readily produced in the large numbers needed for translational studies and screening applications. Here, we demonstrate the utility of the paper-based culture platform to probe the effects of intercellular signaling between two cell types. We used paper scaffolds to generate tumor-like environments, forming a defined volume of breast cancer cells suspended in collagen. By placing the paper scaffolds in commercial 96-well plates, we compared monocultures of only breast cancer cells with coculture configurations containing fibroblasts in different locations that mimicked the stages of breast cancer progression. We show that ERα transactivation in the T47D-KBluc cell line is affected by the presence, number, and proximity of fibroblasts, and is a consequence of intercellular signaling molecules. After screening a small library of fibroblast-secreted signaling molecules, we showed that interleukin-6 (IL-6) was the primary driver of reduced estradiol sensitivity. These effects were mitigated in the coculture configurations by the addition of an IL-6 neutralizing antibody. We also assessed estrogen receptor expression and transcriptional regulation, further demonstrating the utility of the paper-based platform for detailed mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary
R. Sitte
- Department
of Chemistry, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Abel Andre Miranda Buzetta
- Department
of Chemistry, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Sarina J. Jones
- Department
of Chemistry, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Zhi-Wei Lin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Nathan Ashbrook Whitman
- Department
of Chemistry, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department
of Chemistry, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
- Lineberger
Comprehensive Cancer Center, University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7295, United States
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2
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Sitte ZR, Larson TS, McIntosh JC, Sinanian M, Lockett MR. Selecting the appropriate indirect viability assay for 3D paper-based cultures: a data-driven study. Analyst 2023; 148:2245-2255. [PMID: 37073480 PMCID: PMC10192127 DOI: 10.1039/d3an00283g] [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] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Cellular viability measurements quantify decreased proliferation or increased cytotoxicity caused by drug candidates or potential environmental toxins. Direct viability measures count each cell to provide an accurate readout. This approach can prove analytically challenging and time-consuming when cells are maintained in 3D structures akin to tissues or solid tumors. While less labor-intensive, indirect viability measures can be less accurate due to the heterogeneous structural and chemical microenvironment that arises when cells are maintained in tissue-like architectures and in contact with extracellular matrices. Here we determine the analytical figures of merit of five indirect viability assays in the paper-based cell culture platform we continue to develop in our laboratory: calcein-AM staining, the CellTiter-Glo assay, imaging fluorescent protein expression, propidium iodide staining, and the resazurin assay. We also determined the compatibility of each indirect assay with hypoxic conditions, intra-experimental repeatability, inter-experimental reproducibility, and ability to predict a potency value for a known antineoplastic drug. Our results show that each assay has benefits and drawbacks to consider when choosing the appropriate readout to answer a particular research question. We also highlight that only one indirect readout is unaffected by hypoxia, a commonly overlooked variable in cell culture that likely yields inaccurate viability measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary R Sitte
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Tyler S Larson
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Julie C McIntosh
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Melanie Sinanian
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Matthew R Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Davis Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA
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3
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Kenney RM, Lee MC, Boyce MW, Sitte ZR, Lockett MR. Cellular Invasion Assay for the Real-Time Tracking of Individual Cells in Spheroid or Tumor-like Mimics. Anal Chem 2023; 95:3054-3061. [PMID: 36701161 PMCID: PMC10007898 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Cellular invasion is the gateway to metastasis, with cells moving from a primary tumor into neighboring regions of healthy tissue. Invasion assays provide a tractable experimental platform to quantitatively assess cellular movement in the presence of potential chemokines or inhibitors. Many such assays involve cellular movement from high cell densities to cell-free regions. To improve the physiological relevance of such assays, we developed an assay format to track cellular movement throughout a uniform density of cells. This assay format imparts diffusion-dominated environments along the channel, resulting in oxygen and nutrient gradients found in spheroids or poorly vascularized tumors. By incorporating oxygen- and pH-sensing films, we quantified spatial and temporal changes in the extracellular environment while simultaneously tracking the movement of a subset of cells engineered to express fluorescent proteins constitutively. Our results show the successful invasion into neighboring tissues likely arises from a small population with a highly invasive phenotype. These highly invasive cells continued to move throughout the 48 h experiment, suggesting they have stem-like or persister properties. Surprisingly, the distance these persister cells invaded was unaffected by the density of cells in the channel or the presence or absence of an oxygen gradient. While these datasets cannot determine if the invasive cells are inherent to the population or if diffusion-dominated environments promote them, they highlight the need for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M. Kenney
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
| | - Maggie C. Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
| | - Matthew W. Boyce
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
| | - Zachary R. Sitte
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295
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4
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Diprospero TJ, Brown LG, Fachko TD, Lockett MR. HepaRG cells undergo increased levels of post-differentiation patterning in physiologic conditions when maintained as 3D cultures in paper-based scaffolds. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.16.524330. [PMID: 36711996 PMCID: PMC9882149 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.16.524330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Monolayer cultures of hepatocytes lack many aspects of the liver sinusoid, including a tissue-level organization that results from extracellular matrix interactions and gradients of soluble molecules that span from the portal triad to the central vein. We measured the activity and transcript levels of drug-metabolizing enzymes in HepaRG cells maintained in three different culture configurations: as monolayers, seeded onto paper scaffolds that were pre-loaded with a collagen matrix, and when seeded directly into the paper scaffolds as a cell-laden gel. Drug metabolism was significantly decreased in the presence of the paper scaffolds compared to monolayer configurations when cells were exposed to standard culture conditions. Despite this decreased function, transcript levels suggest the cells undergo increased polarization and adopt a biliary-like character in the paper scaffolds, including the increased expression of transporter proteins (e.g., ABCB11 and SLOC1B1) and the KRT19 cholangiocyte marker. When exposed to representative periportal or perivenous culture conditions, we observed in vivo zonal-like patterns, including increased cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity and transcript levels in the perivenous condition. This increased CYP activity is more pronounced in the laden configuration, supporting the need to include multiple aspects of the liver microenvironment to observe the post-differentiation processing of hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Diprospero
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, United States
| | - Lauren G. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, United States
| | - Trevor D. Fachko
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, United States
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 37599-7295, United States
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5
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Diprospero TJ, Brown LG, Fachko TD, Lockett MR. HepaRG cells undergo increased levels of post-differentiation patterning in physiologic conditions when maintained as 3D cultures in paper-based scaffolds. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2473387. [PMID: 36711963 PMCID: PMC9882668 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2473387/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Monolayer cultures of hepatocytes lack many aspects of the liver sinusoid, including a tissue-level organization that results from extracellular matrix interactions and gradients of soluble molecules that span from the portal triad to the central vein. We measured the activity and transcript levels of drug-metabolizing enzymes in HepaRG cells maintained in three different culture configurations: as monolayers, seeded onto paper scaffolds that were pre-loaded with a collagen matrix, and when seeded directly into the paper scaffolds as a cell-laden gel. Drug metabolism was significantly decreased in the presence of the paper scaffolds compared to monolayer configurations when cells were exposed to standard culture conditions. Despite this decreased function, transcript levels suggest the cells undergo increased polarization and adopt a biliary-like character in the paper scaffolds, including the increased expression of transporter proteins (e.g., ABCB11 and SLOC1B1) and the KRT19 cholangiocyte marker. When exposed to representative periportal or perivenous culture conditions, we observed in vivo zonal-like patterns, including increased cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity and transcript levels in the perivenous condition. This increased CYP activity is more pronounced in the laden configuration, supporting the need to include multiple aspects of the liver microenvironment to observe the post-differentiation processing of hepatocytes.
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6
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Spatially resolved quantification of drug metabolism and efficacy in 3D paper-based tumor mimics. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1186:339091. [PMID: 34756260 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.339091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Paper-based cultures are an emerging platform for preparing three-dimensional (3D) tissue- and tumor-like structures. The ability to stack individual sheets of cell-containing paper affords a modular means of assembling structures with defined cellular compositions and microenvironments. These layered stacks are easily separated at the end of an experiment, providing spatially resolved populations of live cells for further analysis. Here we describe a workflow in which cell viability, drug penetration, and drug metabolism are quantified in a spatially resolved manner. Specifically, we mapped the distribution of the drug irinotecan and its bioactive metabolite SN38 in a colorectal cancer cell-containing stacked structure with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This paper provides the first example of a 3D culture platform that quantifies viability and drug metabolism in a spatially resolved manner. Our data show that cells at the bottom of the stack are more drug-resistant than layers in contact with the culture medium, similar to cells in the nutrient-poor center of a proliferating tumor being more drug-resistant than the rapidly dividing cells at its periphery. The powerful combination of quantitative viability and drug metabolism measurements will enable future studies to determine the exact mechanism(s) of drug resistance in different regions of a tumor.
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7
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DiProspero TJ, Dalrymple E, Lockett MR. Physiologically relevant oxygen tensions differentially regulate hepatotoxic responses in HepG2 cells. Toxicol In Vitro 2021; 74:105156. [PMID: 33811995 PMCID: PMC8111698 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2021.105156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluates the impact of physiologically relevant oxygen tensions on the response of HepG2 cells to known inducers and hepatotoxic drugs. We compared transcriptional regulation and CYP1A activity after a 48 h exposure at atmospheric culture conditions (20% O2) with representative periportal (8% O2) and perivenous (3% O2) oxygen tensions. We evaluated cellular responses in 2D and 3D cultures at each oxygen tension in parallel, using monolayers and a paper-based culture platform that supports cells suspended in a collagen-rich environment. Our findings highlight that the toxicity, potency, and mechanism of action of drugs are dependent on both culture format and oxygen tension. HepG2 cells in 3D environments at physiologic oxygen tensions better matched primary human hepatocyte data than HepG2 cells cultured under standard conditions. Despite altered transcriptional regulation with decreasing oxygen tensions, we did not observe the zonation patterns of drug-metabolizing enzymes found in vivo. Our approach demonstrates that oxygen is an important regulator of liver function but it is not the sole regulator. It also highlights the utility of the 3D paper-based culture platform for continued mechanistic studies of microenvironmental influences on cellular responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J DiProspero
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, United States of America
| | - Erin Dalrymple
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, United States of America
| | - Matthew R Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, United States of America; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, United States of America.
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8
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McIntosh JC, Yang L, Wang T, Zhou H, Lockett MR, Oldenburg AL. Tracking the invasion of breast cancer cells in paper-based 3D cultures by OCT motility analysis. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:3181-3194. [PMID: 32637249 PMCID: PMC7316000 DOI: 10.1364/boe.382911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
3D paper-based cultures (PBCs) are easy-to-use and provide a biologically representative microenvironment. By stacking a sheet of cell-laden paper below sheets containing cell-free hydrogel, we form an assay capable of segmenting cells by the distance they invaded from the original cell-seeded layer. These invasion assays are limited to end-point analyses with fluorescence-based readouts due to the highly scattering nature of the paper scaffolds. Here we demonstrate that optical coherence tomography (OCT) can distinguish living cells from the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) or paper fibers based upon their intracellular motility amplitude (M). M is computed from fluctuation statistics of the sample, rejects shot noise, and is invariant to OCT signal attenuation. Using OCT motility analysis, we tracked the invasion of breast cancer cells over a 3-day period in 4-layer PBCs (160-300 µm thick) in situ. The cell population distributions determined with OCT are highly correlated with those obtained by fluorescence imaging, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.903. The ability of OCT motility analysis to visualize live cells and quantify cell distributions in PBC assays in situ and longitudinally provides a novel means for understanding how chemical gradients within the tumor microenvironment affect cellular invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie C. McIntosh
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Co-first authors contributed equally and are listed alphabetically
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Co-first authors contributed equally and are listed alphabetically
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Haibo Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Amy L. Oldenburg
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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9
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Tobias F, McIntosh JC, LaBonia GJ, Boyce MW, Lockett MR, Hummon AB. Developing a Drug Screening Platform: MALDI-Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Paper-Based Cultures. Anal Chem 2019; 91:15370-15376. [PMID: 31755703 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b03536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Many potential chemotherapeutics fail to reach patients. One of the key reasons is that compounds are tested during the drug discovery stage in two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures, which are often unable to accurately model in vivo outcomes. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro tumor models are more predictive of chemotherapeutic effectiveness than 2D cultures, and thus, their implementation during the drug screening stage has the potential to more accurately evaluate compounds earlier, saving both time and money. Paper-based cultures (PBCs) are an emerging 3D culture platform in which cells suspended in Matrigel are seeded into paper scaffolds and cultured to generate a tissue-like environment. In this study, we demonstrate the potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging with PBCs (MALDI-MSI-PBC) as a drug screening platform. This method discriminated regions of the PBCs with and without cells and/or drugs, indicating that coupling PBCs with MALDI-MSI has the potential to develop rapid, large-scale, and parallel mass spectrometric drug screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Tobias
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Comprehensive Cancer Center , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210-1132 , United States
| | - Julie C McIntosh
- Department of Chemistry , The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Gabriel J LaBonia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute , University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame , Indiana 46556 , United States
| | - Matthew W Boyce
- Department of Chemistry , The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Matthew R Lockett
- Department of Chemistry , The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center , The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Amanda B Hummon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Comprehensive Cancer Center , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210-1132 , United States
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10
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Cramer SM, Larson TS, Lockett MR. Tissue Papers: Leveraging Paper-Based Microfluidics for the Next Generation of 3D Tissue Models. Anal Chem 2019; 91:10916-10926. [PMID: 31356054 PMCID: PMC7071790 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Paper-based scaffolds support the three-dimensional culture of mammalian cells in tissue-like environments. These Tissue Papers, a name that highlights the use of materials obtained from (plant) tissue to generate newly functioning (human) tissue structures, are a promising analytical tool to quantify cellular responses in physiologically relevant extracellular gradients and coculture architectures. Here, we highlight current examples of Tissue Papers, commonly used methods of analysis, and current measurement challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina M. Cramer
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Tyler S. Larson
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7295, United States
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11
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Kenney RM, Loeser A, Whitman NA, Lockett MR. Paper-based Transwell assays: an inexpensive alternative to study cellular invasion. Analyst 2018; 144:206-211. [PMID: 30328422 PMCID: PMC6296866 DOI: 10.1039/c8an01157e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cellular movement is essential in the formation and maintenance of healthy tissues as well as in disease progression such as tumor metastasis. In this work, we describe a paper-based Transwell assay capable of quantifying cellular invasion through an extracellular matrix. The paper-based Transwell assays generate similar datasets, with equivalent reproducibility, to commercially available Transwell assays. With different culture configurations, we quantify invasion: upon addition of an exogenous factor or in the presence of medium obtained from other cell types, in an indirect or direct co-culture format whose medium composition is dynamically changing, and in a single-zone or parallel (96-zone) format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M Kenney
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Adam Loeser
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Nathan A Whitman
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Matthew R Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA. and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA
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12
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Wang LX, Zhou Y, Fu JJ, Lu Z, Yu L. Separation and Characterization of Prostate Cancer Cell Subtype according to Their Motility Using a Multi-Layer CiGiP Culture. MICROMACHINES 2018; 9:mi9120660. [PMID: 30558236 PMCID: PMC6315990 DOI: 10.3390/mi9120660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cell metastasis has been recognized as one hallmark of malignant tumor progression; thus, measuring the motility of cells, especially tumor cell migration, is important for evaluating the therapeutic effects of anti-tumor drugs. Here, we used a paper-based cell migration platform to separate and isolate cells according to their distinct motility. A multi-layer cells-in-gels-in-paper (CiGiP) stack was assembled. Only a small portion of DU 145 prostate cancer cells seeded in the middle layer could successfully migrate into the top and bottom layers of the stack, showing heterogeneous motility. The cells with distinct migration were isolated for further analysis. Quantitative PCR assay results demonstrated that cells with higher migration potential had increased expression of the ALDH1A1, SRY (sex-determining region Y)-box 2, NANOG, and octamer-binding transcription 4. Increased doxorubicin tolerance was also observed in cells that migrated through the CiGiP layers. In summary, the separation and characterization of prostate cancer cell subtype can be achieved by using the multi-layer CiGiP cell migration platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Xiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Faculty of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Ying Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Faculty of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Jing-Jing Fu
- Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Faculty of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Zhisong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Faculty of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Ling Yu
- Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Faculty of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
- Guangan Changming Research Institute for Advanced Industrial Technology, Guangan 638500, China.
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13
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Whitman NA, Lin ZW, DiProspero TJ, McIntosh JC, Lockett MR. Screening Estrogen Receptor Modulators in a Paper-Based Breast Cancer Model. Anal Chem 2018; 90:11981-11988. [PMID: 30226366 PMCID: PMC6200649 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The health risks associated with acute and prolonged exposure to estrogen receptor (ER) modulators has led to a concerted effort to identify and prioritize potential disruptors present in the environment. ER agonists and antagonists are identified with end-point assays, quantifying changes in cellular proliferation or gene transactivation in monolayers of estrogen receptor alpha expressing (ER+) cells upon exposure. While these monolayer cultures can be prepared, dosed, and analyzed in a highly parallelized manner, they are unable to predict the potencies of ER modulators in vivo accurately. Physiologically relevant model systems that better predict tissue- or organ-level responses are needed. To address this need, we describe here a screening platform capable of quantitatively assessing ER modulators in 96 chemically isolated 3D cultures. These cultures are supported in wax-patterned paper scaffolds whose design has improved performance and throughput over previously described paper-based setups. To highlight the potential of paper-based cultures for toxicity screens, we measured the potency of known ER modulators with a luciferase-based reporter assay. We also quantified the proliferation and invasion of two ER+ cell lines in the presence of estradiol. Despite the inability of the current setup to better predict in vivo potencies of ER modulators than monolayer cultures, the results demonstrate the potential of this platform to support increasingly complex and physiologically relevant tissue-like structures for environmental chemical risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A. Whitman
- Department of Chemistry, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Zhi-Wei Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Thomas J. DiProspero
- Department of Chemistry, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Julie C. McIntosh
- Department of Chemistry, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7295, United States
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14
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Rodenhizer D, Dean T, D'Arcangelo E, McGuigan AP. The Current Landscape of 3D In Vitro Tumor Models: What Cancer Hallmarks Are Accessible for Drug Discovery? Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7:e1701174. [PMID: 29350495 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201701174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer prognosis remains a lottery dependent on cancer type, disease stage at diagnosis, and personal genetics. While investment in research is at an all-time high, new drugs are more likely to fail in clinical trials today than in the 1970s. In this review, a summary of current survival statistics in North America is provided, followed by an overview of the modern drug discovery process, classes of models used throughout different stages, and challenges associated with drug development efficiency are highlighted. Then, an overview of the cancer hallmarks that drive clinical progression is provided, and the range of available clinical therapies within the context of these hallmarks is categorized. Specifically, it is found that historically, the development of therapies is limited to a subset of possible targets. This provides evidence for the opportunities offered by novel disease-relevant in vitro models that enable identification of novel targets that facilitate interactions between the tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment. Next, an overview of the models currently reported in literature is provided, and the cancer biology they have been used to explore is highlighted. Finally, four priority areas are suggested for the field to accelerate adoption of in vitro tumour models for cancer drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Rodenhizer
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied ChemistryUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Teresa Dean
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Elisa D'Arcangelo
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Alison P. McGuigan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry & Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
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15
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Kenney RM, Lloyd CC, Whitman NA, Lockett MR. 3D cellular invasion platforms: how do paper-based cultures stack up? Chem Commun (Camb) 2018. [PMID: 28621775 DOI: 10.1039/c7cc02357j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cellular invasion is the gateway to metastasis, which is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Invasion is driven by a number of chemical and mechanical stresses that arise in the tumor microenvironment. In vitro assays are needed for the systematic study of cancer progress. To be truly predictive, these assays must generate tissue-like environments that can be experimentally controlled and manipulated. While two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures are easily assembled and evaluated, they lack the extracellular components needed to assess invasion. Three-dimensional (3D) cultures are better suited for invasion studies because they generate cellular phenotypes that are more representative of those found in vivo. This feature article provides an overview of four invasion platforms. We focus on paper-based cultures, an emerging 3D culture platform capable of generating tissue-like structures and quantifying cellular invasion. Paper-based cultures are as easily assembled and analyzed as monolayers, but provide an experimentally powerful platform capable of supporting: co-cultures and representative extracellular environments; experimentally controlled gradients; readouts capable of quantifying, discerning, and separating cells based on their invasiveness. With a series of examples we highlight the potential of paper-based cultures, and discuss how they stack up against other invasion platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M Kenney
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
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16
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Kenney RM, Boyce MW, Whitman NA, Kromhout BP, Lockett MR. A pH-Sensing Optode for Mapping Spatiotemporal Gradients in 3D Paper-Based Cell Cultures. Anal Chem 2018; 90:2376-2383. [PMID: 29323486 PMCID: PMC6168333 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Paper-based cultures are an emerging platform for preparing 3D tissue-like structures. Chemical gradients can be imposed upon these cultures, generating microenvironments similar to those found in poorly vascularized tumors. There is increasing evidence that the tumor microenvironment is responsible for promoting drug resistance and increased invasiveness. Acidosis, or the acidification of the extracellular space, is particularly important in promoting these aggressive cancer phenotypes. To better understand how cells respond to acidosis there is a need for 3D culture platforms that not only model relevant disease states but also contain sensors capable of quantifying small molecules in the extracellular environment. In this work, we describe pH-sensing optodes that are capable of generating high spatial and temporal resolution maps of pH gradients in paper-based cultures. This sensor was fabricated by suspending microparticles containing pH-sensitive (fluorescein) and pH-insensitive (diphenylanthracene) dyes in a polyurethane hydrogel, which was then coated onto a transparent film. The pH-sensing films have a fast response time, are reversible, stable in long-term culture environments, have minimal photobleaching, and are not cytotoxic. These films have a pKa of 7.61 ± 0.04 and are sensitive in the pH range corresponding to normal and tumorigenic tissues. With these optodes, we measured the spatiotemporal evolution of pH gradients in paper-based tumor models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M. Kenney
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Matthew W. Boyce
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Nathan A. Whitman
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Brenden P. Kromhout
- CData Software Inc., 101 Europa Drive #110, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517, United States
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7295, United States
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17
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Boyce MW, LaBonia GJ, Hummon AB, Lockett MR. Assessing chemotherapeutic effectiveness using a paper-based tumor model. Analyst 2017; 142:2819-2827. [PMID: 28702529 PMCID: PMC5557652 DOI: 10.1039/c7an00806f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In vitro models for screening new cancer chemotherapeutics often rely on two-dimensional cultures to predict therapeutic potential. Unfortunately, the predictive power of these models is limited, as they fail to recapitulate the complex three-dimensional environments in tumors that promote a chemoresistant phenotype. In this study, we describe the preparation and characterization of paper-based cultures (PBCs) engineered to assess chemotherapeutic effectiveness in three dimensional, diffusion-limited environments. Similar environments are found in poorly vascularized tumors. Monotonic gradients develop across these cultures, which are assembled by stacking cell-laden paper scaffolds to yield thick tissue-like structures, and provide distinct chemical environments for each scaffold. After prolonged incubation, the scaffolds can simply be peeled apart and analyzed. Through fluorescence imaging, we determined that viable and proliferative cell populations were most abundant in scaffolds close to the nutrient-rich medium. By adjusting the cell density, we modulated the spatiotemporal evolution of oxygen gradients across the cultures and correlated these environmental changes with cellular sensitivity to SN-38 exposure. From these results, we showed that differences in the oxygen gradients produced cellular populations with significantly different chemosensitivities. Through this work, we highlight PBCs ability to serve as an analytical model capable of determining chemotherapeutic effectiveness under a range of chemical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Boyce
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gabriel J LaBonia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA and Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Amanda B Hummon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA and Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Matthew R Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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