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Wang Q, Ji C, Smith P, McCulloch CA. Impact of TRP Channels on Extracellular Matrix Remodeling: Focus on TRPV4 and Collagen. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3566. [PMID: 38612378 PMCID: PMC11012046 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073566] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Disturbed remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is frequently observed in several high-prevalence pathologies that include fibrotic diseases of organs such as the heart, lung, periodontium, liver, and the stiffening of the ECM surrounding invasive cancers. In many of these lesions, matrix remodeling mediated by fibroblasts is dysregulated, in part by alterations to the regulatory and effector systems that synthesize and degrade collagen, and by alterations to the functions of the integrin-based adhesions that normally mediate mechanical remodeling of collagen fibrils. Cell-matrix adhesions containing collagen-binding integrins are enriched with regulatory and effector systems that initiate localized remodeling of pericellular collagen fibrils to maintain ECM homeostasis. A large cadre of regulatory molecules is enriched in cell-matrix adhesions that affect ECM remodeling through synthesis, degradation, and contraction of collagen fibrils. One of these regulatory molecules is Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-type 4 (TRPV4), a mechanically sensitive, Ca2+-permeable plasma membrane channel that regulates collagen remodeling. The gating of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane by TRPV4 and the consequent generation of intracellular Ca2+ signals affect several processes that determine the structural and mechanical properties of collagen-rich ECM. These processes include the synthesis of new collagen fibrils, tractional remodeling by contractile forces, and collagenolysis. While the specific mechanisms by which TRPV4 contributes to matrix remodeling are not well-defined, it is known that TRPV4 is activated by mechanical forces transmitted through collagen adhesion receptors. Here, we consider how TRPV4 expression and function contribute to physiological and pathological collagen remodeling and are associated with collagen adhesions. Over the long-term, an improved understanding of how TRPV4 regulates collagen remodeling could pave the way for new approaches to manage fibrotic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Wang
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1G6, Canada;
| | - Chenfan Ji
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Patricio Smith
- Faculty of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago 8320165, Chile;
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Wang Z, Chen X, Chen N, Yan H, Wu K, Li J, Ru Q, Deng R, Liu X, Kang R. Mechanical Factors Regulate Annulus Fibrosus (AF) Injury Repair and Remodeling: A Review. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:219-233. [PMID: 38149967 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Low back pain is a common chronic disease that can severely affect the patient's work and daily life. The breakdown of spinal mechanical homeostasis caused by intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a leading cause of low back pain. Annulus fibrosus (AF), as the outer layer structure of the IVD, is often the first affected part. AF injury caused by consistent stress overload will further accelerate IVD degeneration. Therefore, regulating AF injury repair and remodeling should be the primary goal of the IVD repair strategy. Mechanical stimulation has been shown to promote AF regeneration and repair, but most studies only focus on the effect of single stress on AF, and lack realistic models and methods that can mimic the actual mechanical environment of AF. In this article, we review the effects of different types of stress stimulation on AF injury repair and remodeling, suggest possible beneficial load combinations, and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. It will provide the theoretical basis for designing better tissue engineering therapy using mechanical factors to regulate AF injury repair and remodeling in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
| | - Xin Chen
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
| | - Nan Chen
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
| | - Hongjie Yan
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
| | - Ke Wu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
| | - Jitao Li
- School of Physics and Telecommunications Engineering, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, Henan Province 466001, P.R. China
| | - Qingyuan Ru
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
| | - Rongrong Deng
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
| | - Xin Liu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
| | - Ran Kang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
- Department of Orthopedics, Nanjing Lishui Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210028, P.R. China
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Design of a Mechanobioreactor to Apply Anisotropic, Biaxial Strain to Large Thin Biomaterials for Tissue Engineered Heart Valve Applications. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1073-1089. [PMID: 35622208 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-02984-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Repair and replacement solutions for congenitally diseased heart valves capable of post-surgery growth and adaptation have remained elusive. Tissue engineered heart valves (TEHVs) offer a potential biological solution that addresses the drawbacks of existing valve replacements. Typically, TEHVs are made from thin, fibrous biomaterials that either become cell populated in vitro or in situ. Often, TEHV designs poorly mimic the anisotropic mechanical properties of healthy native valves leading to inadequate biomechanical function. Mechanical conditioning of engineered tissues with anisotropic strain application can induce extracellular matrix remodelling to alter the anisotropic mechanical properties of a construct, but implementation has been limited to small-scale set-ups. To address this limitation for TEHV applications, we designed and built a mechanobioreactor capable of modulating biaxial strain anisotropy applied to large, thin, biomaterial sheets in vitro. The bioreactor can independently control two orthogonal stretch axes to modulate applied strain anisotropy on biomaterial sheets from 13 × 13 mm2 to 70 × 40 mm2. A design of experiments was performed using experimentally validated finite element (FE) models and demonstrated that biaxial strain was applied uniformly over a larger percentage of the cell seeded area for larger sheets (13 × 13 mm2: 58% of sheet area vs. 52 × 31 mm2: 86% of sheet area). Furthermore, bioreactor prototypes demonstrated that over 70% of the cell seeding area remained uniformly strained under different prescribed protocols: equibiaxial amplitudes between 5 to 40%, cyclic frequencies between 0.1 to 2.5 Hz and anisotropic strain ratios between 0:1 (constrained uniaxial) to 2:1. Lastly, proof-of-concept experiments were conducted where we applied equibiaxial (εx = εy = 8.75%) and anisotropic (εx = 12.5%, εy = 5%) strain protocols to cell-seeded, electrospun scaffolds. Cell nuclei and F-actin aligned to the vector-sum strain direction of each prescribed protocol (nuclei alignment: equibiaxial: 43.2° ± 1.8°, anisotropic: 17.5° ± 1.7°; p < 0.001). The abilities of this bioreactor to prescribe different strain amplitude, frequency and strain anisotropy protocols to cell-seeded scaffolds will enable future studies into the effects of anisotropic loading protocols on mechanically conditioned TEHVs and other engineered planar connective tissues.
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Che YJ, Guo JB, Hao YF, Luo ZP. Regenerating and repairing degenerative intervertebral discs by regulating the micro/nano environment of degenerative bony endplates based on low-tension mechanics. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2022; 23:462. [PMID: 35578221 PMCID: PMC9112526 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-022-05422-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Conservative treatment is the recommended first-line treatment for degenerative disc diseases. Traction therapy has historically been one of the most common clinical methods to address this, but the clinical effect remains controversial. Methods Forty-two six-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: the model group (Group A, four coccyx vertebrae (Co7-Co10) were fixed with customized external fixators, and the vertebral disc degeneration model was constructed by axial compression of the target segment Co8 - Co9 for 4 weeks), the experimental control group (Group B, after successful modeling, the external fixation device was removed and self-rehabilitation was performed) and four intervention groups (Groups C to F): Groups C and E: Co8 - Co9 vertebrae compressed for 4 weeks followed by two or 4 weeks of high tension traction (HTT), respectively, and Groups D and F: vertebrae compressed for 4 weeks followed by two or 4 weeks of low-tension traction (LTT), respectively. Imaging tests (X-ray and MRI) were performed to assess disc height and T2 signal intensity at each time point. After the experiment, the animals were euthanized, and the caudal vertebrae were collected for analysis of intervertebral disc histopathology, proteoglycan content, and micronanostructure of the annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus and bony endplate. Results Signs of tissue regeneration were apparent in all four intervention groups. After two to 4 weeks of intervention (HTT and LTT), the morphology of pores in the bony endplate, their number, and diameter had recovered significantly compared with those in Group A. The LTT group was superior to the HTT group, and the 4w in situ group was significantly superior to the 2w group. Meanwhile, the histological scores of discs, the mean fibril diameter and modulus of annulus fibrosus were significantly improved compared with the control groups, and the LTT group was superior to HTT group. Conclusions Low-tension traction better promotes active reconstruction of bony endplates and improves the elastic modulus and micro/nanostructure of the disc. Thus, it further promotes the regeneration and repair of intervertebral discs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jun Che
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215008, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Jiang-Bo Guo
- Department of Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of SooChow University, 708 Renmin Rd, SuZhou, Jiangsu, 215007, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Feng Hao
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215008, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zong-Ping Luo
- Department of Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of SooChow University, 708 Renmin Rd, SuZhou, Jiangsu, 215007, People's Republic of China
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Li XF, Lv ZD, Yin HL, Song XX. Impact of adjacent pre-existing disc degeneration status on its biomechanics after single-level anterior cervical interbody fusion. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2021; 209:106355. [PMID: 34418812 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2021.106355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Mechanics and biology may be interconnected and amplify each other during disc degeneration. It remains unknown the influence of pre-existing disc degeneration and its impact on adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). This study aimed to discuss the necessity of including degenerated adjacent segments in single-level ACDF surgery from a biomechanical view. METHODS A poroelastic C2-T1 finite element model was created and validated. A C5-C6 ACDF model was developed based on this normal model. Moderate C4-C5 disc degeneration was created by appropriately modifying the morphology and tissue material properties in this fusion model. Degenerative morphology was modeled based on Thompson's grading system and Walraevens's scoring system for cervical spine, including disc height, whole disc area, nucleus pulposus (NP) area, endplate sclerosis and curvature. Stresses in disc and endplate and loads in facet joint were computed under moment loads in the fusion models with normal and pre-existing degenerative disc condition. RESULTS As for the adjacent disc, the stress values in degenerative condition were 7.41%, 5% and 5.26% larger than that in normal situation during extension, axial rotation and lateral bending motion, respectively. The disc stress changes mainly stemmed from annulus fibrosus (AF) tissue, but not NP. In the endplate, stress values of degeneration status were 4.17, 4.35 and 6.06% larger than that of normal condition under axial rotation, lateral bending and extension. The facet load magnitudes of pre-existing degeneration were 11.28, 11.57, 11.78 and 11.42% greater than that of normal condition in flexion, extension, axial rotation and lateral bending motion. CONCLUSION Pre-existing degenerated disc experience increased biomechanical changes in adjacent segment after single-level ACDF. It may pose a long-term cumulative problem related to biomechanics in cervical spine after fusion. Before surgery, surgeons should be careful about selecting the fusion level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Feng Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Baoshan Branch of Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 1058, Huan Zheng Bei Rd, Shanghai 200444, PR China.
| | - Zheng-Dong Lv
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Baoshan Branch of Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 1058, Huan Zheng Bei Rd, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Hong-Ling Yin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 1954, Huashan Rd, Shanghai 20030, PR China.
| | - Xiao-Xing Song
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 197 Ruijin Er Lu, Shanghai 200025, PR China.
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