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Withers PC, Morrill HJ, Parrish RR. An Open-Source 3D-Printed Recording Stage with Customizable Chambers for Ex Vivo Experiments. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0257-24.2024. [PMID: 39197950 PMCID: PMC11404268 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0257-24.2024] [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: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Much of what has been discovered concerning neurophysiological mechanisms can be credited to ex vivo biomedical experiments. Beyond these discoveries, ex vivo research techniques have enhanced the global understanding of human physiology and pathology in almost every biomedical specialty. Naturally, ex vivo experiments are among the most desired methods of research, particularly in the field of neuroscience. Ex vivo experiment platforms may be purchased commercially. However, their substantial cost and sometimes limited availability can render them inaccessible to many research labs. Moreover, these manufactured systems are often rigid in function with no possibility of customization, severely narrowing their capabilities. However, developing essential components for ex vivo laboratory systems with a fused deposition modeling printer provides a practical solution to each of these obstacles. Here, we provide the designs and construction process for an easily accessible, highly adaptable recording stage with modifiable submersion chambers using a 3D printer for a total cost under $15.00. With the versatility afforded by the exchangeable custom chambers, the system may be used to conduct research on a variety of ex vivo tissue preparations, paving the way for novel research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preston C Withers
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602
| | - Hunter J Morrill
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602
| | - R Ryley Parrish
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602
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Bourne LE, Hesketh A, Sharma A, Bucca G, Bush PG, Staines KA. The effects of physiological and injurious hydrostatic pressure on murine ex vivo articular and growth plate cartilage explants: an RNAseq study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1278596. [PMID: 38144567 PMCID: PMC10740163 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1278596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chondrocytes are continuously exposed to loads placed upon them. Physiological loads are pivotal to the maintenance of articular cartilage health, while abnormal loads contribute to pathological joint degradation. Similarly, the growth plate cartilage is subject to various loads during growth and development. Due to the high-water content of cartilage, hydrostatic pressure is considered one of the main biomechanical influencers on chondrocytes and has been shown to play an important role in the mechano-regulation of cartilage. Methods Herein, we conducted RNAseq analysis of ex vivo hip cap (articular), and metatarsal (growth plate) cartilage cultures subjected to physiological (5 MPa) and injurious (50 MPa) hydrostatic pressure, using the Illumina platform (n = 4 replicates). Results Several hundreds of genes were shown to be differentially modulated by hydrostatic pressure, with the majority of these changes evidenced in hip cap cartilage cultures (375 significantly upregulated and 322 downregulated in 5 MPa versus control; 1022 upregulated and 724 downregulated in 50 MPa versus control). Conversely, fewer genes were differentially affected by hydrostatic pressure in the metatarsal cultures (5 significantly upregulated and 23 downregulated in 5 MPa versus control; 7 significantly upregulated and 19 downregulated in 50 MPa versus control). Using Gene Ontology annotations for Biological Processes, in the hip cap data we identified a number of pathways that were modulated by both physiological and injurious hydrostatic pressure. Pathways upregulated in response to 50 MPa versus control, included those involved in the generation of precursor metabolites and cellular respiration. Biological processes that were downregulated in this tissue included ossification, connective tissue development, and chondrocyte differentiation. Discussion Collectively our data highlights the divergent chondrocyte phenotypes in articular and growth plate cartilage. Further, we show that the magnitude of hydrostatic pressure application has distinct effects on gene expression and biological processes in hip cap cartilage explants. Finally, we identified differential expression of a number of genes that have previously been identified as osteoarthritis risk genes, including Ctsk, and Chadl. Together these data may provide potential genetic targets for future investigations in osteoarthritis research and novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie E. Bourne
- Centre for Lifelong Health, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Hesketh
- Centre for Lifelong Health, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Aikta Sharma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giselda Bucca
- Centre for Lifelong Health, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Peter G. Bush
- Centre for Lifelong Health, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine A. Staines
- Centre for Lifelong Health, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
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Stein M, Elefteriou F, Busse B, Fiedler IA, Kwon RY, Farell E, Ahmad M, Ignatius A, Grover L, Geris L, Tuckermann J. Why Animal Experiments Are Still Indispensable in Bone Research: A Statement by the European Calcified Tissue Society. J Bone Miner Res 2023; 38:1045-1061. [PMID: 37314012 PMCID: PMC10962000 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Major achievements in bone research have always relied on animal models and in vitro systems derived from patient and animal material. However, the use of animals in research has drawn intense ethical debate and the complete abolition of animal experimentation is demanded by fractions of the population. This phenomenon is enhanced by the reproducibility crisis in science and the advance of in vitro and in silico techniques. 3D culture, organ-on-a-chip, and computer models have improved enormously over the last few years. Nevertheless, the overall complexity of bone tissue cross-talk and the systemic and local regulation of bone physiology can often only be addressed in entire vertebrates. Powerful genetic methods such as conditional mutagenesis, lineage tracing, and modeling of the diseases enhanced the understanding of the entire skeletal system. In this review endorsed by the European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS), a working group of investigators from Europe and the US provides an overview of the strengths and limitations of experimental animal models, including rodents, fish, and large animals, as well the potential and shortcomings of in vitro and in silico technologies in skeletal research. We propose that the proper combination of the right animal model for a specific hypothesis and state-of-the-art in vitro and/or in silico technology is essential to solving remaining important questions in bone research. This is crucial for executing most efficiently the 3R principles to reduce, refine, and replace animal experimentation, for enhancing our knowledge of skeletal biology, and for the treatment of bone diseases that affect a large part of society. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Merle Stein
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Florent Elefteriou
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Björn Busse
- Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Competence Center for Interface Research (ICCIR), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Imke A.K. Fiedler
- Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Competence Center for Interface Research (ICCIR), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Ronald Young Kwon
- Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Eric Farell
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mubashir Ahmad
- Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anita Ignatius
- Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Liam Grover
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational MedicineHeritage Building Edgbaston, Birmingham
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In Silico Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology & Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tuckermann
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Hansen RT, Chenu C, Sofat N, Pitsillides AA. Bone marrow lesions: plugging the holes in our knowledge using animal models. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2023; 19:429-445. [PMID: 37225964 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-023-00971-z] [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] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Bone marrow lesions (BMLs), which are early signs of osteoarthritis (OA) that are associated with the presence, onset and severity of pain, represent an emerging imaging biomarker and clinical target. Little is known, however, regarding their early spatial and temporal development, structural relationships or aetiopathogenesis, because of the sparsity of human early OA imaging and paucity of relevant tissue samples. The use of animal models is a logical approach to fill the gaps in our knowledge, and it can be informed by appraising models in which BMLs and closely related subchondral cysts have already been reported, including in spontaneous OA and pain models. The utility of these models in OA research, their relevance to clinical BMLs and practical considerations for their optimal deployment can also inform medical and veterinary clinicians and researchers alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca T Hansen
- Skeletal Biology Group, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Chantal Chenu
- Skeletal Biology Group, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Nidhi Sofat
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
- Department of Rheumatology, St George's, University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Andrew A Pitsillides
- Skeletal Biology Group, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
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Kato G, Araújo R, Rodrigues C, Gomes PS, Grenho L, Fernandes MH. Ex Vivo Osteogenesis Induced by Calcium Silicate-Based Cement Extracts. J Funct Biomater 2023; 14:314. [PMID: 37367277 DOI: 10.3390/jfb14060314] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium silicate-based cements are used in a variety of clinical conditions affecting the pulp tissue, relying on their inductive effect on tissue mineralization. This work aimed to evaluate the biological response of calcium silicate-based cements with distinct properties-the fast-setting Biodentine™ and TotalFill® BC RRM™ Fast Putty, and the classical slow-setting ProRoot® MTA, in an ex vivo model of bone development. Briefly, eleven-day-old embryonic chick femurs were cultured for 10 days in organotypic conditions, being exposed to the set cements' eluates and, at the end of the culture period, evaluated for osteogenesis/bone formation by combining microtomographic analysis and histological histomorphometric assessment. ProRoot® MTA and TotalFill® extracts presented similar levels of calcium ions, although significantly lower than those released from BiodentineTM. All extracts increased the osteogenesis/tissue mineralization, assayed by microtomographic (BV/TV) and histomorphometric (% of mineralized area; % of total collagen area, and % of mature collagen area) indexes, although displaying distinct dose-dependent patterns and quantitative values. The fast-setting cements displayed better performance than that of ProRoot® MTA, with BiodentineTM presenting the best performance, within the assayed experimental model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Kato
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism and Regeneration, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
- LAQV/Requimte, University of Porto, 4100-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Araújo
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism and Regeneration, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
- LAQV/Requimte, University of Porto, 4100-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Rodrigues
- Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Sousa Gomes
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism and Regeneration, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
- LAQV/Requimte, University of Porto, 4100-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Liliana Grenho
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism and Regeneration, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
- LAQV/Requimte, University of Porto, 4100-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Helena Fernandes
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism and Regeneration, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
- LAQV/Requimte, University of Porto, 4100-007 Porto, Portugal
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Laranga R, Duchi S, Ibrahim T, Guerrieri AN, Donati DM, Lucarelli E. Trends in Bone Metastasis Modeling. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2315. [PMID: 32824479 PMCID: PMC7464021 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone is one of the most common sites for cancer metastasis. Bone tissue is composed by different kinds of cells that coexist in a coordinated balance. Due to the complexity of bone, it is impossible to capture the intricate interactions between cells under either physiological or pathological conditions. Hence, a variety of in vivo and in vitro approaches have been developed. Various models of tumor-bone diseases are routinely used to provide valuable information on the relationship between metastatic cancer cells and the bone tissue. Ideally, when modeling the metastasis of human cancers to bone, models would replicate the intra-tumor heterogeneity, as well as the genetic and phenotypic changes that occur with human cancers; such models would be scalable and reproducible to allow high-throughput investigation. Despite the continuous progress, there is still a lack of solid, amenable, and affordable models that are able to fully recapitulate the biological processes happening in vivo, permitting a correct interpretation of results. In the last decades, researchers have demonstrated that three-dimensional (3D) methods could be an innovative approach that lies between bi-dimensional (2D) models and animal models. Scientific evidence supports that the tumor microenvironment can be better reproduced in a 3D system than a 2D cell culture, and the 3D systems can be scaled up for drug screening in the same way as the 2D systems thanks to the current technologies developed. However, 3D models cannot completely recapitulate the inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity found in patients. In contrast, ex vivo cultures of fragments of bone preserve key cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and allow the study of bone cells in their natural 3D environment. Moreover, ex vivo bone organ cultures could be a better model to resemble the human pathogenic metastasis condition and useful tools to predict in vivo response to therapies. The aim of our review is to provide an overview of the current trends in bone metastasis modeling. By showing the existing in vitro and ex vivo systems, we aspire to contribute to broaden the knowledge on bone metastasis models and make these tools more appealing for further translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Laranga
- Unit of Orthopaedic Pathology and Osteoarticular Tissue Regeneration, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (R.L.); (D.M.D.); (E.L.)
| | - Serena Duchi
- BioFab3D@ACMD, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia;
- Department of Surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia
| | - Toni Ibrahim
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, 47014 Meldola, Italy;
| | - Ania Naila Guerrieri
- Unit of Orthopaedic Pathology and Osteoarticular Tissue Regeneration, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (R.L.); (D.M.D.); (E.L.)
| | - Davide Maria Donati
- Unit of Orthopaedic Pathology and Osteoarticular Tissue Regeneration, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (R.L.); (D.M.D.); (E.L.)
- Rizzoli Laboratory Unit, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- 3rd Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Clinic Prevalently Oncologic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Pupilli 1, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrico Lucarelli
- Unit of Orthopaedic Pathology and Osteoarticular Tissue Regeneration, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (R.L.); (D.M.D.); (E.L.)
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Sieberath A, Della Bella E, Ferreira AM, Gentile P, Eglin D, Dalgarno K. A Comparison of Osteoblast and Osteoclast In Vitro Co-Culture Models and Their Translation for Preclinical Drug Testing Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E912. [PMID: 32019244 PMCID: PMC7037207 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As the population of western societies on average ages, the number of people affected by bone remodeling-associated diseases such as osteoporosis continues to increase. The development of new therapeutics is hampered by the high failure rates of drug candidates during clinical testing, which is in part due to the poor predictive character of animal models during preclinical drug testing. Co-culture models of osteoblasts and osteoclasts offer an alternative to animal testing and are considered to have the potential to improve drug development processes in the future. However, a robust, scalable, and reproducible 3D model combining osteoblasts and osteoclasts for preclinical drug testing purposes has not been developed to date. Here we review various types of osteoblast-osteoclast co-culture models and outline the remaining obstacles that must be overcome for their successful translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Sieberath
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (A.S.); (A.M.F.); (P.G.)
| | - Elena Della Bella
- AO Research Institute Davos, Clavadelerstrasse 8, 7270 Davos, Switzerland; (E.D.B.); (D.E.)
| | - Ana Marina Ferreira
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (A.S.); (A.M.F.); (P.G.)
| | - Piergiorgio Gentile
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (A.S.); (A.M.F.); (P.G.)
| | - David Eglin
- AO Research Institute Davos, Clavadelerstrasse 8, 7270 Davos, Switzerland; (E.D.B.); (D.E.)
| | - Kenny Dalgarno
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (A.S.); (A.M.F.); (P.G.)
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