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Pio-Lopez L, Levin M. Aging as a loss of morphostatic information: A developmental bioelectricity perspective. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 97:102310. [PMID: 38636560 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102310] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Maintaining order at the tissue level is crucial throughout the lifespan, as failure can lead to cancer and an accumulation of molecular and cellular disorders. Perhaps, the most consistent and pervasive result of these failures is aging, which is characterized by the progressive loss of function and decline in the ability to maintain anatomical homeostasis and reproduce. This leads to organ malfunction, diseases, and ultimately death. The traditional understanding of aging is that it is caused by the accumulation of molecular and cellular damage. In this article, we propose a complementary view of aging from the perspective of endogenous bioelectricity which has not yet been integrated into aging research. We propose a view of aging as a morphostasis defect, a loss of biophysical prepattern information, encoding anatomical setpoints used for dynamic tissue and organ homeostasis. We hypothesize that this is specifically driven by abrogation of the endogenous bioelectric signaling that normally harnesses individual cell behaviors toward the creation and upkeep of complex multicellular structures in vivo. Herein, we first describe bioelectricity as the physiological software of life, and then identify and discuss the links between bioelectricity and life extension strategies and age-related diseases. We develop a bridge between aging and regeneration via bioelectric signaling that suggests a research program for healthful longevity via morphoceuticals. Finally, we discuss the broader implications of the homologies between development, aging, cancer and regeneration and how morphoceuticals can be developed for aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léo Pio-Lopez
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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2
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Rolland L, Jopling C. The multifaceted nature of endogenous cardiac regeneration. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1138485. [PMID: 36998973 PMCID: PMC10043193 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1138485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the first evidence of cardiac regeneration was observed, almost 50 years ago, more studies have highlighted the endogenous regenerative abilities of several models following cardiac injury. In particular, analysis of cardiac regeneration in zebrafish and neonatal mice has uncovered numerous mechanisms involved in the regenerative process. It is now apparent that cardiac regeneration is not simply achieved by inducing cardiomyocytes to proliferate but requires a multifaceted response involving numerous different cell types, signaling pathways and mechanisms which must all work in harmony in order for regeneration to occur. In this review we will endeavor to highlight a variety of processes that have been identifed as being essential for cardiac regeneration.
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3
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Ion Channels in Gliomas-From Molecular Basis to Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032530. [PMID: 36768856 PMCID: PMC9916861 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Ion channels provide the basis for the nervous system's intrinsic electrical activity. Neuronal excitability is a characteristic property of neurons and is critical for all functions of the nervous system. Glia cells fulfill essential supportive roles, but unlike neurons, they also retain the ability to divide. This can lead to uncontrolled growth and the formation of gliomas. Ion channels are involved in the unique biology of gliomas pertaining to peritumoral pathology and seizures, diffuse invasion, and treatment resistance. The emerging picture shows ion channels in the brain at the crossroads of neurophysiology and fundamental pathophysiological processes of specific cancer behaviors as reflected by uncontrolled proliferation, infiltration, resistance to apoptosis, metabolism, and angiogenesis. Ion channels are highly druggable, making them an enticing therapeutic target. Targeting ion channels in difficult-to-treat brain tumors such as gliomas requires an understanding of their extremely heterogenous tumor microenvironment and highly diverse molecular profiles, both representing major causes of recurrence and treatment resistance. In this review, we survey the current knowledge on ion channels with oncogenic behavior within the heterogeneous group of gliomas, review ion channel gene expression as genomic biomarkers for glioma prognosis and provide an update on therapeutic perspectives for repurposed and novel ion channel inhibitors and electrotherapy.
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4
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Šafaříková E, Ehlich J, Stříteský S, Vala M, Weiter M, Pacherník J, Kubala L, Víteček J. Conductive Polymer PEDOT:PSS-Based Platform for Embryonic Stem-Cell Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031107. [PMID: 35163031 PMCID: PMC8835127 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Organic semiconductors are constantly gaining interest in regenerative medicine. Their tunable physico-chemical properties, including electrical conductivity, are very promising for the control of stem-cell differentiation. However, their use for combined material-based and electrical stimulation remains largely underexplored. Therefore, we carried out a study on whether a platform based on the conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) can be beneficial to the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). The platform was prepared using the layout of a standard 24-well cell-culture plate. Polyethylene naphthalate foil served as the substrate for the preparation of interdigitated gold electrodes by physical vapor deposition. The PEDOT:PSS pattern was fabricated by precise screen printing over the gold electrodes. The PEDOT:PSS platform was able to produce higher electrical current with the pulsed-direct-current (DC) electrostimulation mode (1 Hz, 200 mV/mm, 100 ms pulse duration) compared to plain gold electrodes. There was a dominant capacitive component. In proof-of-concept experiments, mESCs were able to respond to such electrostimulation by membrane depolarization and elevation of cytosolic calcium. Further, the PEDOT:PSS platform was able to upregulate cardiomyogenesis and potentially inhibit early neurogenesis per se with minor contribution of electrostimulation. Hence, the present work highlights the large potential of PEDOT:PSS in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Šafaříková
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (E.Š.); (L.K.)
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Jiří Ehlich
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.E.); (S.S.); (M.V.); (M.W.)
| | - Stanislav Stříteský
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.E.); (S.S.); (M.V.); (M.W.)
| | - Martin Vala
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.E.); (S.S.); (M.V.); (M.W.)
| | - Martin Weiter
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.E.); (S.S.); (M.V.); (M.W.)
| | - Jiří Pacherník
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Lukáš Kubala
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (E.Š.); (L.K.)
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic;
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Pekařská 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Víteček
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (E.Š.); (L.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +420-541-517104; Fax: +420-541-517104
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5
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Kwon JK, Choi DJ, Yang H, Ko DW, Jou I, Park SM, Joe EH. Kir4.1 is coexpressed with stemness markers in activated astrocytes in the injured brain and a Kir4.1 inhibitor BaCl 2 negatively regulates neurosphere formation in culture. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 25:565-574. [PMID: 34697267 PMCID: PMC8552822 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2021.25.6.565] [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] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are activated in response to brain damage. Here, we found that expression of Kir4.1, a major potassium channel in astrocytes, is increased in activated astrocytes in the injured brain together with upregulation of the neural stem cell markers, Sox2 and Nestin. Expression of Kir4.1 was also increased together with that of Nestin and Sox2 in neurospheres formed from dissociated P7 mouse brains. Using the Kir4.1 blocker BaCl2 to determine whether Kir4.1 is involved in acquisition of stemness, we found that inhibition of Kir4.1 activity caused a concentration-dependent increase in sphere size and Sox2 levels, but had little effect on Nestin levels. Moreover, induction of differentiation of cultured neural stem cells by withdrawing epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor from the culture medium caused a sharp initial increase in Kir4.1 expression followed by a decrease, whereas Sox2 and Nestin levels continuously decreased. Inhibition of Kir4.1 had no effect on expression levels of Sox2 or Nestin, or the astrocyte and neuron markers glial fibrillary acidic protein and β-tubulin III, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that Kir4.1 may control gain of stemness but not differentiation of stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Kyung Kwon
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea
| | - Dong-Joo Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Chronic Inflammatory Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea
| | - Haijie Yang
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Center for Convergence Research of Neurological Disorders, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea
| | - Dong Wan Ko
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea
| | - Ilo Jou
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Chronic Inflammatory Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea
| | - Sang Myun Park
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Chronic Inflammatory Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea
| | - Eun-Hye Joe
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Chronic Inflammatory Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Center for Convergence Research of Neurological Disorders, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea.,Department of Brain Science, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Korea
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6
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Cui X, Li X, He Y, Yu J, Dong N, Zhao RC. Slight up-regulation of Kir2.1 channel promotes endothelial progenitor cells to transdifferentiate into a pericyte phenotype by Akt/mTOR/Snail pathway. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:10088-10100. [PMID: 34592781 PMCID: PMC8572793 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
It was shown that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have bidirectional differentiation potential and thus perform different biological functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of slight up‐regulation of the Kir2.1 channel on EPC transdifferentiation and the potential mechanism on cell function and transformed cell type. First, we found that the slight up‐regulation of Kir2.1 expression promoted the expression of the stem cell stemness factors ZFX and NS and inhibited the expression of senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase. Further studies showed the slightly increased expression of Kir2.1 could also improve the expression of pericyte molecular markers NG2, PDGFRβ and Desmin. Moreover, adenovirus‐mediated Kir2.1 overexpression had an enhanced contractile response to norepinephrine of EPCs. These results suggest that the up‐regulated expression of the Kir2.1 channel promotes EPC transdifferentiation into a pericyte phenotype. Furthermore, the mechanism of EPC transdifferentiation to mesenchymal cells (pericytes) was found to be closely related to the channel functional activity of Kir2.1 and revealed that this channel could promote EPC EndoMT by activating the Akt/mTOR/Snail signalling pathway. Overall, this study suggested that in the early stage of inflammatory response, regulating the Kir2.1 channel expression affects the biological function of EPCs, thereby determining the maturation and stability of neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Cui
- Department of Basic Medicine, Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Xiaoxia Li
- Department of Basic Medicine, Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanting He
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Jie Yu
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Naijun Dong
- Department of Basic Medicine, Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Robert Chunhua Zhao
- Department of Basic Medicine, Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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7
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Grodstein J, Levin M. Stability and robustness properties of bioelectric networks: A computational approach. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2021; 2:031305. [PMID: 38505634 PMCID: PMC10903393 DOI: 10.1063/5.0062442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Morphogenesis during development and regeneration requires cells to communicate and cooperate toward the construction of complex anatomical structures. One important set of mechanisms for coordinating growth and form occurs via developmental bioelectricity-the dynamics of cellular networks driving changes of resting membrane potential which interface with transcriptional and biomechanical downstream cascades. While many molecular details have been elucidated about the instructive processes mediated by ion channel-dependent signaling outside of the nervous system, future advances in regenerative medicine and bioengineering require the understanding of tissue, organ, or whole body-level properties. A key aspect of bioelectric networks is their robustness, which can drive correct, invariant patterning cues despite changing cell number and anatomical configuration of the underlying tissue network. Here, we computationally analyze the minimal models of bioelectric networks and use the example of the regenerating planarian flatworm, to reveal important system-level aspects of bioelectrically derived patterns. These analyses promote an understanding of the robustness of circuits controlling regeneration and suggest design properties that can be exploited for synthetic bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Grodstein
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
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8
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Erndt-Marino J, Yeisley DJ, Chen H, Levin M, Kaplan DL, Hahn MS. Interferon-Gamma Stimulated Murine Macrophages In Vitro: Impact of Ionic Composition and Osmolarity and Therapeutic Implications. Bioelectricity 2020; 2:48-58. [PMID: 32292895 PMCID: PMC7107958 DOI: 10.1089/bioe.2019.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Injections of osmolytes are promising immunomodulatory treatments for medical benefit, although the rationale and underlying mechanisms are often lacking. The goals of the present study were twofold: (1) to clarify the anti-inflammatory role of the potassium ion and (2) to begin to decouple the effects that ionic strength, ionic species, and osmolarity have on macrophage biology. Materials and Methods: RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were encapsulated in three-dimensional, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels and activated with interferon-gamma to yield M(IFN). Gene and protein profiles were made of M(IFN) exposed to different hyperosmolar treatments (80 mM potassium gluconate, 80 mM sodium gluconate, and 160 mM sucrose). Results: Relative to M(IFN), all hyperosmolar treatments suppressed expression of pro-inflammatory markers (nitric oxide synthase-2 [NOS-2], tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1]) and increased messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the pleiotropic and angiogenic markers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF), respectively. Ionic osmolytes also demonstrated a greater level of change compared to the nonionic treatments, with mRNA levels of IL-6 the most significantly affected. M(IFN) exposed to K+ exhibited the lowest levels of NOS-2 and MCP-1, and this ion limited IL-6 release induced by osmolarity. Conclusion: Cumulatively, these data suggest that osmolyte composition, ionic strength, and osmolarity are all parameters that can influence therapeutic outcomes. Future work is necessary to further decouple and mechanistically understand the influence that these biophysical parameters have on cell biology, including their impact on other macrophage functions, intracellular osmolyte composition, and cellular and organellular membrane potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Erndt-Marino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel J. Yeisley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
| | - Hongyu Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
| | - Michael Levin
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Mariah S. Hahn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
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9
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L-type voltage-gated Ca 2+ channel Ca V1.2 regulates chondrogenesis during limb development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:21592-21601. [PMID: 31591237 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908981116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
All cells, including nonexcitable cells, maintain a discrete transmembrane potential (V mem), and have the capacity to modulate V mem and respond to their own and neighbors' changes in V mem Spatiotemporal variations have been described in developing embryonic tissues and in some cases have been implicated in influencing developmental processes. Yet, how such changes in V mem are converted into intracellular inputs that in turn regulate developmental gene expression and coordinate patterned tissue formation, has remained elusive. Here we document that the V mem of limb mesenchyme switches from a hyperpolarized to depolarized state during early chondrocyte differentiation. This change in V mem increases intracellular Ca2+ signaling through Ca2+ influx, via CaV1.2, 1 of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs). We find that CaV1.2 activity is essential for chondrogenesis in the developing limbs. Pharmacological inhibition by an L-type VGCC specific blocker, or limb-specific deletion of CaV1.2, down-regulates expression of genes essential for chondrocyte differentiation, including Sox9, Col2a1, and Agc1, and thus disturbs proper cartilage formation. The Ca2+-dependent transcription factor NFATc1, which is a known major transducer of intracellular Ca2+ signaling, partly rescues Sox9 expression. These data reveal instructive roles of CaV1.2 in limb development, and more generally expand our understanding of how modulation of membrane potential is used as a mechanism of developmental regulation.
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10
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Sun YH, Kao HKJ, Chang CW, Merleev A, Overton JL, Pretto D, Yechikov S, Maverakis E, Chiamvimonvat N, Chan JW, Lieu DK. Human induced pluripotent stem cell line with genetically encoded fluorescent voltage indicator generated via CRISPR for action potential assessment post-cardiogenesis. Stem Cells 2019; 38:90-101. [PMID: 31566285 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Genetically encoded fluorescent voltage indicators, such as ArcLight, have been used to report action potentials (APs) in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). However, the ArcLight expression, in all cases, relied on a high number of lentiviral vector-mediated random genome integrations (8-12 copy/cell), raising concerns such as gene disruption and alteration of global and local gene expression, as well as loss or silencing of reporter genes after differentiation. Here, we report the use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 nuclease technique to develop a hiPSC line stably expressing ArcLight from the AAVS1 safe harbor locus. The hiPSC line retained proliferative ability with a growth rate similar to its parental strain. Optical recording with conventional epifluorescence microscopy allowed the detection of APs as early as 21 days postdifferentiation, and could be repeatedly monitored for at least 5 months. Moreover, quantification and analysis of the APs of ArcLight-CMs identified two distinctive subtypes: a group with high frequency of spontaneous APs of small amplitudes that were pacemaker-like CMs and a group with low frequency of automaticity and large amplitudes that resembled the working CMs. Compared with FluoVolt voltage-sensitive dye, although dimmer, the ArcLight reporter exhibited better optical performance in terms of phototoxicity and photostability with comparable sensitivities and signal-to-noise ratios. The hiPSC line with targeted ArcLight engineering design represents a useful tool for studying cardiac development or hiPSC-derived cardiac disease models and drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Hui Sun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.,Institute for Regenerative Cures and Stem Cell Program, University of California Davis Health Systems, Sacramento, California
| | - Hillary K J Kao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.,Institute for Regenerative Cures and Stem Cell Program, University of California Davis Health Systems, Sacramento, California
| | - Che-Wei Chang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Alexander Merleev
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - James L Overton
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.,Institute for Regenerative Cures and Stem Cell Program, University of California Davis Health Systems, Sacramento, California.,Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program, California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, California
| | - Dalyir Pretto
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.,Institute for Regenerative Cures and Stem Cell Program, University of California Davis Health Systems, Sacramento, California
| | - Sergey Yechikov
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.,Institute for Regenerative Cures and Stem Cell Program, University of California Davis Health Systems, Sacramento, California
| | - Emanual Maverakis
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Nipavan Chiamvimonvat
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Northern California Health Care System, Mather, California
| | - James W Chan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Deborah K Lieu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.,Institute for Regenerative Cures and Stem Cell Program, University of California Davis Health Systems, Sacramento, California
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11
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Erndt-Marino J, Trinkle E, Hahn MS. Hyperosmolar Potassium (K +) Treatment Suppresses Osteoarthritic Chondrocyte Catabolic and Inflammatory Protein Production in a 3-Dimensional In Vitro Model. Cartilage 2019; 10:186-195. [PMID: 28992763 PMCID: PMC6425543 DOI: 10.1177/1947603517734028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The main goal of this study was to provide a proof-of-concept demonstrating that hyperosmolar K+ solutions can limit production of catabolic and inflammatory mediators in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes (OACs). METHODS A 3-dimensional in vitro model with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels was used. Catabolic and pro-inflammatory protein production from encapsulated OACs was assessed following culture for 1 or 7 days in the presence or absence of 80 mM K+ gluconate, 80 mM sodium (Na+) gluconate, or 160 mM sucrose, each added to culture media (final osmolarity ~490 mOsm). RESULTS Relative to untreated controls, OACs treated with hyperosmolar (80 mM Na+ gluconate or 160 mM sucrose) solutions produced lower levels of catabolic and inflammatory mediators in a marker- and time-dependent manner (i.e., MMP-9 after 1 day; MCP-1 after 7 days ( P ≤ 0.015)). In contrast, OAC treatment with 80 mM K+ gluconate reduced catabolic and inflammatory mediators to a greater extent (both the number of markers and degree of suppression) relative to untreated, Na+ gluconate, or sucrose controls (i.e., MMP-3, -9, -13, TIMP-1, MCP-1, and IL-8 after 1 day; MMP-1, -3, -9, -13, TIMP-1, MCP-1, and IL-8 after 7 days ( P ≤ 0.029). CONCLUSIONS Hyperosmolar K+ solutions are capable of attenuating protein production of catabolic and inflammatory OA markers, providing the proof-of-concept needed for further development of a K+-based intra-articular injection for OA treatment. Moreover, K+ performed significantly better than Na+- or sucrose-based solutions, supporting the application of K+ toward improving irrigation solutions for joint surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh Erndt-Marino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Erik Trinkle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Mariah S. Hahn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA,Mariah S. Hahn, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180,
USA.
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12
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Abstract
Modern stem cell research has mainly focused on protein expression and transcriptional networks. However, transmembrane voltage gradients generated by ion channels and transporters have demonstrated to be powerful regulators of cellular processes. These physiological cues exert influence on cell behaviors ranging from differentiation and proliferation to migration and polarity. Bioelectric signaling is a fundamental element of living systems and an untapped reservoir for new discoveries. Dissecting these mechanisms will allow for novel methods of controlling cell fate and open up new opportunities in biomedicine. This review focuses on the role of ion channels and the resting membrane potential in the proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle progenitor cells. In addition, findings relevant to this topic are presented and potential implications for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Fennelly
- Department of Neuroscience, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Shay Soker
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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13
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Bhavsar MB, Cato G, Hauschild A, Leppik L, Costa Oliveira KM, Eischen-Loges MJ, Barker JH. Membrane potential (V mem) measurements during mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6341. [PMID: 30775170 PMCID: PMC6369823 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Electrochemical signals play an important role in cell communication and behavior. Electrically charged ions transported across cell membranes maintain an electrochemical imbalance that gives rise to bioelectric signaling, called membrane potential or Vmem. Vmem plays a key role in numerous inter- and intracellular functions that regulate cell behaviors like proliferation, differentiation and migration, all playing a critical role in embryonic development, healing, and regeneration. Methods With the goal of analyzing the changes in Vmem during cell proliferation and differentiation, here we used direct current electrical stimulation (EStim) to promote cell proliferation and differentiation and simultaneously tracked the corresponding changes in Vmem in adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSC). Results We found that EStim caused increased AT-MSC proliferation that corresponded to Vmem depolarization and increased osteogenic differentiation that corresponded to Vmem hyperpolarization. Taken together, this shows that Vmem changes associated with EStim induced cell proliferation and differentiation can be accurately tracked during these important cell functions. Using this tool to monitor Vmem changes associated with these important cell behaviors we hope to learn more about how these electrochemical cues regulate cell function with the ultimate goal of developing new EStim based treatments capable of controlling healing and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mit Balvantray Bhavsar
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Gloria Cato
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Alexander Hauschild
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Liudmila Leppik
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Karla Mychellyne Costa Oliveira
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Maria José Eischen-Loges
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - John Howard Barker
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
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Wang X, Wang L, Wu Q, Bao F, Yang H, Qiu X, Chang J. Chitosan/Calcium Silicate Cardiac Patch Stimulates Cardiomyocyte Activity and Myocardial Performance after Infarction by Synergistic Effect of Bioactive Ions and Aligned Nanostructure. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:1449-1468. [PMID: 30543278 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b17754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac tissue engineering (CTE) remains a great challenge to construct a cell-inductive scaffold that has positive effects on cardiac cell behaviors and cardiac tissue repair. In this study, we for the first time demonstrated that Si ions evidently stimulated the expression of cardiac-specific genes and proliferation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) at concentration ranges of 0.13-10.78 ppm. Accordingly, the optimized concentrations of calcium silicate (CS) were incorporated into the controllable aligned chitosan electrospun nanofibers, constructing the composite cardiac patch scaffolds. These scaffolds showed synergistic effect of bioactive chemical and structural signals on both cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells with aligned cell morphology and enhanced viability and function characterized by upregulated expressions of cardiac and angiogenic specific markers, improved myofilament structure, and better Ca2+ transients of NRCMs as compared to the scaffolds free of CS component or with disordered structures. The in vivo studies further demonstrated that the NRCM-seeded aligned CS/chitosan cardiac patch evidently improved cardiac function via limiting the scar area and promoting angiogenesis in postmyocardial infarction rats. Conclusively, our study highlights the potential application of bioactive ions and nanostructured biomaterials in CTE, and the CS/chitosan composite cardiac patch may be a promising scaffold for repair of infarcted myocardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics , Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Shanghai 200050 , P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Beijing 100049 , P. R. China
| | - Leyu Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, School of Biomedical Engineering , Southern Medical University , Guangzhou 510515 , Guangdong , P. R. China
| | - Qiang Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment & Tumor, Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health , Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS , Shanghai 200031 , P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Beijing 100049 , P. R. China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration , Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Beijing 100101 , P. R. China
| | - Feng Bao
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics , Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Shanghai 200050 , P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Beijing 100049 , P. R. China
| | - Huangtian Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment & Tumor, Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health , Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS , Shanghai 200031 , P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Beijing 100049 , P. R. China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration , Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Beijing 100101 , P. R. China
| | - Xiaozhong Qiu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, School of Biomedical Engineering , Southern Medical University , Guangzhou 510515 , Guangdong , P. R. China
| | - Jiang Chang
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics , Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Shanghai 200050 , P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Beijing 100049 , P. R. China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration , Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Beijing 100101 , P. R. China
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15
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McLaughlin KA, Levin M. Bioelectric signaling in regeneration: Mechanisms of ionic controls of growth and form. Dev Biol 2018; 433:177-189. [PMID: 29291972 PMCID: PMC5753428 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The ability to control pattern formation is critical for the both the embryonic development of complex structures as well as for the regeneration/repair of damaged or missing tissues and organs. In addition to chemical gradients and gene regulatory networks, endogenous ion flows are key regulators of cell behavior. Not only do bioelectric cues provide information needed for the initial development of structures, they also enable the robust restoration of normal pattern after injury. In order to expand our basic understanding of morphogenetic processes responsible for the repair of complex anatomy, we need to identify the roles of endogenous voltage gradients, ion flows, and electric fields. In complement to the current focus on molecular genetics, decoding the information transduced by bioelectric cues enhances our knowledge of the dynamic control of growth and pattern formation. Recent advances in science and technology place us in an exciting time to elucidate the interplay between molecular-genetic inputs and important biophysical cues that direct the creation of tissues and organs. Moving forward, these new insights enable additional approaches to direct cell behavior and may result in profound advances in augmentation of regenerative capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A McLaughlin
- Allen Discovery Center, Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 Boston Ave., Suite 4700, Medford, MA 02155, United States.
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center, Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 Boston Ave., Suite 4700, Medford, MA 02155, United States
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16
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Sustained Depolarization of the Resting Membrane Potential Regulates Muscle Progenitor Cell Growth and Maintains Stem Cell Properties In Vitro. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2016; 12:634-644. [DOI: 10.1007/s12015-016-9687-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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17
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Over-expressed human TREK-1 inhibits CHO cell proliferation via inhibiting PKA and p38 MAPK pathways and subsequently inducing G1 arrest. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2016; 37:1190-8. [PMID: 27397543 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2016.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Recent studies have shown that the two-pore-domain potassium channel TREK-1 is involved in the proliferation of neural stem cells, astrocytes and human osteoblasts. In this study, we investigated how TREK-1 affected the proliferation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in vitro. METHODS A CHO cell line stably expressing hTREK-1 (CHO/hTREK-1 cells) was generated. TREK-1 channel currents in the cells were recorded using whole-cell voltage-clamp recording. The cell cycle distribution was assessed using flow cytometry analysis. The expression of major signaling proteins involved was detected with Western blotting. RESULTS CHO/hTREK-1 cells had a high level of TREK-1 expression, reached up to 320%±16% compared to the control cells. Application of arachidonic acid (10 μmol/L), chloroform (1 mmol/L) or etomidate (10 μmol/L) substantially increased TREK-1 channel currents in CHO/hTREK-1 cells. Overexpression of TREK-1 caused CHO cells arresting at the G1 phase, and significantly decreased the expression of cyclin D1. The TREK-1 inhibitor l-butylphthalide (1-100 μmol/L) dose-dependently attenuated TREK-1-induced G1 phase cell arrest. Moreover, overexpression of TREK-1 significantly decreased the phosphorylation of Akt (S473), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (S9) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB, S133), enhanced the phosphorylation of p38 (T180/Y182), but did not alter the phosphorylation and expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). CONCLUSION TREK-1 overexpression suppresses CHO cell proliferation by inhibiting the activity of PKA and p38/MAPK signaling pathways and subsequently inducing G1 phase cell arrest.
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18
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Lucia U, Ponzetto A, Deisboeck TS. Constructal approach to cell membranes transport: Amending the 'Norton-Simon' hypothesis for cancer treatment. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19451. [PMID: 26822208 PMCID: PMC4731791 DOI: 10.1038/srep19451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate biosystems, we propose a new thermodynamic concept that analyses ion, mass and energy flows across the cell membrane. This paradigm-shifting approach has a wide applicability to medically relevant topics including advancing cancer treatment. To support this claim, we revisit ‘Norton-Simon’ and evolving it from an already important anti-cancer hypothesis to a thermodynamic theorem in medicine. We confirm that an increase in proliferation and a reduction in apoptosis trigger a maximum of ATP consumption by the tumor cell. Moreover, we find that positive, membrane-crossing ions lead to a decrease in the energy used by the tumor, supporting the notion of their growth inhibitory effect while negative ions apparently increase the cancer’s consumption of energy hence reflecting a growth promoting impact. Our results not only represent a thermodynamic proof of the original Norton-Simon hypothesis but, more concretely, they also advance the clinically intriguing and experimentally testable, diagnostic hypothesis that observing an increase in negative ions inside a cell in vitro, and inside a diseased tissue in vivo, may indicate growth or recurrence of a tumor. We conclude with providing theoretical evidence that applying electromagnetic field therapy early on in the treatment cycle may maximize its anti-cancer efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Lucia
- Dipartimento Energia, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - Antonio Ponzetto
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Corso A.M. Dogliotti 14, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Thomas S Deisboeck
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.,ThinkMotu LLC, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA
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19
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Pezzulo G, Levin M. Re-membering the body: applications of computational neuroscience to the top-down control of regeneration of limbs and other complex organs. Integr Biol (Camb) 2015; 7:1487-517. [PMID: 26571046 DOI: 10.1039/c5ib00221d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A major goal of regenerative medicine and bioengineering is the regeneration of complex organs, such as limbs, and the capability to create artificial constructs (so-called biobots) with defined morphologies and robust self-repair capabilities. Developmental biology presents remarkable examples of systems that self-assemble and regenerate complex structures toward their correct shape despite significant perturbations. A fundamental challenge is to translate progress in molecular genetics into control of large-scale organismal anatomy, and the field is still searching for an appropriate theoretical paradigm for facilitating control of pattern homeostasis. However, computational neuroscience provides many examples in which cell networks - brains - store memories (e.g., of geometric configurations, rules, and patterns) and coordinate their activity towards proximal and distant goals. In this Perspective, we propose that programming large-scale morphogenesis requires exploiting the information processing by which cellular structures work toward specific shapes. In non-neural cells, as in the brain, bioelectric signaling implements information processing, decision-making, and memory in regulating pattern and its remodeling. Thus, approaches used in computational neuroscience to understand goal-seeking neural systems offer a toolbox of techniques to model and control regenerative pattern formation. Here, we review recent data on developmental bioelectricity as a regulator of patterning, and propose that target morphology could be encoded within tissues as a kind of memory, using the same molecular mechanisms and algorithms so successfully exploited by the brain. We highlight the next steps of an unconventional research program, which may allow top-down control of growth and form for numerous applications in regenerative medicine and synthetic bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Pezzulo
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
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20
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Hammerschlag R, Levin M, McCraty R, Bat N, Ives JA, Lutgendorf SK, Oschman JL. Biofield Physiology: A Framework for an Emerging Discipline. Glob Adv Health Med 2015; 4:35-41. [PMID: 26665040 PMCID: PMC4654783 DOI: 10.7453/gahmj.2015.015.suppl] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofield physiology is proposed as an overarching descriptor for the electromagnetic, biophotonic, and other types of spatially-distributed fields that living systems generate and respond to as integral aspects of cellular, tissue, and whole organism self-regulation and organization. Medical physiology, cell biology, and biophysics provide the framework within which evidence for biofields, their proposed receptors, and functions is presented. As such, biofields can be viewed as affecting physiological regulatory systems in a manner that complements the more familiar molecular-based mechanisms. Examples of clinically relevant biofields are the electrical and magnetic fields generated by arrays of heart cells and neurons that are detected, respectively, as electrocardiograms (ECGs) or magnetocardiograms (MCGs) and electroencephalograms (EEGs) or magnetoencephalograms (MEGs). At a basic physiology level, electromagnetic activity of neural assemblies appears to modulate neuronal synchronization and circadian rhythmicity. Numerous nonneural electrical fields have been detected and analyzed, including those arising from patterns of resting membrane potentials that guide development and regeneration, and from slowly-varying transepithelial direct current fields that initiate cellular responses to tissue damage. Another biofield phenomenon is the coherent, ultraweak photon emissions (UPE), detected from cell cultures and from the body surface. A physiological role for biophotons is consistent with observations that fluctuations in UPE correlate with cerebral blood flow, cerebral energy metabolism, and EEG activity. Biofield receptors are reviewed in 3 categories: molecular-level receptors, charge flux sites, and endogenously generated electric or electromagnetic fields. In summary, sufficient evidence has accrued to consider biofield physiology as a viable scientific discipline. Directions for future research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Hammerschlag
- The Institute for Integrative Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Consciousness and Healing Initiative, San Diego, California; Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, Portland (Dr Hammerschlag)
| | - Michael Levin
- Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (Dr Levin)
| | - Rollin McCraty
- Institute of HeartMath, Boulder Creek, California (Dr McCraty)
| | - Namuun Bat
- The Center for Brain, Mind, and Healing, Samueli Institute, Alexandria, Virginia (Ms Bat)
| | - John A Ives
- The Center for Brain, Mind, and Healing, Samueli Institute, Alexandria, Virginia (Dr Ives)
| | - Susan K Lutgendorf
- Departments of Psychology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, University of Iowa, Iowa City (Dr Lutgendorf)
| | - James L Oschman
- Nature's Own Research Association, Dover, New Hampshire (Dr Oschman)
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21
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Lobikin M, Lobo D, Blackiston DJ, Martyniuk CJ, Tkachenko E, Levin M. Serotonergic regulation of melanocyte conversion: A bioelectrically regulated network for stochastic all-or-none hyperpigmentation. Sci Signal 2015; 8:ra99. [PMID: 26443706 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aac6609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Experimentally induced depolarization of resting membrane potential in "instructor cells" in Xenopus laevis embryos causes hyperpigmentation in an all-or-none fashion in some tadpoles due to excess proliferation and migration of melanocytes. We showed that this stochastic process involved serotonin signaling, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), and the transcription factors cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), Sox10, and Slug. Transcriptional microarray analysis of embryos taken at stage 15 (early neurula) and stage 45 (free-swimming tadpole) revealed changes in the abundance of 45 and 517 transcripts, respectively, between control embryos and embryos exposed to the instructor cell-depolarizing agent ivermectin. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the human homologs of some of the differentially regulated genes were associated with cancer, consistent with the induced arborization and invasive behavior of converted melanocytes. We identified a physiological circuit that uses serotonergic signaling between instructor cells, melanotrope cells of the pituitary, and melanocytes to control the proliferation, cell shape, and migration properties of the pigment cell pool. To understand the stochasticity and properties of this multiscale signaling system, we applied a computational machine-learning method that iteratively explored network models to reverse-engineer a stochastic dynamic model that recapitulated the frequency of the all-or-none hyperpigmentation phenotype produced in response to various pharmacological and molecular genetic manipulations. This computational approach may provide insight into stochastic cellular decision-making that occurs during normal development and pathological conditions, such as cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lobikin
- Biology Department and Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Daniel Lobo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Douglas J Blackiston
- Biology Department and Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology and Department of Physiological Sciences, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Elizabeth Tkachenko
- Biology Department and Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Biology Department and Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
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Levin M. Molecular bioelectricity: how endogenous voltage potentials control cell behavior and instruct pattern regulation in vivo. Mol Biol Cell 2015; 25:3835-50. [PMID: 25425556 PMCID: PMC4244194 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e13-12-0708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to biochemical gradients and transcriptional networks, cell behavior is regulated by endogenous bioelectrical cues originating in the activity of ion channels and pumps, operating in a wide variety of cell types. Instructive signals mediated by changes in resting potential control proliferation, differentiation, cell shape, and apoptosis of stem, progenitor, and somatic cells. Of importance, however, cells are regulated not only by their own Vmem but also by the Vmem of their neighbors, forming networks via electrical synapses known as gap junctions. Spatiotemporal changes in Vmem distribution among nonneural somatic tissues regulate pattern formation and serve as signals that trigger limb regeneration, induce eye formation, set polarity of whole-body anatomical axes, and orchestrate craniofacial patterning. New tools for tracking and functionally altering Vmem gradients in vivo have identified novel roles for bioelectrical signaling and revealed the molecular pathways by which Vmem changes are transduced into cascades of downstream gene expression. Because channels and gap junctions are gated posttranslationally, bioelectrical networks have their own characteristic dynamics that do not reduce to molecular profiling of channel expression (although they couple functionally to transcriptional networks). The recent data provide an exciting opportunity to crack the bioelectric code, and learn to program cellular activity at the level of organs, not only cell types. The understanding of how patterning information is encoded in bioelectrical networks, which may require concepts from computational neuroscience, will have transformative implications for embryogenesis, regeneration, cancer, and synthetic bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Levin
- Biology Department, Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155-4243
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23
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Stoppel WL, Hu D, Domian IJ, Kaplan DL, Black LD. Anisotropic silk biomaterials containing cardiac extracellular matrix for cardiac tissue engineering. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 10:034105. [PMID: 25826196 DOI: 10.1088/1748-6041/10/3/034105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac malformations and disease are the leading causes of death in the United States in live-born infants and adults, respectively. In both of these cases, a decrease in the number of functional cardiomyocytes often results in improper growth of heart tissue, wound healing complications, and poor tissue repair. The field of cardiac tissue engineering seeks to address these concerns by developing cardiac patches created from a variety of biomaterial scaffolds to be used in surgical repair of the heart. These scaffolds should be fully degradable biomaterial systems with tunable properties such that the materials can be altered to meet the needs of both in vitro culture (e.g. disease modeling) and in vivo application (e.g. cardiac patch). Current platforms do not utilize both structural anisotropy and proper cell-matrix contacts to promote functional cardiac phenotypes and thus there is still a need for critically sized scaffolds that mimic both the structural and adhesive properties of native tissue. To address this need, we have developed a silk-based scaffold platform containing cardiac tissue-derived extracellular matrix (cECM). These silk-cECM composite scaffolds have tunable architectures, degradation rates, and mechanical properties. Subcutaneous implantation in rats demonstrated that addition of the cECM to aligned silk scaffold led to 99% endogenous cell infiltration and promoted vascularization of a critically sized scaffold (10 × 5 × 2.5 mm) after 4 weeks in vivo. In vitro, silk-cECM scaffolds maintained the HL-1 atrial cardiomyocytes and human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and promoted a more functional phenotype in both cell types. This class of hybrid silk-cECM anisotropic scaffolds offers new opportunities for developing more physiologically relevant tissues for cardiac repair and disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney L Stoppel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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