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Xu R, Li T, Li Z, Kong W, Wang T, Zhang X, Luo J, Li W, Jiao L. Knowledge fields and emerging trends about extracellular matrix in carotid artery disease from 1990 to 2021: analysis of the scientific literature. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:284. [PMID: 37587506 PMCID: PMC10428572 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01259-4] [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: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stroke is a heavy burden in modern society, and carotid artery disease is a major cause. The role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the development and progression of carotid artery disease has become a popular research focus. However, there is no published bibliometric analysis to derive the main publication features and trends in this scientific area. We aim to conduct a bibliometric analysis to reveal current status of ECM in carotid artery disease and to predict future hot spots. METHODS We searched and downloaded articles from the Web of Science Core Collection with "Carotid" and "Extracellular Matrix" as subject words from 1990 to 2021. The complete bibliographic data were analyzed by Bibliometrics, BICOMB, gCLUTO and CiteSpace softwares. RESULTS Since 1990, the United States has been the leader in the number of publications in the field of ECM in carotid artery disease, followed by China, Japan and Germany. Among institutions, Institut National De La Sante Et De La Recherche Medicale Inserm, University of Washington Seattle and Harvard University are in the top 3. "Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology" is the most popular journal and "Circulation" is the most cited journal. "Clowes AW", "Hedin Ulf" and "Nilsson Jan" are the top three authors of published articles. Finally, we investigated the frontiers through the strongest citation bursts, conducted keyword biclustering analysis, and discovered five clusters of research hotspots. Our research provided a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental data, knowledge organization, and dynamic evolution of research about ECM in carotid artery disease. CONCLUSIONS The field of ECM in carotid artery disease has received increasing attention. We summarized the history of the field and predicted five future hotspots through bibliometric analysis. This study provided a reference for researchers in this fields, and the methodology can be extended to other fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China International Neuroscience Institute (China-INI), Beijing, China
| | - Tianhua Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China International Neuroscience Institute (China-INI), Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqing Li
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Kong
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China International Neuroscience Institute (China-INI), Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China International Neuroscience Institute (China-INI), Beijing, China
| | - Jichang Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China International Neuroscience Institute (China-INI), Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Li
- Laboratory of Computational Biology and Machine Intelligence, National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liqun Jiao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
- China International Neuroscience Institute (China-INI), Beijing, China.
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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2
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Tanaka T, Abe Y, Cheng CJ, Tanaka R, Naito A, Asakura T. Development of Small-Diameter Elastin-Silk Fibroin Vascular Grafts. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:622220. [PMID: 33585421 PMCID: PMC7874157 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.622220] [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: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, increasing mortality from cardiovascular disease has become a problem in recent years. Vascular replacement has been used as a treatment for these diseases, but with blood vessels <6 mm in diameter, existing vascular grafts made of synthetic polymers can be occluded by thrombus formation or intimal hyperplasia. Therefore, the development of new artificial vascular grafts is desirable. In this study, we developed an elastin (EL)-silk fibroin (SF) double-raschel knitted vascular graft 1.5 mm in diameter. Water-soluble EL was prepared from insoluble EL by hydrolysis with oxalic acid. Compared to SF, EL was less likely to adhere to platelets, while vascular endothelial cells were three times more likely to adhere. SF artificial blood vessels densely packed with porous EL were fabricated, and these prevented the leakage of blood from the graft during implantation, while the migration of cells after implantation was promoted. Several kinds of 13C solid-state NMR spectra were observed with the EL-SF grafts in dry and hydrated states. It was noted that the EL molecules in the graft had very high mobility in the hydrated state. The EL-SF grafts were implanted into the abdominal aorta of rats to evaluate their patency and remodeling ability. No adverse reactions, such as bleeding at the time of implantation or disconnection of the sutured ends, were observed in the implanted grafts, and all were patent at the time of extraction. In addition, vascular endothelial cells were present on the graft's luminal surface 2 weeks after implantation. Therefore, we conclude that EL-SF artificial vascular grafts may be useful where small-diameter grafts are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Tanaka
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Abe
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Chieh-Jen Cheng
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Ryo Tanaka
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Akira Naito
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology, Koganei, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology, Koganei, Japan
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3
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Barallobre-Barreiro J, Loeys B, Mayr M, Rienks M, Verstraeten A, Kovacic JC. Extracellular Matrix in Vascular Disease, Part 2/4: JACC Focus Seminar. J Am Coll Cardiol 2020; 75:2189-2203. [PMID: 32354385 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Medium-sized and large arteries consist of 3 layers: the tunica intima, tunica media, and tunica adventitia. The tunica media accounts for the bulk of the vessel wall and is the chief determinant of mechanical compliance. It is primarily composed of circumferentially arranged layers of vascular smooth muscle cells that are separated by concentrically arranged elastic lamellae; a form of extracellular matrix (ECM). The tunica media is separated from the tunica intima and tunica adventitia, the innermost and outermost layers, respectively, by the internal and external elastic laminae. This second part of a 4-part JACC Focus Seminar discusses the contributions of the ECM to vascular homeostasis and pathology. Advances in genetics and proteomics approaches have fostered significant progress in our understanding of vascular ECM. This review highlights the important role of the ECM in vascular disease and the prospect of translating these discoveries into clinical disease biomarkers and potential future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bart Loeys
- Center for Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp/Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Manuel Mayr
- King's British Heart Foundation Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; The Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
| | - Marieke Rienks
- King's British Heart Foundation Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aline Verstraeten
- Center for Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp/Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jason C Kovacic
- The Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
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4
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Vindin H, Mithieux SM, Weiss AS. Elastin architecture. Matrix Biol 2019; 84:4-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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5
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Kozel BA, Mecham RP. Elastic fiber ultrastructure and assembly. Matrix Biol 2019; 84:31-40. [PMID: 31669522 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Studies over the years have described a filamentous structure to mature elastin that suggests a complicated packing arrangement of tropoelastin subunits. The currently accepted mechanism for tropoelastin assembly requires microfibrils to serve as a physical extracellular scaffold for alignment of tropoelastin monomers during and before crosslinking. However, recent evidence suggests that the initial stages of tropoelastin assembly occur within the cell or at unique assembly sites on the plasma membrane where tropoelastin self assembles to form elastin aggregates. Outside the cell, elastin aggregates transfer to growing elastic fibers in the extracellular matrix where tensional forces on microfibrils generated through cell movement help shape the growing fiber. Overall, these observations challenge the widely held idea that interaction between monomeric tropoelastin and microfibrils is a requirement for elastin assembly, and point to self-assembly of tropoelastin as a driving force in elastin maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A Kozel
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robert P Mecham
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8228, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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6
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Tarakanova A, Ozsvar J, Weiss A, Buehler M. Coarse-grained model of tropoelastin self-assembly into nascent fibrils. Mater Today Bio 2019; 3:100016. [PMID: 32159149 PMCID: PMC7061556 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2019.100016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin is the dominant building block of elastic fibers that impart structural integrity and elasticity to a range of important tissues, including the lungs, blood vessels, and skin. The elastic fiber assembly process begins with a coacervation stage where tropoelastin monomers reversibly self-assemble into coacervate aggregates that consist of multiple molecules. In this paper, an atomistically based coarse-grained model of tropoelastin assembly is developed. Using the previously determined atomistic structure of tropoelastin, the precursor molecule to elastic fibers, as the basis for coarse-graining, the atomistic model is mapped to a MARTINI-based coarse-grained framework to account for chemical details of protein-protein interactions, coupled to an elastic network model to stabilize the structure. We find that self-assembly of monomers generates up to ∼70 nm of dense aggregates that are distinct at different temperatures, displaying high temperature sensitivity. Resulting assembled structures exhibit a combination of fibrillar and globular substructures within the bulk aggregates. The results suggest that the coalescence of tropoelastin assemblies into higher order structures may be reinforced in the initial stages of coacervation by directed assembly, supporting the experimentally observed presence of heterogeneous cross-linking. Self-assembly of tropoelastin is driven by interactions of specific hydrophobic domains and the reordering of water molecules in the system. Domain pair orientation analysis throughout the self-assembly process at different temperatures suggests coacervation is a driving force to orient domains for heterogeneous downstream cross-linking. The model provides a framework to characterize macromolecular self-assembly for elastin, and the formulation could easily be adapted to similar assembly systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - J. Ozsvar
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - A.S. Weiss
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - M.J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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7
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Ozsvar J, Tarakanova A, Wang R, Buehler MJ, Weiss AS. Allysine modifications perturb tropoelastin structure and mobility on a local and global scale. Matrix Biol Plus 2019; 2:100002. [PMID: 33543005 PMCID: PMC7852328 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin provides elastic tissues with resilience through stretch and recoil cycles, and is primarily made of its extensively cross-linked monomer, tropoelastin. Here, we leverage the recently published full atomistic model of tropoelastin to assess how allysine modifications, which are essential to cross-linking, contribute to the dynamics and structural changes that occur in tropoelastin in the context of elastin assembly. We used replica exchange molecular dynamics to generate structural ensembles of allysine containing tropoelastin. We conducted principal component analysis on these ensembles and found that the molecule departs from the canonical structural ensemble. Furthermore, we showed that, while the canonical scissors-twist movement was retained, new movements emerged that deviated from those of the wild type protein, providing evidence for the involvement of a variety of molecular motions in elastin assembly. Additionally, we highlighted secondary structural changes and linked these perturbations to the longevity of specific salt bridges. We propose a model where allysines in tropoelastin contribute to hierarchical elastin assembly through global and local perturbations to molecular structure and dynamics. converting lysine to allysine by lysyl oxidases is needed to generate crosslinks between tropoelastin molecules in order to make elastin structural changes in the intact tropoelastin molecule ensue where modified tropoelastin molecules structurally depart from the canonical ensemble new molecular motions deviate from those of unmodified tropoelastin persistence times of specific salt bridges contribute to these perturbations allysines in tropoelastin contribute to hierarchical elastin assembly through global and local perturbations to molecular structure and dynamics
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Key Words
- 5ALK, tropoelastin containing 5 allysine residues
- ALK353, tropoelastin containing allysine at residue 353
- ALK353, tropoelastin containing allysine at residue 507
- ALL, allysine aldol
- ANM, anisotropic network model
- Assembly
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- Elastin
- LNL, lysinonorleucine
- MD, molecular dynamics
- Molecular dynamics
- NMA, normal mode analysis
- PCA, principal component analysis
- REMD, replica exchange molecular dynamics
- RMSD, root mean square deviation
- Replica exchange molecular dynamics
- SASA, solvent accessible surface area
- WT, wild type tropoelastin
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Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin Ozsvar
- Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Cell Therapy Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre, Adelaide, 5000, SA, Australia
| | - Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Richard Wang
- Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anthony S Weiss
- Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Cell Therapy Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre, Adelaide, 5000, SA, Australia.,Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, NSW, Australia
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8
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Freestanding hierarchical vascular structures engineered from ice. Biomaterials 2019; 192:334-345. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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9
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Tarakanova A, Yeo GC, Baldock C, Weiss AS, Buehler MJ. Tropoelastin is a Flexible Molecule that Retains its Canonical Shape. Macromol Biosci 2018; 19:e1800250. [DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201800250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology 02139 Cambridge MA USA
| | - Giselle C. Yeo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell‐Matrix Research Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine School of Biological Sciences Manchester Academic Health Science Centre The University of Manchester M13 9PL Manchester UK
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
- Bosch Institute The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology 02139 Cambridge MA USA
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10
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Mithieux SM, Aghaei-Ghareh-Bolagh B, Yan L, Kuppan KV, Wang Y, Garces-Suarez F, Li Z, Maitz PK, Carter EA, Limantoro C, Chrzanowski W, Cookson D, Riboldi-Tunnicliffe A, Baldock C, Ohgo K, Kumashiro KK, Edwards G, Weiss AS. Tropoelastin Implants That Accelerate Wound Repair. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7:e1701206. [PMID: 29450975 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201701206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A novel, pure, synthetic material is presented that promotes the repair of full-thickness skin wounds. The active component is tropoelastin and leverages its ability to promote new blood vessel formation and its cell recruiting properties to accelerate wound repair. Key to the technology is the use of a novel heat-based, stabilized form of human tropoelastin which allows for tunable resorption. This implantable material contributes a tailored insert that can be shaped to the wound bed, where it hydrates to form a conformable protein hydrogel. Significant benefits in the extent of wound healing, dermal repair, and regeneration of mature epithelium in healthy pigs are demonstrated. The implant is compatible with initial co-treatment with full- and split-thickness skin grafts. The implant's superiority to sterile bandaging, commercial hydrogel and dermal regeneration template products is shown. On this basis, a new concept for a prefabricated tissue repair material for point-of-care treatment of open wounds is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. Mithieux
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Behnaz Aghaei-Ghareh-Bolagh
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Leping Yan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Kekini V. Kuppan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
- Heart Research Institute; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Yiwei Wang
- Burns Research Group; ANZAC Research Institute; University of Sydney; Concord NSW 2139 Australia
| | - Francia Garces-Suarez
- Burns Research Group; ANZAC Research Institute; University of Sydney; Concord NSW 2139 Australia
| | - Zhe Li
- Burns Research Group; ANZAC Research Institute; University of Sydney; Concord NSW 2139 Australia
| | - Peter K. Maitz
- Burns Research Group; ANZAC Research Institute; University of Sydney; Concord NSW 2139 Australia
| | - Elizabeth A. Carter
- Vibrational Spectroscopy Core Facility and Faculty of Chemistry; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Christina Limantoro
- Faculty of Pharmacy; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
- Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Wojciech Chrzanowski
- Faculty of Pharmacy; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
- Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
| | | | | | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research; Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine; School of Biological Sciences; Manchester Academic Health Centre; University of Manchester; Manchester M13 9PT UK
| | - Kosuke Ohgo
- Department of Chemistry; University of Hawaii; Honolulu HI 96822 USA
| | | | - Glenn Edwards
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences; Charles Sturt University; NSW 2678 Australia
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
- Bosch Institute; University of Sydney; NSW 2006 Australia
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11
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Yeo J, Jung G, Tarakanova A, Martín-Martínez FJ, Qin Z, Cheng Y, Zhang YW, Buehler MJ. Multiscale modeling of keratin, collagen, elastin and related human diseases: Perspectives from atomistic to coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. EXTREME MECHANICS LETTERS 2018; 20:112-124. [PMID: 33344740 PMCID: PMC7745951 DOI: 10.1016/j.eml.2018.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Scleroproteins are an important category of proteins within the human body that adopt filamentous, elongated conformations in contrast with typical globular proteins. These include keratin, collagen, and elastin, which often serve a common mechanical function in structural support of cells and tissues. Genetic mutations alter these proteins, disrupting their functions and causing diseases. Computational characterization of these mutations has proven to be extremely valuable in identifying the intricate structure-function relationships of scleroproteins from the molecular scale up, especially if combined with multiscale experimental analysis and the synthesis of model proteins to test specific structure-function relationships. In this work, we review numerous critical diseases that are related to keratin, collagen, and elastin, and through several case studies, we propose ways of extensively utilizing multiscale modeling, from atomistic to coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, to uncover the molecular origins for some of these diseases and to aid in the development of novel cures and therapies. As case studies, we examine the effects of the genetic disease Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis (EHK) on the structure and aggregation of keratins 1 and 10; we propose models to understand the diseases of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) and Alport syndrome (AS) that affect the mechanical and aggregation properties of collagen; and we develop atomistic molecular dynamics and elastic network models of elastin to determine the role of mutations in diseases such as Cutis Laxa and Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis on elastin's structure and molecular conformational motions and implications for assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Yeo
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138632
| | - GangSeob Jung
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Francisco J. Martín-Martínez
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Zhao Qin
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Yuan Cheng
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138632
| | - Yong-Wei Zhang
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138632
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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12
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Pesqueira T, Costa-Almeida R, Mithieux SM, Babo PS, Franco AR, Mendes BB, Domingues RMA, Freitas P, Reis RL, Gomes ME, Weiss AS. Engineering magnetically responsive tropoelastin spongy-like hydrogels for soft tissue regeneration. J Mater Chem B 2018; 6:1066-1075. [DOI: 10.1039/c7tb02035j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic biomaterials are a key focus in medical research.
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13
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Yeo G, Baldock C, Wise SG, Weiss AS. Targeted Modulation of Tropoelastin Structure and Assembly. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2017; 3:2832-2844. [PMID: 29152561 PMCID: PMC5686564 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tropoelastin, as the monomer unit of elastin, assembles into elastic fibers that impart strength and resilience to elastic tissues. Tropoelastin is also widely used to manufacture versatile materials with specific mechanical and biological properties. The assembly of tropoelastin into elastic fibers or biomaterials is crucially influenced by key submolecular regions and specific residues within these domains. In this work, we identify the functional contributions of two rarely occurring negatively charged residues, glutamate 345 in domain 19 and glutamate 414 in domain 21, in jointly maintaining the native conformation of the tropoelastin hinge, bridge and foot regions. Alanine substitution of E345 and/or E414 variably alters the positioning and interactive accessibility of these regions, as illustrated by nanostructural studies and detected by antibody and cell probes. These structural changes are associated with a lower propensity for monomer coacervation, cross-linking into morphologically and functionally atypical hydrogels, and markedly impaired and abnormal elastic fiber formation. Our work indicates the crucial significance of both E345 and E414 residues in modulating specific local structure and higher-order assembly of human tropoelastin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle
C. Yeo
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and
Environmental Sciences, School of Physics, Sydney Medical School, and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome
Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine
and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Steven G. Wise
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and
Environmental Sciences, School of Physics, Sydney Medical School, and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- The
Heart Research Institute, 7 Eliza Street, Newtown, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and
Environmental Sciences, School of Physics, Sydney Medical School, and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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14
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Lee P, Yeo GC, Weiss AS. A cell adhesive peptide from tropoelastin promotes sequential cell attachment and spreading via distinct receptors. FEBS J 2017; 284:2216-2230. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.14114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pearl Lee
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Australia
- Bosch Institute University of Sydney Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Australia
| | - Giselle C. Yeo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Australia
- Applied and Plasma Physics School of Physics University of Sydney Australia
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Australia
- Bosch Institute University of Sydney Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Australia
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15
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Calabrese R, Raia N, Huang W, Ghezzi CE, Simon M, Staii C, Weiss AS, Kaplan DL. Silk-ionomer and silk-tropoelastin hydrogels as charged three-dimensional culture platforms for the regulation of hMSC response. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2016; 11:2549-2564. [DOI: 10.1002/term.2152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Calabrese
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Tufts University Science and Technology Center; Medford MA USA
| | - Nicole Raia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Tufts University Science and Technology Center; Medford MA USA
| | - Wenwen Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Tufts University Science and Technology Center; Medford MA USA
| | - Chiara E. Ghezzi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Tufts University Science and Technology Center; Medford MA USA
| | - Marc Simon
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Center for Nanoscopic Physics; Tufts University Science and Technology Center; Medford MA USA
| | - Cristian Staii
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Center for Nanoscopic Physics; Tufts University Science and Technology Center; Medford MA USA
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Molecular Bioscience; University of Sydney; NSW Australia
- Charles Perkins Center; University of Sydney; NSW Australia
- Bosch Institute; University of Sydney; NSW Australia
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Tufts University Science and Technology Center; Medford MA USA
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16
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Muiznieks LD, Miao M, Sitarz EE, Keeley FW. Contribution of domain 30 of tropoelastin to elastic fiber formation and material elasticity. Biopolymers 2016; 105:267-75. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D. Muiznieks
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Ave. Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Ming Miao
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Ave. Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Eva E. Sitarz
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Ave. Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Fred W. Keeley
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Ave. Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, 1 King's College Circle; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S1A8 Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 1 King's College Circle; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S1A8 Canada
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17
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Yeo GC, Tarakanova A, Baldock C, Wise SG, Buehler MJ, Weiss AS. Subtle balance of tropoelastin molecular shape and flexibility regulates dynamics and hierarchical assembly. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2016; 2:e1501145. [PMID: 26998516 PMCID: PMC4795673 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1501145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The assembly of the tropoelastin monomer into elastin is vital for conferring elasticity on blood vessels, skin, and lungs. Tropoelastin has dual needs for flexibility and structure in self-assembly. We explore the structure-dynamics-function interplay, consider the duality of molecular order and disorder, and identify equally significant functional contributions by local and global structures. To study these organizational stratifications, we perturb a key hinge region by expressing an exon that is universally spliced out in human tropoelastins. We find a herniated nanostructure with a displaced C terminus and explain by molecular modeling that flexible helices are replaced with substantial β sheets. We see atypical higher-order cross-linking and inefficient assembly into discontinuous, thick elastic fibers. We explain this dysfunction by correlating local and global structural effects with changes in the molecule's assembly dynamics. This work has general implications for our understanding of elastomeric proteins, which balance disordered regions with defined structural modules at multiple scales for functional assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle C. Yeo
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Steven G. Wise
- The Heart Research Institute, Newtown, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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18
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Abstract
Elastin is the dominant mammalian elastic protein found in soft tissue. Elastin-based biomaterials have the potential to repair elastic tissues by improving local elasticity and providing appropriate cellular interactions and signaling. Studies that combine these biomaterials with mesenchymal stem cells have demonstrated their capacity to also regenerate non-elastic tissue. Mesenchymal stem cell differentiation can be controlled by their immediate environment, and their sensitivity to elasticity makes them an ideal candidate for combining with elastin-based biomaterials. With the growing accessibility of the elastin precursor, tropoelastin, and elastin-derived materials, the amount of research interest in combining these two fields has increased and, subsequently, is leading to the realization of a potentially new strategy for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin Ozsvar
- School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Suzanne M Mithieux
- School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Richard Wang
- School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Anthony S Weiss
- School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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19
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Yeo GC, Baldock C, Wise SG, Weiss AS. A negatively charged residue stabilizes the tropoelastin N-terminal region for elastic fiber assembly. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:34815-26. [PMID: 25342751 PMCID: PMC4263881 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.606772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropoelastin is an extracellular matrix protein that assembles into elastic fibers that provide elasticity and strength to vertebrate tissues. Although the contributions of specific tropoelastin regions during each stage of elastogenesis are still not fully understood, studies predominantly recognize the central hinge/bridge and C-terminal foot as the major participants in tropoelastin assembly, with a number of interactions mediated by the abundant positively charged residues within these regions. However, much less is known about the importance of the rarely occurring negatively charged residues and the N-terminal coil region in tropoelastin assembly. The sole negatively charged residue in the first half of human tropoelastin is aspartate 72. In contrast, the same region comprises 17 positively charged residues. We mutated this aspartate residue to alanine and assessed the elastogenic capacity of this novel construct. We found that D72A tropoelastin has a decreased propensity for initial self-association, and it cross-links aberrantly into denser, less porous hydrogels with reduced swelling properties. Although the mutant can bind cells normally, it does not form elastic fibers with human dermal fibroblasts and forms fewer atypical fibers with human retinal pigmented epithelial cells. This impaired functionality is associated with conformational changes in the N-terminal region. Our results strongly point to the role of the Asp-72 site in stabilizing the N-terminal segment of human tropoelastin and the importance of this region in facilitating elastic fiber assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle C Yeo
- From the School of Molecular Bioscience and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Clair Baldock
- the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Steven G Wise
- the Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales 2042, Australia, and the Sydney Medical School and
| | - Anthony S Weiss
- From the School of Molecular Bioscience and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia, Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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20
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21
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Wise SG, Yeo GC, Hiob MA, Rnjak-Kovacina J, Kaplan DL, Ng MKC, Weiss AS. Tropoelastin: a versatile, bioactive assembly module. Acta Biomater 2014; 10:1532-41. [PMID: 23938199 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2013] [Revised: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Elastin provides structural integrity, biological cues and persistent elasticity to a range of important tissues, including the vasculature and lungs. Its critical importance to normal physiology makes it a desirable component of biomaterials that seek to repair or replace these tissues. The recent availability of large quantities of the highly purified elastin monomer, tropoelastin, has allowed for a thorough characterization of the mechanical and biological mechanisms underpinning the benefits of mature elastin. While tropoelastin is a flexible molecule, a combination of optical and structural analyses has defined key regions of the molecule that directly contribute to the elastomeric properties and control the cell interactions of the protein. Insights into the structure and behavior of tropoelastin have translated into increasingly sophisticated elastin-like biomaterials, evolving from classically manufactured hydrogels and fibers to new forms, stabilized in the absence of incorporated cross-linkers. Tropoelastin is also compatible with synthetic and natural co-polymers, expanding the applications of its potential use beyond traditional elastin-rich tissues and facilitating finer control of biomaterial properties and the design of next-generation tailored bioactive materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven G Wise
- The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Giselle C Yeo
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Matti A Hiob
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
| | - Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Martin K C Ng
- The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Anthony S Weiss
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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22
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Melnyk A, Wolska L, Namieśnik J. Coacervative extraction as a green technique for sample preparation for the analysis of organic compounds. J Chromatogr A 2014; 1339:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2014.02.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2013] [Revised: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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23
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Reichheld SE, Muiznieks LD, Stahl R, Simonetti K, Sharpe S, Keeley FW. Conformational transitions of the cross-linking domains of elastin during self-assembly. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:10057-68. [PMID: 24550393 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.533893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin is the intrinsically disordered polymeric protein imparting the exceptional properties of extension and elastic recoil to the extracellular matrix of most vertebrates. The monomeric precursor of elastin, tropoelastin, as well as polypeptides containing smaller subsets of the tropoelastin sequence, can self-assemble through a colloidal phase separation process called coacervation. Present understanding suggests that self-assembly is promoted by association of hydrophobic domains contained within the tropoelastin sequence, whereas polymerization is achieved by covalent joining of lysine side chains within distinct alanine-rich, α-helical cross-linking domains. In this study, model elastin polypeptides were used to determine the structure of cross-linking domains during the assembly process and the effect of sequence alterations in these domains on assembly and structure. CD temperature melts indicated that partial α-helical structure in cross-linking domains at lower temperatures was absent at physiological temperature. Solid-state NMR demonstrated that β-strand structure of the cross-linking domains dominated in the coacervate state, although α-helix was predominant after subsequent cross-linking of lysine side chains with genipin. Mutation of lysine residues to hydrophobic amino acids, tyrosine or alanine, leads to increased propensity for β-structure and the formation of amyloid-like fibrils, characterized by thioflavin-T binding and transmission electron microscopy. These findings indicate that cross-linking domains are structurally labile during assembly, adapting to changes in their environment and aggregated state. Furthermore, the sequence of cross-linking domains has a dramatic effect on self-assembly properties of elastin-like polypeptides, and the presence of lysine residues in these domains may serve to prevent inappropriate ordered aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean E Reichheld
- From the Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8 and
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24
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Hu X, Tang-Schomer MD, Huang W, Xia XX, Weiss AS, Kaplan DL. Charge-Tunable Silk-Tropoelastin Protein Alloys That Control Neuron Cell Responses. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2013; 23:3875-3884. [PMID: 25093018 PMCID: PMC4118775 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201202685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Tunable protein composites are important for constructing extracellular matrix mimics of human tissues with control of biochemical, structural, and mechanical properties. Molecular interaction mechanisms between silk fibroin protein and recombinant human tropoelastin, based on charge, are utilized to generate a new group of multifunctional protein alloys (mixtures of silk and tropoelastin) with different net charges. These new biomaterials are then utilized as a biomaterial platform to control neuron cell response. With a +38 net charge in water, tropoelastin molecules provide extraordinary elasticity and selective interactions with cell surface integrins. In contrast, negatively charged silk fibroin protein (net charge -36) provides remarkable toughness and stiffness with morphologic stability in material formats via autoclaving-induced beta-sheet crystal physical crosslinks. The combination of these properties in alloy format extends the versatility of both structural proteins, providing a new biomaterial platform. The alloys with weak positive charges (silk/tropoelastin mass ratio 75/25, net charge around +16) significantly improved the formation of neuronal networks and maintained cell viability of rat cortical neurons after 10 days in vitro. The data point to these protein alloys as an alternative to commonly used poly-L-lysine (PLL) coatings or other charged synthetic polymers, particularly with regard to the versatility of material formats (e.g., gels, sponges, films, fibers). The results also provide a practical example of physically designed protein materials with control of net charge to direct biological outcomes, in this case for neuronal tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Min D. Tang-Schomer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Wenwen Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Xiao-Xia Xia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006 (Australia)
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
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25
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Akash MSH, Rehman K, Chen S. IL-1Ra and its delivery strategies: inserting the association in perspective. Pharm Res 2013; 30:2951-66. [PMID: 23794040 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-013-1118-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory antagonist of interleukin-1 family of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The broad spectrum anti-inflammatory effects of IL-1Ra have been investigated against various auto-immune diseases such as diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis. Despite of its outstanding broad spectrum anti-inflammatory effects, IL-1Ra has short biological half-life (4-6 h) and to cope with this problem, up till now, many delivery strategies have been applied either to extend the half-life and/or prolong the steady-state sustained release of IL-1Ra from its target site. Here in our present paper, we have provided an overview of all approaches attempted to prolong the duration of therapeutic effects of IL-1Ra either by fusing IL-1Ra using fusion protein technology to extend the half-life and/or development of new dosage forms using various biodegradable polymers to prolong its steady-state sustained release at the site of administration. These approaches have been characterized by their intended impact on either in vitro release characteristics and/or pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of IL-1Ra. We have also compared these delivery strategies with each other on the basis of bioactivity of IL-1Ra after fusion with fusion protein partner and/or encapsulation with biodegradable polymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sajid Hamid Akash
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemical Pharmaceutics College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China,
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26
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Zhang P, Huang A, Morales-Ruiz M, Starcher BC, Huang Y, Sessa WC, Niklason LE, Giordano FJ. Engineered zinc-finger proteins can compensate genetic haploinsufficiency by transcriptional activation of the wild-type allele: application to Willams-Beuren syndrome and supravalvular aortic stenosis. Hum Gene Ther 2013; 23:1186-99. [PMID: 22891920 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) and supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) are genetic syndromes marked by the propensity to develop severe vascular stenoses. Vascular lesions in both syndromes are caused by haploinsufficiency of the elastin gene. We used these distinct genetic syndromes as models to evaluate the feasibility of using engineered zinc-finger protein transcription factors (ZFPs) to achieve compensatory expression of haploinsufficient genes by inducing augmented expression from the remaining wild-type allele. For complex genes with multiple splice variants, this approach could have distinct advantages over cDNA-based gene replacement strategies. Targeting the elastin gene, we show that transcriptional activation by engineered ZFPs can induce compensatory expression from the wild-type allele in the setting of classic WBS and SVAS genetic mutations, increase elastin expression in wild-type cells, induce expression of the major elastin splice variants, and recapitulate their natural stoichiometry. Further, we establish that transcriptional activation of the mutant allele in SVAS does not overcome nonsense-mediated decay, and thus ZFP-mediated transcriptional activation is not likely to induce production of a mutant protein, a crucial consideration. Finally, we show in bioengineered blood vessels that ZFP-mediated induction of elastin expression is capable of stimulating functional elastogenesis. Haploinsufficiency is a common mechanism of genetic disease. These findings have significant implications for WBS and SVAS, and establish that haploinsufficiency can be overcome by targeted transcriptional activation without inducing protein expression from the mutant allele.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhang
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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27
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In vitro cross-linking of elastin peptides and molecular characterization of the resultant biomaterials. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2013; 1830:2994-3004. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Revised: 12/22/2012] [Accepted: 01/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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28
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Cranford SW, de Boer J, van Blitterswijk C, Buehler MJ. Materiomics: an -omics approach to biomaterials research. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2013; 25:802-24. [PMID: 23297023 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201202553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2012] [Revised: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The past fifty years have seen a surge in the use of materials for clinical application, but in order to understand and exploit their full potential, the scientific complexity at both sides of the interface--the material on the one hand and the living organism on the other hand--needs to be considered. Technologies such as combinatorial chemistry, recombinant DNA as well as computational multi-scale methods can generate libraries with a very large number of material properties whereas on the other side, the body will respond to them depending on the biological context. Typically, biological systems are investigated using both holistic and reductionist approaches such as whole genome expression profiling, systems biology and high throughput genetic or compound screening, as already seen, for example, in pharmacology and genetics. The field of biomaterials research is only beginning to develop and adopt these approaches, an effort which we refer to as "materiomics". In this review, we describe the current status of the field, and its past and future impact on the biomedical sciences. We outline how materiomics sets the stage for a transformative change in the approach to biomaterials research to enable the design of tailored and functional materials for a variety of properties in fields as diverse as tissue engineering, disease diagnosis and de novo materials design, by combining powerful computational modelling and screening with advanced experimental techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven W Cranford
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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29
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Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW. Molecular assembly and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix: A fibrous protein perspective. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2012; 1832:866-75. [PMID: 23220448 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2012.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Revised: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix is an integral and dynamic component of all tissues. Macromolecular compositions and structural architectures of the matrix are tissue-specific and typically are strongly influenced by the magnitude and direction of biomechanical forces experienced as part of normal tissue function. Fibrous extracellular networks of collagen and elastin provide the dominant response to tissue mechanical forces. These matrix proteins enable tissues to withstand high tensile and repetitive stresses without plastic deformation or rupture. Here we provide an overview of the hierarchical molecular and supramolecular assembly of collagens and elastic fibers, and review their capacity for mechanical behavior in response to force. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fibrosis: Translation of basic research to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Muiznieks
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, The Hospital For Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Canada
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30
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Ohgo K, Niemczura WP, Seacat BC, Wise SG, Weiss AS, Kumashiro KK. Resolving nitrogen-15 and proton chemical shifts for mobile segments of elastin with two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:18201-9. [PMID: 22474297 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.285163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments are applied to uniformly (15)N-enriched synthetic elastin, a recombinant human tropoelastin that has been cross-linked to form an elastic hydrogel. Hydrated elastin is characterized by large segments that undergo "liquid-like" motions that limit the efficiency of cross-polarization. The refocused insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer experiment is used to target these extensive, mobile regions of this protein. Numerous peaks are detected in the backbone amide region of the protein, and their chemical shifts indicate the completely unstructured, "random coil" model for elastin is unlikely. Instead, more evidence is gathered that supports a characteristic ensemble of conformations in this rubber-like protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Ohgo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA
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31
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Yeo GC, Baldock C, Tuukkanen A, Roessle M, Dyksterhuis LB, Wise SG, Matthews J, Mithieux SM, Weiss AS. Tropoelastin bridge region positions the cell-interactive C terminus and contributes to elastic fiber assembly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:2878-83. [PMID: 22328151 PMCID: PMC3286909 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1111615108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The tropoelastin monomer undergoes stages of association by coacervation, deposition onto microfibrils, and cross-linking to form elastic fibers. Tropoelastin consists of an elastic N-terminal coil region and a cell-interactive C-terminal foot region linked together by a highly exposed bridge region. The bridge region is conveniently positioned to modulate elastic fiber assembly through association by coacervation and its proximity to dominant cross-linking domains. Tropoelastin constructs that either modify or remove the entire bridge and downstream regions were assessed for elastogenesis. These constructs focused on a single alanine substitution (R515A) and a truncation (M155n) at the highly conserved arginine 515 site that borders the bridge. Each form displayed less efficient coacervation, impaired hydrogel formation, and decreased dermal fibroblast attachment compared to wild-type tropoelastin. The R515A mutant protein additionally showed reduced elastic fiber formation upon addition to human retinal pigmented epithelium cells and dermal fibroblasts. The small-angle X-ray scattering nanostructure of the R515A mutant protein revealed greater conformational flexibility around the bridge and C-terminal regions. This increased flexibility of the R515A mutant suggests that the tropoelastin R515 residue stabilizes the structure of the bridge region, which is critical for elastic fiber assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle C Yeo
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Yeo GC, Keeley FW, Weiss AS. Coacervation of tropoelastin. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2011; 167:94-103. [PMID: 21081222 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2010.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2010] [Revised: 10/13/2010] [Accepted: 10/15/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The coacervation of tropoelastin represents the first major stage of elastic fiber assembly. The process has been modeled in vitro by numerous studies, initially with mixtures of solubilized elastin, and subsequently with synthetic elastin peptides that represent hydrophobic repeat units, isolated hydrophobic domains, segments of alternating hydrophobic and cross-linking domains, or the full-length monomer. Tropoelastin coacervation in vitro is characterized by two stages: an initial phase separation, which involves a reversible inverse temperature transition of monomer to n-mer; and maturation, which is defined by the irreversible coalescence of coacervates into large species with fibrillar structures. Coacervation is an intrinsic ability of tropoelastin. It is primarily influenced by the number, sequence, and contextual arrangement of hydrophobic domains, although hydrophilic sequences can also affect the behavior of the hydrophobic domains and thus affect coacervation. External conditions including ionic strength, pH, and temperature also directly influence the propensity of tropoelastin to self-associate. Coacervation is an endothermic, entropically-driven process driven by the cooperative interactions of hydrophobic domains following destabilization of the clathrate-like water shielding these regions. The formation of such assemblies is believed to follow a helical nucleation model of polymerization. Coacervation is closely associated with conformational transitions of the monomer, such as increased β-structures in hydrophobic domains and α-helices in cross-linking domains. Tropoelastin coacervation in vivo is thought to mainly involve the central hydrophobic domains. In addition, cell-surface glycosaminoglycans and microfibrillar proteins may regulate the process. Coacervation is essential for progression to downstream elastogenic stages, and impairment of the process can result in elastin haploinsufficiency disorders such as supravalvular aortic stenosis.
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Hu X, Park SH, Gil ES, Xia XX, Weiss AS, Kaplan DL. The influence of elasticity and surface roughness on myogenic and osteogenic-differentiation of cells on silk-elastin biomaterials. Biomaterials 2011; 32:8979-89. [PMID: 21872326 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The interactions of C2C12 myoblasts and human bone marrow stem cells (hMSCs) with silk-tropoelastin biomaterials, and the capacity of each to promote attachment, proliferation, and either myogenic- or osteogenic-differentiation were investigated. Temperature-controlled water vapor annealing was used to control beta-sheet crystal formation to generate insoluble silk-tropoelastin biomaterial matrices at defined ratios of the two proteins. These ratios controlled surface roughness and micro/nano-scale topological patterns, and elastic modulus, stiffness, yield stress, and tensile strength. A combination of low surface roughness and high stiffness in the silk-tropoelastin materials promoted proliferation and myogenic-differentiation of C2C12 cells. In contrast, high surface roughness with micro/nano-scale surface patterns was favored by hMSCs. Increasing the content of human tropoelastin in the silk-tropoelastin materials enhanced the proliferation and osteogenic-differentiation of hMSCs. We conclude that the silk-tropoelastin composition facilitates fine tuning of the growth and differentiation of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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McKenna KA, Gregory KW, Sarao RC, Maslen CL, Glanville RW, Hinds MT. Structural and cellular characterization of electrospun recombinant human tropoelastin biomaterials. J Biomater Appl 2011; 27:219-30. [PMID: 21586601 DOI: 10.1177/0885328211399480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
An off-the-shelf vascular graft biomaterial for vascular bypass surgeries is an unmet clinical need. The vascular biomaterial must support cell growth, be non-thrombogenic, minimize intimal hyperplasia, match the structural properties of native vessels, and allow for regeneration of arterial tissue. Electrospun recombinant human tropoelastin (rTE) as a medial component of a vascular graft scaffold was investigated in this study by evaluating its structural properties, as well as its ability to support primary smooth muscle cell adhesion and growth. rTE solutions of 9, 15, and 20 wt% were electrospun into sheets with average fiber diameters of 167 ± 32, 522 ± 67, and 735 ± 270 nm, and average pore sizes of 0.4 ± 0.1, 5.8 ± 4.3, and 4.9 ± 2.4 µm, respectively. Electrospun rTE fibers were cross-linked with disuccinimidyl suberate to produce an insoluble fibrous polymeric recombinant tropoelastin (prTE) biomaterial. Smooth muscle cells attached via integrin binding to the rTE coatings and proliferated on prTE biomaterials at a comparable rate to growth on prTE coated glass, glass alone, and tissue culture plastic. Electrospun tropoelastin demonstrated the cell compatibility and design flexibility required of a graft biomaterial for vascular applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A McKenna
- Oregon Medical Laser Center, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, 9205 SW Barnes Road, Portland, Oregon 97225, USA
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Baldock C, Oberhauser AF, Ma L, Lammie D, Siegler V, Mithieux SM, Tu Y, Chow JYH, Suleman F, Malfois M, Rogers S, Guo L, Irving TC, Wess TJ, Weiss AS. Shape of tropoelastin, the highly extensible protein that controls human tissue elasticity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:4322-7. [PMID: 21368178 PMCID: PMC3060269 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1014280108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin enables the reversible deformation of elastic tissues and can withstand decades of repetitive forces. Tropoelastin is the soluble precursor to elastin, the main elastic protein found in mammals. Little is known of the shape and mechanism of assembly of tropoelastin as its unique composition and propensity to self-associate has hampered structural studies. In this study, we solve the nanostructure of full-length and corresponding overlapping fragments of tropoelastin using small angle X-ray and neutron scattering, allowing us to identify discrete regions of the molecule. Tropoelastin is an asymmetric coil, with a protruding foot that encompasses the C-terminal cell interaction motif. We show that individual tropoelastin molecules are highly extensible yet elastic without hysteresis to perform as highly efficient molecular nanosprings. Our findings shed light on how biology uses this single protein to build durable elastic structures that allow for cell attachment to an appended foot. We present a unique model for head-to-tail assembly which allows for the propagation of the molecule's asymmetric coil through a stacked spring design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Andres F. Oberhauser
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Liang Ma
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Donna Lammie
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4LU, United Kingdom
| | - Veronique Siegler
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4LU, United Kingdom
| | - Suzanne M. Mithieux
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Yidong Tu
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - John Yuen Ho Chow
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Farhana Suleman
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Malfois
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Rogers
- ISIS Science and Technology Facilities Council, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom; and
| | - Liang Guo
- BioCAT, Center for Synchrotron Radiation Research and Instrumentation and Department of Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616
| | - Thomas C. Irving
- BioCAT, Center for Synchrotron Radiation Research and Instrumentation and Department of Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616
| | - Tim J. Wess
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4LU, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Akhtar K, Broekelmann TJ, Miao M, Keeley FW, Starcher BC, Pierce RA, Mecham RP, Adair-Kirk TL. Oxidative and nitrosative modifications of tropoelastin prevent elastic fiber assembly in vitro. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:37396-404. [PMID: 20847053 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.126789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastic fibers are extracellular structures that provide stretch and recoil properties of tissues, such as lungs, arteries, and skin. Elastin is the predominant component of elastic fibers. Tropoelastin (TE), the precursor of elastin, is synthesized mainly during late fetal and early postnatal stages. The turnover of elastin in normal adult tissues is minimal. However, in several pathological conditions often associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, elastogenesis is re-initiated, but newly synthesized elastic fibers appear abnormal. We sought to determine the effects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) on the assembly of TE into elastic fibers. Immunoblot analyses showed that TE is oxidatively and nitrosatively modified by peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and by activated monocytes and macrophages via release of ONOO(-) and HOCl. In an in vitro elastic fiber assembly model, oxidatively modified TE was unable to form elastic fibers. Oxidation of TE enhanced coacervation, an early step in elastic fiber assembly, but reduced cross-linking and interactions with other proteins required for elastic fiber assembly, including fibulin-4, fibulin-5, and fibrillin-2. These findings establish that ROS/RNS can modify TE and that these modifications affect the assembly of elastic fibers. Thus, we speculate that oxidative stress may contribute to the abnormal structure and function of elastic fibers in pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Akhtar
- Departments of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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Hu X, Wang X, Rnjak J, Weiss AS, Kaplan DL. Biomaterials derived from silk-tropoelastin protein systems. Biomaterials 2010; 31:8121-31. [PMID: 20674969 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2010] [Accepted: 07/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A structural protein blend system based on silkworm silk fibroin and recombinant human tropoelastin is described. Silk fibroin, a semicrystalline fibrous protein with beta-sheet crystals provides mechanical strength and controllable biodegradation, while tropoelastin, a noncrystallizable elastic protein provides elasticity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) indicated that silk becomes miscible with tropoelastin at different blend ratios, without macrophase separation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed secondary structural changes of the blend system (beta-sheet content) before and after methanol treatment. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nano-indentation demonstrated that blending silk and tropoelastin at different ratios resulted in modification of mechanical features, with resilience from approximately 68%- approximately 97%, and elastic modulus between 2 and 9 Mpa, depending on the ratio of the two polymers. Some of these values are close to those of native aortic elastin or elastin-like polypeptides. Significantly, during blending and drying silk-tropoelastin form micro- and nano-scale porous morphologies which promote human mesenchymal stem cell attachment and proliferation. These blends offer a new protein biomaterial system for cell support and tailored biomaterial properties to match mechanical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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Palmier MO, Fulcher YG, Bhaskaran R, Duong VQ, Fields GB, Van Doren SR. NMR and bioinformatics discovery of exosites that tune metalloelastase specificity for solubilized elastin and collagen triple helices. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:30918-30. [PMID: 20663866 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.136903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The catalytic domain of metalloelastase (matrix metalloproteinase-12 or MMP-12) is unique among MMPs in exerting high proteolytic activity upon fibrils that resist hydrolysis, especially elastin from lungs afflicted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or arteries with aneurysms. How does the MMP-12 catalytic domain achieve this specificity? NMR interface mapping suggests that α-elastin species cover the primed subsites, a strip across the β-sheet from β-strand IV to the II-III loop, and a broad bowl from helix A to helix C. The many contacts may account for the comparatively high affinity, as well as embedding of MMP-12 in damaged elastin fibrils in vivo. We developed a strategy called BINDSIght, for bioinformatics and NMR discovery of specificity of interactions, to evaluate MMP-12 specificity without a structure of a complex. BINDSIght integration of the interface mapping with other ambiguous information from sequences guided choice mutations in binding regions nearer the active site. Single substitutions at each of ten locations impair specific activity toward solubilized elastin. Five of them impair release of peptides from intact elastin fibrils. Eight lesions also impair specific activity toward triple helices from collagen IV or V. Eight sites map to the "primed" side in the III-IV, V-B, and S1' specificity loops. Two map to the "unprimed" side in the IV-V and B-C loops. The ten key residues circumscribe the catalytic cleft, form an exosite, and are distinctive features available for targeting by new diagnostics or therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark O Palmier
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
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Heinz A, Jung MC, Duca L, Sippl W, Taddese S, Ihling C, Rusciani A, Jahreis G, Weiss AS, Neubert RHH, Schmelzer CEH. Degradation of tropoelastin by matrix metalloproteinases--cleavage site specificities and release of matrikines. FEBS J 2010; 277:1939-56. [PMID: 20345904 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2010.07616.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To provide a basis for the development of approaches to treat elastin-degrading diseases, the aim of this study was to investigate the degradation of the natural substrate tropoelastin by the elastinolytic matrix metalloproteinases MMP-7, MMP-9, and MMP-12 and to compare the cleavage site specificities of the enzymes using complementary MS techniques and molecular modeling. Furthermore, the ability of the three proteases to release bioactive peptides was studied. Tropoelastin was readily degraded by all three MMPs. Eighty-nine cleavage sites in tropoelastin were identified for MMP-12, whereas MMP-7 and MMP-9 were found to cleave at only 58 and 63 sites, respectively. Cleavages occurred predominantly in the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of tropoelastin. With respect to the cleavage site specificities, the study revealed that all three MMPs similarly tolerate hydrophobic and/or aliphatic amino acids, including Pro, Gly, Ile, and Val, at P(1)'. MMP-7 shows a strong preference for Leu at P(1)', which is also well accepted by MMP-9 and MMP-12. Of all three MMPs, MMP-12 best tolerates bulky charged and aromatic amino acids at P(1)'. All three MMPs showed a clear preference for Pro at P(3) that could be structurally explained by molecular modeling. Analysis of the generated peptides revealed that all three MMPs show a similar ability to release bioactive sequences, with MMP-12 producing the highest number of these peptides. Furthermore, the generated peptides YTTGKLPYGYGPGG, YGARPGVGVGGIP, and PGFGAVPGA, containing GxxPG motifs that have not yet been proven to be bioactive, were identified as new matrikines upon biological activity testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Heinz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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40
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Wise SG, Mithieux SM, Weiss AS. Engineered tropoelastin and elastin-based biomaterials. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2009; 78:1-24. [PMID: 20663482 DOI: 10.1016/s1876-1623(08)78001-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Elastin is a key mammalian extracellular matrix protein that is critical to the elasticity, compliance, and resilience of a range of tissues including the vasculature, skin, and lung. In addition to providing mechanical integrity to tissues, elastin also has critical functions in the regulation of cell behavior and may help to modulate the coagulation cascade. The high insolubility of elastin has limited its use to researchers, while soluble derivatives of elastin including elastin peptides, digested elastins, and tropoelastin have much broader applications. Recombinantly produced tropoelastin, the soluble monomer of elastin, has been shown to exhibit many of the properties intrinsic to the mature biopolymer. As such, recombinant human tropoelastin provides a versatile building block for the manufacture of biomaterials with potential for diverse applications in elastic tissues. One of the major benefits of soluble elastins is that they can be engineered into a range of physical forms. As a dominant example, soluble elastins including tropoelastin can form hydrogels when they are chemically cross-linked. These self-organized constructs swell when transferred from a saline to aqueous environment and are highly elastic; these tunable responses are dependent on the types of cross-linker and elastin used. Soluble elastins can also be drawn into fine fibers using electrospinning. The morphology of these fibers can be altered by modifying spinning parameters that include delivery flow rate and the starting protein concentration. The resulting fibers then accumulate to form porous scaffolds, and can be wound around mandrils to create conduits for vascular applications. Electrospun scaffolds retain the elasticity and cell-interactive properties inherent in the tropoelastin precursor. Additionally, soluble elastins serve as versatile biomaterial coatings, enhancing cellular interactions and modulating the blood compatibility of polymer- and metal-based prostheses. Soluble elastins, and in particular tropoelastin, have highly favorable intrinsic physical and cell-interactive properties, warranting their adaption through incorporation into biomaterials and modification of implantable devices. The multiple choices of ways to produce elastin-based biomaterials mean that they are well suited to the tailoring of elastic biomaterials and hybrid constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven G Wise
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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41
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Tu Y, Wise SG, Weiss AS. Stages in tropoelastin coalescence during synthetic elastin hydrogel formation. Micron 2009; 41:268-72. [PMID: 19969467 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2009.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2009] [Revised: 09/25/2009] [Accepted: 11/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic human tropoelastin was chemically cross-linked to form elastic hydrogel-like structures in vitro. Discrete stages were identified during elastic hydrogel formation by cross-linking tropoelastin with bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate at a range of protein concentrations during this process. In the early stages of this process, particles with the same dimensions as tropoelastin were seen. As hydrogel formation progressed, monomer width fibres were also observed. Overall, four distinct stages were identified: (1) tropoelastin monomers form discrete particles in the order of 200 nm diameter, (2) these particles merge to form larger spheres, (3) spheres coalesce into open linked networks, (4) coalesced spheres consolidate to form a porous structure to give synthetic elastin hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidong Tu
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences G08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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42
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Miyamoto K, Atarashi M, Kadozono H, Shibata M, Koyama Y, Okai M, Inakuma A, Kitazono E, Kaneko H, Takebayashi T, Horiuchi T. Creation of cross-linked electrospun isotypic-elastin fibers controlled cell-differentiation with new cross-linker. Int J Biol Macromol 2009; 45:33-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2009.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2008] [Revised: 03/30/2009] [Accepted: 03/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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43
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Broekelmann TJ, Ciliberto CH, Shifren A, Mecham RP. Modification and functional inactivation of the tropoelastin carboxy-terminal domain in cross-linked elastin. Matrix Biol 2008; 27:631-9. [PMID: 18602002 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2008.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2008] [Revised: 06/06/2008] [Accepted: 06/09/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The carboxy-terminus of tropoelastin is a highly conserved, atypical region of the molecule with sequences that define both cell and matrix interactions. This domain also plays a critical but unknown role in the assembly and crosslinking of tropoelastin during elastic fiber maturation. Using a competitive ELISA with an antibody to an elastase-resistant epitope in the carboxy-terminus of tropoelastin (domain-36), we quantified levels of the domain-36 sequence in elastase-derived peptides from mature, insoluble elastin. We found that the amount of carboxy-terminal epitope in elastin is approximately 0.2% of the expected value, assuming each tropoelastin monomer that is incorporated into the insoluble polymer has an intact carboxy-terminus. The low levels suggest that the majority of domain-36 sequence is either removed at some stage of elastin assembly or that the antigenic epitope is altered by posttranslational modification. Biochemical evidence is presented for a potential lysine-derived cross-link in this region, which would alter the extractability and antigenicity of the carboxy-terminal epitope. These results show that there is little or no unmodified domain-36 in mature elastin, indicating that the cell and matrix binding activities associated with this region of tropoelastin are lost or modified as elastin matures. A crosslinking function for domain-36 may serve to help register the multiple crosslinking sites in elastin and explains why mutations that alter the domain-36 sequence have detrimental effects on elastic fiber assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Broekelmann
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Chow D, Nunalee ML, Lim DW, Simnick AJ, Chilkoti A. Peptide-based Biopolymers in Biomedicine and Biotechnology. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. R, REPORTS : A REVIEW JOURNAL 2008; 62:125-155. [PMID: 19122836 PMCID: PMC2575411 DOI: 10.1016/j.mser.2008.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Peptides are emerging as a new class of biomaterials due to their unique chemical, physical, and biological properties. The development of peptide-based biomaterials is driven by the convergence of protein engineering and macromolecular self-assembly. This review covers the basic principles, applications, and prospects of peptide-based biomaterials. We focus on both chemically synthesized and genetically encoded peptides, including poly-amino acids, elastin-like polypeptides, silk-like polymers and other biopolymers based on repetitive peptide motifs. Applications of these engineered biomolecules in protein purification, controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosurface engineering are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Chow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281
- Center for Biologically Inspired Materials and Materials Systems, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Michelle L. Nunalee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281
- Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Dong Woo Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281
- Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Andrew J. Simnick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281
- Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281
- Center for Biologically Inspired Materials and Materials Systems, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
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45
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Lim DW, Nettles DL, Setton LA, Chilkoti A. In situ cross-linking of elastin-like polypeptide block copolymers for tissue repair. Biomacromolecules 2007; 9:222-30. [PMID: 18163573 DOI: 10.1021/bm7007982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rapid cross-linking of elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) with hydroxymethylphosphines (HMPs) in aqueous solution is attractive for minimally invasive in vivo implantation of biomaterials and tissue engineering scaffolds. In order to examine the independent effect of the location and number of reactive sites on the chemical cross-linking kinetics of ELPs and the mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogels, we have designed ELP block copolymers comprised of cross-linkable, hydrophobic ELP blocks with periodic Lys residues (A block) and aliphatic, hydrophilic ELP blocks with no cross-linking sites (B block); three different block architectures, A, ABA, and BABA were synthesized in this study. All ELP block copolymers were rapidly cross-linked with HMPs within several minutes under physiological conditions. The inclusion of the un-cross-linked hydrophilic block, its length relative to the cross-linkable hydrophobic block, and the block copolymer architecture all had a significant effect on swelling ratios of the cross-linked hydrogels, their microstructure, and mechanical properties. Fibroblasts embedded in the ELP hydrogels survived the cross-linking process and remained viable for at least 3 days in vitro when the gels were formed from an equimolar ratio of HMPs and Lys residues of ELPs. DNA quantification of the embedded cells indicated that the cell viability within triblock ELP hydrogels was statistically greater than that in the monoblock gels at day 3. These results suggest that the mechanical properties of ELP hydrogels and the microenvironment that they present to cells can be tuned by the design of the block copolymer architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Woo Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Box 90281, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281, USA
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Kielty CM, Stephan S, Sherratt MJ, Williamson M, Shuttleworth CA. Applying elastic fibre biology in vascular tissue engineering. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2007; 362:1293-312. [PMID: 17588872 PMCID: PMC2440413 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2007.2134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
For the treatment of vascular disease, the major cause of death in Western society, there is an urgent need for tissue-engineered, biocompatible, small calibre artery substitutes that restore biological function. Vascular tissue engineering of such grafts involves the development of compliant synthetic or biomaterial scaffolds that incorporate vascular cells and extracellular matrix. Elastic fibres are major structural elements of arterial walls that can enhance vascular graft design and patency. In blood vessels, they endow vessels with the critical property of elastic recoil. They also influence vascular cell behaviour through direct interactions and by regulating growth factor activation. This review addresses physiological elastic fibre assembly and contributions to vessel structure and function, and how elastic fibre biology is now being exploited in small diameter vascular graft design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cay M Kielty
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Michael Smith Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
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Simnick AJ, Lim DW, Chow D, Chilkoti A. Biomedical and Biotechnological Applications of Elastin-Like Polypeptides. POLYM REV 2007. [DOI: 10.1080/15583720601109594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Dyksterhuis LB, Baldock C, Lammie D, Wess TJ, Weiss AS. Domains 17–27 of tropoelastin contain key regions of contact for coacervation and contain an unusual turn-containing crosslinking domain. Matrix Biol 2007; 26:125-35. [PMID: 17129717 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2006.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2006] [Revised: 09/19/2006] [Accepted: 10/11/2006] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The central region of tropoelastin including domains 19-25 of human tropoelastin forms a hot-spot for contacts during the inter-molecular association of tropoelastin by coacervation [Wise, S.G., Mithieux, S.M., Raftery, M.J. and Weiss, A.S (2005). "Specificity in the coacervation of tropoelastin: solvent exposed lysines." Journal of Structural Biology 149: 273-81.]. We explored the physical properties of this central region using a sub-fragment bordered by domains 17-27 of human tropoelastin (SHEL 17-27) and identified the intra- and inter-molecular contacts it forms during coacervation. A homobifunctional amine reactive crosslinker (with a maximum reach of 11 A, corresponding to approximately 7 residues in an extended polypeptide chain) was used to capture these contacts and crosslinked regions were identified after protease cleavage and mass spectrometry (MS) with MS/MS verification. An intermolecular crosslink formed between the lysines at positions 353 of each strand of tropoelastin at the lowest of crosslinker concentrations and was observed in all samples tested, suggesting that this residue forms an important initial contact during coacervation. At higher crosslinker concentrations, residues K425 and K437 showed the highest levels of involvement in crosslinks. An intramolecular crosslink between these K425 and K437, separated by 11 residues, indicated that a structural bend must serve to bring these residues into close proximity. These studies were complemented by small angle X-ray scattering studies that confirmed a bend in this important subfragment of the tropoelastin molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- L B Dyksterhuis
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Vieth S, Bellingham CM, Keeley FW, Hodge SM, Rousseau D. Microstructural and tensile properties of elastin-based polypeptides crosslinked with Genipin and pyrroloquinoline quinone. Biopolymers 2007; 85:199-206. [PMID: 17066474 DOI: 10.1002/bip.20619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Elastin is an elastomeric, self-assembling extracellular matrix protein with potential for use in biomaterials applications. Here, we compare the microstructural and tensile properties of the elastin-based recombinant polypeptide (EP) EP20-244 crosslinked with either genipin (GP) or pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). Recombinant EP-based sheets were produced via coacervation and subsequent crosslinking. The micron-scale topography of the GP-crosslinked sheets examined with atomic force microscopy revealed the presence of extensive mottling compared with that of the PQQ-crosslinked sheets, which were comparatively smoother. Confocal microscopy showed that the subsurface porosity in the GP-crosslinked sheets was much more open. GP-crosslinked EP-based sheets exhibited significantly greater tensile strength (P < or = 0.05). Mechanistically, GP appears to yield a higher crosslink density than PQQ, likely due to its capacity to form short-range and long-range crosslinks. In conclusion, GP is able to strongly modulate the microstructural and mechanical properties of elastin-based polypeptide biomaterials forming membranes with mechanical properties similar to native insoluble elastin.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Vieth
- School of Chemical Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Kozel BA, Rongish BJ, Czirok A, Zach J, Little CD, Davis EC, Knutsen RH, Wagenseil JE, Levy MA, Mecham RP. Elastic fiber formation: a dynamic view of extracellular matrix assembly using timer reporters. J Cell Physiol 2006; 207:87-96. [PMID: 16261592 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.20546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
To study the dynamics of elastic fiber assembly, mammalian cells were transfected with a cDNA construct encoding bovine tropoelastin in frame with the Timer reporter. Timer is a derivative of the DsRed fluorescent protein that changes from green to red over time and, hence, can be used to distinguish new from old elastin. Using dynamic imaging microscopy, we found that the first step in elastic fiber formation is the appearance of small cell surface-associated elastin globules that increased in size with time (microassembly). The elastin globules are eventually transferred to pre-existing elastic fibers in the extracellular matrix where they coalesce into larger structures (macroassembly). Mechanical forces associated with cell movement help shape the forming, extracellular elastic fiber network. Time-lapse imaging combined with the use of Timer constructs provides unique tools for studying the temporal and spatial aspects of extracellular matrix formation by live cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A Kozel
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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