1
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He J, Blazeski A, Nilanthi U, Menéndez J, Pirani SC, Levic DS, Bagnat M, Singh MK, Raya JG, García-Cardeña G, Torres-Vázquez J. Plxnd1-mediated mechanosensing of blood flow controls the caliber of the Dorsal Aorta via the transcription factor Klf2. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.24.576555. [PMID: 38328196 PMCID: PMC10849625 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.24.576555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The cardiovascular system generates and responds to mechanical forces. The heartbeat pumps blood through a network of vascular tubes, which adjust their caliber in response to the hemodynamic environment. However, how endothelial cells in the developing vascular system integrate inputs from circulatory forces into signaling pathways to define vessel caliber is poorly understood. Using vertebrate embryos and in vitro-assembled microvascular networks of human endothelial cells as models, flow and genetic manipulations, and custom software, we reveal that Plexin-D1, an endothelial Semaphorin receptor critical for angiogenic guidance, employs its mechanosensing activity to serve as a crucial positive regulator of the Dorsal Aorta's (DA) caliber. We also uncover that the flow-responsive transcription factor KLF2 acts as a paramount mechanosensitive effector of Plexin-D1 that enlarges endothelial cells to widen the vessel. These findings illuminate the molecular and cellular mechanisms orchestrating the interplay between cardiovascular development and hemodynamic forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia He
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Adriana Blazeski
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Uthayanan Nilanthi
- Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857
| | - Javier Menéndez
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Samuel C. Pirani
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Daniel S. Levic
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Michel Bagnat
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Manvendra K. Singh
- Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, 5 Hospital Drive, Singapore, 169609
| | - José G Raya
- Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Guillermo García-Cardeña
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jesús Torres-Vázquez
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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2
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Sukumaran V, Mutlu O, Murtaza M, Alhalbouni R, Dubansky B, Yalcin HC. Experimental assessment of cardiovascular physiology in the chick embryo. Dev Dyn 2023; 252:1247-1268. [PMID: 37002896 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
High resolution assessment of cardiac functional parameters is crucial in translational animal research. The chick embryo is a historically well-used in vivo model for cardiovascular research due to its many practical advantages, and the conserved form and function of the chick and human cardiogenesis programs. This review aims to provide an overview of several different technical approaches for chick embryo cardiac assessment. Doppler echocardiography, optical coherence tomography, micromagnetic resonance imaging, microparticle image velocimetry, real-time pressure monitoring, and associated issues with the techniques will be discussed. Alongside this discussion, we also highlight recent advances in cardiac function measurements in chick embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Onur Mutlu
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Benjamin Dubansky
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Office of Research and Economic Development, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Huseyin C Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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3
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Zhang X, Almasian M, Hassan SS, Jotheesh R, Kadam VA, Polk AR, Saberigarakani A, Rahat A, Yuan J, Lee J, Carroll K, Ding Y. 4D Light-sheet imaging and interactive analysis of cardiac contractility in zebrafish larvae. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:026112. [PMID: 37351330 PMCID: PMC10283270 DOI: 10.1063/5.0153214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite ongoing efforts in cardiovascular research, the acquisition of high-resolution and high-speed images for the purpose of assessing cardiac contraction remains challenging. Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) offers superior spatiotemporal resolution and minimal photodamage, providing an indispensable opportunity for the in vivo study of cardiac micro-structure and contractile function in zebrafish larvae. To track the myocardial architecture and contractility, we have developed an imaging strategy ranging from LSFM system construction, retrospective synchronization, single cell tracking, to user-directed virtual reality (VR) analysis. Our system enables the four-dimensional (4D) investigation of individual cardiomyocytes across the entire atrium and ventricle during multiple cardiac cycles in a zebrafish larva at the cellular resolution. To enhance the throughput of our model reconstruction and assessment, we have developed a parallel computing-assisted algorithm for 4D synchronization, resulting in a nearly tenfold enhancement of reconstruction efficiency. The machine learning-based nuclei segmentation and VR-based interaction further allow us to quantify cellular dynamics in the myocardium from end-systole to end-diastole. Collectively, our strategy facilitates noninvasive cardiac imaging and user-directed data interpretation with improved efficiency and accuracy, holding great promise to characterize functional changes and regional mechanics at the single cell level during cardiac development and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Milad Almasian
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Sohail S. Hassan
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Rosemary Jotheesh
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Vinay A. Kadam
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Austin R. Polk
- Department of Computer Science, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Alireza Saberigarakani
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Aayan Rahat
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Jie Yuan
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Juhyun Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA
| | - Kelli Carroll
- Department of Biology, Austin College, Sherman, Texas 75090, USA
| | - Yichen Ding
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.: 972–883-7217
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4
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Sokary S, Zakaria Z, Bawadi H, Al-Asmakh M. Testing the Anticancer Effect of Matcha Using Zebrafish as an Animal Model. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15102369. [PMID: 37242252 DOI: 10.3390/nu15102369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients show the poorest prognosis and survival and the highest metastasis prevalence among all breast cancer subtypes. Matcha has recently been associated with multiple health benefits, and in vitro studies showed the potential effect of matcha in inhibiting cancer development and metastasis. We aimed to determine the safe, non-toxic dose of matcha suitable for zebrafish and to investigate the anticancer effect of matcha on the metastasis and growth of human TBNC cells using a zebrafish xenograft model. Wild-type AB zebrafish were used to conduct multiple general toxicity assessments, including developmental, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular toxicities. The safe, non-toxic concentration of matcha was determined to be 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL. Afterward, the zebrafish xenograft model was successfully established for MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells. The tumor size and metastasis of the injected cancer cells were traced through CM-Dil red fluorescent dye. Upon exposure to matcha at the safe doses, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 showed a trend toward reduction in tumor size in a dose-dependent manner, indicated by quantified fluorescence. Matcha also visibly suppressed metastasis of cancer cells in the zebrafish body. Our results point to a potential dose-dependent anticancer effect of matcha on TNBC cells; however, more extended observation periods after xenotransplantation are required to confirm the long-term anticancer effect of matcha on tumor growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sokary
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Science, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Zain Zakaria
- Medical and Health Sciences Office, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Hiba Bawadi
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Science, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Maha Al-Asmakh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Science, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
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5
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Cheng Y, Tao J, Zhang Y, Xi L, Han R, Xu M, Lee SMY, Ge W, Gan Y, Zheng Y. Shape and Shear Stress Impact on the Toxicity of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence. Mol Pharm 2023. [PMID: 37167021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are widely used in the biomedical field because of their unique and excellent properties. However, the potential toxicity of different shaped MSNs via injection has not been fully studied. This study aims to systematically explore the impact of shape and shear stress on the toxicity of MSNs after injection. An in vitro blood flow model was developed to investigate the cytotoxicity and the underlying mechanisms of spherical MSNs (S-MSN) and rodlike MSNs (R-MSN) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The results suggested that the interactions between MSNs and HUVECs under the physiological flow conditions were significantly different from that under static conditions. Whether under static or flow conditions, R-MSN showed better cellular uptake and less oxidative damage than S-MSN. The main mechanism of cytotoxicity induced by R-MSN was due to shear stress-dependent mechanical damage of the cell membrane, while the toxicity of S-MSN was attributed to mechanical damage and oxidative damage. The addition of fetal bovine serum (FBS) alleviated the toxicity of S-MSN by reducing cellular uptake and oxidative stress under static and flow conditions. Moreover, the in vivo results showed that both S-MSN and R-MSN caused cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish and mouse models due to the high shear stress, especially in the heart. S-MSN led to severe oxidative damage at the accumulation site, such as liver, spleen, and lung in mice, while R-MSN did not cause significant oxidative stress. The results of in vitro blood flow and in vivo models indicated that particle shape and shear stress are crucial to the biosafety of MSNs, providing new evidence for the toxicity mechanisms of the injected MSNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Jinsong Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Yaqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Long Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Run Han
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Meng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Simon Ming-Yuen Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Wei Ge
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Yong Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Excipients, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
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6
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OpenBloodFlow: A User-Friendly OpenCV-Based Software Package for Blood Flow Velocity and Blood Cell Count Measurement for Fish Embryos. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11101471. [PMID: 36290375 PMCID: PMC9598615 DOI: 10.3390/biology11101471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The transparent appearance of fish embryos provides an excellent assessment feature for observing cardiovascular function in vivo. Previously, methods to conduct vascular function assessment were based on measuring blood-flow velocity using third-party software. In this study, we reported a simple software, free of costs and skills, called OpenBloodFlow, which can measure blood flow velocity and count blood cells in fish embryos for the first time. First, videos captured by high-speed CCD were processed for better image stabilization and contrast. Next, the optical flow of moving objects was extracted from the non-moving background in a frame-by-frame manner. Finally, blood flow velocity was calculated by the Gunner Farneback algorithm in Python. Data validation with zebrafish and medaka embryos in OpenBloodFlow was consistent with our previously published ImageJ-based method. We demonstrated consistent blood flow alterations by either OpenBloodFlow or ImageJ in the dorsal aorta of zebrafish embryos when exposed to either phenylhydrazine or ractopamine. In addition, we validated that OpenBloodFlow was able to conduct precise blood cell counting. In this study, we provide an easy and fully automatic programming for blood flow velocity calculation and blood cell counting that is useful for toxicology and pharmacology studies in fish.
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7
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Ibbini Z, Spicer JI, Truebano M, Bishop J, Tills O. HeartCV: a tool for transferrable, automated measurement of heart rate and heart rate variability in transparent animals. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:276574. [PMID: 36073614 PMCID: PMC9659326 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244729] [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: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Heart function is a key component of whole-organismal physiology. Bioimaging is commonly, but not exclusively, used for quantifying heart function in transparent individuals, including early developmental stages of aquatic animals, many of which are transparent. However, a central limitation of many imaging-related methods is the lack of transferability between species, life-history stages and experimental approaches. Furthermore, locating the heart in mobile individuals remains challenging. Here, we present HeartCV: an open-source Python package for automated measurement of heart rate and heart rate variability that integrates automated localization and is transferrable across a wide range of species. We demonstrate the efficacy of HeartCV by comparing its outputs with measurements made manually for a number of very different species with contrasting heart morphologies. Lastly, we demonstrate the applicability of the software to different experimental approaches and to different dataset types, such as those corresponding to longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziad Ibbini
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
- Author for correspondence ()
| | - John I. Spicer
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Manuela Truebano
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - John Bishop
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, Citadel Hill Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Oliver Tills
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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8
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Alser M, Salman HE, Naïja A, Seers TD, Khan T, Yalcin HC. Blood Flow Disturbance and Morphological Alterations Following the Right Atrial Ligation in the Chick Embryo. Front Physiol 2022; 13:849603. [PMID: 35492580 PMCID: PMC9047544 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.849603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Collectively known as congenital heart defects (CHDs), cardiac abnormalities at birth are the most common forms of neonatal defects. Being principally responsible for the heart‘s pumping power, ventricles are particularly affected by developmental abnormalities, such as flow disturbances or genomic defects. Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS) is a rare disease where the right ventricle is underdeveloped. In this study, we introduce a surgical procedure performed on chick embryo, termed right atrial ligation (RAL) for disturbing hemodynamics within the right heart aiming in order to generate an animal model of HRHS. RAL is a new surgical manipulation, similar to the well-studied left atrial ligation (LAL) surgery but it induces the hemodynamic change into the right side of the heart. After inducing RAL, We utilized techniques such as Doppler ultrasound, x-ray micro-CT, histology, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, for a comprehensive functional and structural analysis of a developing heart. Our results displayed that RAL does not induce severe flow disturbance and ventricular abnormalities consistent with clinical findings. This study allows us to better understand the hemodynamics-driven CHD development and sensitivities of ventricles under disturbed flows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Alser
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Huseyin Enes Salman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Azza Naïja
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Talha Khan
- Petroleum Engineering Program, Texas A&M University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Huseyin Cagatay Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- *Correspondence: Huseyin Cagatay Yalcin,
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9
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Salman HE, Kamal RY, Hijazi ZM, Yalcin HC. Hemodynamic and Structural Comparison of Human Fetal Heart Development Between Normally Growing and Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome-Diagnosed Hearts. Front Physiol 2022; 13:856879. [PMID: 35399257 PMCID: PMC8984126 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.856879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) affect a wide range of societies with an incidence rate of 1.0–1.2%. These defects initiate at the early developmental stage and result in critical health disorders. Although genetic factors play a role in the formation of CHDs, the occurrence of cases in families with no history of CHDs suggests that mechanobiological forces may also play a role in the initiation and progression of CHDs. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a critical CHD, which is responsible for 25–40% of all prenatal cardiac deaths. The comparison of healthy and HLHS hearts helps in understanding the main hemodynamic differences related to HLHS. Echocardiography is the most common imaging modality utilized for fetal cardiac assessment. In this study, we utilized echocardiographic images to compare healthy and HLHS human fetal hearts for determining the differences in terms of heart chamber dimensions, valvular flow rates, and hemodynamics. The cross-sectional areas of chamber dimensions are determined from 2D b-mode ultrasound images. Valvular flow rates are measured via Doppler echocardiography, and hemodynamic quantifications are performed with the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The obtained results indicate that cross-sectional areas of the left and right sides of the heart are similar for healthy fetuses during gestational development. The left side of HLHS heart is underdeveloped, and as a result, the hemodynamic parameters such as flow velocity, pressure, and wall shear stress (WSS) are significantly altered compared to those of healthy hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Enes Salman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Reema Yousef Kamal
- Pediatric Cardiology Division, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ziyad M. Hijazi
- Sidra Heart Center, Sidra Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Huseyin Cagatay Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- *Correspondence: Huseyin Cagatay Yalcin,
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10
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Chakraborty S, Allmon E, Sepúlveda MS, Vlachos PP. Haemodynamic dependence of mechano-genetic evolution of the cardiovascular system in Japanese medaka. J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210752. [PMID: 34699728 PMCID: PMC8548083 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The progression of cardiac gene expression-wall shear stress (WSS) interplay is critical to identifying developmental defects during cardiovascular morphogenesis. However, mechano-genetics from the embryonic to larval stages are poorly understood in vertebrates. We quantified peak WSS in the heart and tail vessels of Japanese medaka from 3 days post fertilization (dpf) to 14 dpf using in vivo micro-particle image velocimetry flow measurements, and in parallel analysed the expression of five cardiac genes (fgf8, hoxb6b, bmp4, nkx2.5, smyd1). Here, we report that WSS in the atrioventricular canal (AVC), ventricular outflow tract (OFT), and the caudal vessels in medaka peak with inflection points at 6 dpf and 10-11 dpf instead of a monotonic trend. Retrograde flows are captured at the AVC and OFT of the medaka heart for the first time. In addition, all genes were upregulated at 3 dpf and 7 dpf, indicating a possible correlation between the two, with the cardiac gene upregulation preceding WSS increase in order to facilitate cardiac wall remodelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreyashi Chakraborty
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Elizabeth Allmon
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Maria S. Sepúlveda
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Pavlos P. Vlachos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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11
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Salman HE, Kamal RY, Yalcin HC. Numerical Investigation of the Fetal Left Heart Hemodynamics During Gestational Stages. Front Physiol 2021; 12:731428. [PMID: 34566694 PMCID: PMC8458957 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.731428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Flow-driven hemodynamic forces on the cardiac tissues have critical importance, and have a significant role in the proper development of the heart. These mechanobiological mechanisms govern the cellular responses for the growth and remodeling of the heart, where the altered hemodynamic environment is believed to be a major factor that is leading to congenital heart defects (CHDs). In order to investigate the mechanobiological development of the normal and diseased hearts, identification of the blood flow patterns and wall shear stresses (WSS) on these tissues are required for an accurate hemodynamic assessment. In this study, we focus on the left heart hemodynamics of the human fetuses throughout the gestational stages. Computational fetal left heart models are created for the healthy fetuses using the ultrasound images at various gestational weeks. Realistic inflow boundary conditions are implemented in the models using the Doppler ultrasound measurements for resolving the specific blood flow waveforms in the mitral valve. Obtained results indicate that WSS and vorticity levels in the fetal left heart decrease with the development of the fetus. The maximum WSS around the mitral valve is determined around 36 Pa at the gestational week of 16. This maximum WSS decreases to 11 Pa at the gestational week of 27, indicating nearly three-times reduction in the peak shear stress. These findings reveal the highly dynamic nature of the left heart hemodynamics throughout the development of the human fetus and shed light into the relevance of hemodynamic environment and development of CHDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Enes Salman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Reema Yousef Kamal
- Pediatric Cardiology Division, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
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12
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Al-Thani HF, Shurbaji S, Yalcin HC. Zebrafish as a Model for Anticancer Nanomedicine Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:625. [PMID: 34203407 PMCID: PMC8308643 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanomedicine is a new approach to fight against cancer by the development of anticancer nanoparticles (NPs) that are of high sensitivity, specificity, and targeting ability to detect cancer cells, such as the ability of Silica NPs in targeting epithelial cancer cells. However, these anticancer NPs require preclinical testing, and zebrafish is a useful animal model for preclinical studies of anticancer NPs. This model affords a large sample size, optical imaging, and easy genetic manipulation that aid in nanomedicine studies. This review summarizes the numerous advantages of the zebrafish animal model for such investigation, various techniques for inducing cancer in zebrafish, and discusses the methods to assess cancer development in the model and to test for the toxicity of the anticancer drugs and NPs. In addition, it summarizes the recent studies that used zebrafish as a model to test the efficacy of several different anticancer NPs in treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hissa F Al-Thani
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Samar Shurbaji
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Huseyin C Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
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13
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Burggren W. Developmental Physiology: Grand Challenges. Front Physiol 2021; 12:706061. [PMID: 34177630 PMCID: PMC8225327 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.706061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Warren Burggren
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States
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14
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Alser M, Shurbaji S, Yalcin HC. Mechanosensitive Pathways in Heart Development: Findings from Chick Embryo Studies. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8040032. [PMID: 33810288 PMCID: PMC8065436 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8040032] [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: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The heart is the first organ that starts to function in a developing embryo. It continues to undergo dramatic morphological changes while pumping blood to the rest of the body. Genetic regulation of heart development is partly governed by hemodynamics. Chick embryo is a major animal model that has been used extensively in cardiogenesis research. To reveal mechanosensitive pathways, a variety of surgical interferences and chemical treatments can be applied to the chick embryo to manipulate the blood flow. Such manipulations alter expressions of mechanosensitive genes which may anticipate induction of morphological changes in the developing heart. This paper aims to present different approaches for generating clinically relevant disturbed hemodynamics conditions using this embryonic chick model and to summarize identified mechanosensitive genes using the model, providing insights into embryonic origins of congenital heart defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Alser
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (M.A.); (S.S.)
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
| | - Samar Shurbaji
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (M.A.); (S.S.)
| | - Huseyin C. Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (M.A.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +974-4403-7719
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15
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Computational Modeling of Blood Flow Hemodynamics for Biomechanical Investigation of Cardiac Development and Disease. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8020014. [PMID: 33572675 PMCID: PMC7912127 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The heart is the first functional organ in a developing embryo. Cardiac development continues throughout developmental stages while the heart goes through a serious of drastic morphological changes. Previous animal experiments as well as clinical observations showed that disturbed hemodynamics interfere with the development of the heart and leads to the formation of a variety of defects in heart valves, heart chambers, and blood vessels, suggesting that hemodynamics is a governing factor for cardiogenesis, and disturbed hemodynamics is an important source of congenital heart defects. Therefore, there is an interest to image and quantify the flowing blood through a developing heart. Flow measurement in embryonic fetal heart can be performed using advanced techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or echocardiography. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling is another approach especially useful when the other imaging modalities are not available and in-depth flow assessment is needed. The approach is based on numerically solving relevant physical equations to approximate the flow hemodynamics and tissue behavior. This approach is becoming widely adapted to simulate cardiac flows during the embryonic development. While there are few studies for human fetal cardiac flows, many groups used zebrafish and chicken embryos as useful models for elucidating normal and diseased cardiogenesis. In this paper, we explain the major steps to generate CFD models for simulating cardiac hemodynamics in vivo and summarize the latest findings on chicken and zebrafish embryos as well as human fetal hearts.
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16
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Salman HE, Alser M, Shekhar A, Gould RA, Benslimane FM, Butcher JT, Yalcin HC. Effect of left atrial ligation-driven altered inflow hemodynamics on embryonic heart development: clues for prenatal progression of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 20:733-750. [PMID: 33481120 PMCID: PMC7979615 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-020-01413-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are abnormalities in the heart structure present at birth. One important condition is hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) where severely underdeveloped left ventricle (LV) cannot support systemic circulation. HLHS usually initiates as localized tissue malformations with no underlying genetic cause, suggesting that disturbed hemodynamics contribute to the embryonic development of these defects. Left atrial ligation (LAL) is a surgical procedure on embryonic chick resulting in a phenotype resembling clinical HLHS. In this study, we investigated disturbed hemodynamics and deteriorated cardiac growth following LAL to investigate possible mechanobiological mechanisms for the embryonic development of HLHS. We integrated techniques such as echocardiography, micro-CT and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for these analyses. Specifically, LAL procedure causes an immediate flow disturbance over atrioventricular (AV) cushions. At later stages after the heart septation, it causes hemodynamic disturbances in LV. As a consequence of the LAL procedure, the left-AV canal and LV volume decrease in size, and in the opposite way, the right-AV canal and right ventricle volume increase. According to our CFD analysis, LAL results in an immediate decrease in the left AV canal WSS levels for 3.5-day (HH21) pre-septated hearts. For 7-day post-septated hearts (HH30), LAL leads to further reduction in WSS levels in the left AV canal, and relatively increased WSS levels in the right AV canal. This study demonstrates the critical importance of the disturbed hemodynamics during the heart valve and ventricle development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Enes Salman
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Maha Alser
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Akshay Shekhar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Russell A Gould
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Jonathan T Butcher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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17
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Machikhin AS, Burlakov AB, Volkov MV, Khokhlov DD. Imaging photoplethysmography and videocapillaroscopy enable noninvasive study of zebrafish cardiovascular system functioning. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2020; 13:e202000061. [PMID: 32306547 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202000061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We report on the noninvasive method for in vivo study of fish's cardiovascular system, that is, the heart and the structure of vessels that carry blood throughout the body. The proposed approach is based on combined photoplethysmographic and videocapillaroscopic microscopic imaging and enables noncontact two-dimensional mapping of blood volume changes. We demonstrate that the obtained data allows precise measurements of heartbeat, blood flow velocity and other important parameters (see Videos S1 and S2). To validate the developed image processing technique, we have carried out multiple experiments on zebrafish-a well-proven informative model organism widely used to understand cardiac development. The proposed approach may be effective for the study of cardiovascular system formation and functioning as well as the impact of various influencing factors on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S Machikhin
- Laboratory of Acoustooptical Spectroscopy, Scientific and Technological Center of Unique Instrumentation, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander B Burlakov
- Department of Ichthyology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail V Volkov
- Department of Applied Optics, University ITMO, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Demid D Khokhlov
- Laboratory of Acoustooptical Spectroscopy, Scientific and Technological Center of Unique Instrumentation, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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18
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Vedder VL, Aherrahrou Z, Erdmann J. Dare to Compare. Development of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Human, Mouse, and Zebrafish. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:109. [PMID: 32714944 PMCID: PMC7344238 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, are the leading cause of death worldwide. Although mice are currently the most commonly used model for atherosclerosis, zebrafish are emerging as an alternative, especially for inflammatory and lipid metabolism studies. Here, we review the history of in vivo atherosclerosis models and highlight the potential for future studies on inflammatory responses in lipid deposits in zebrafish, based on known immune reactions in humans and mice, in anticipation of new zebrafish models with more advanced atherosclerotic plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana L Vedder
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,University Heart Centre Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Zouhair Aherrahrou
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,University Heart Centre Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jeanette Erdmann
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,University Heart Centre Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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19
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Keller BB, Kowalski WJ, Tinney JP, Tobita K, Hu N. Validating the Paradigm That Biomechanical Forces Regulate Embryonic Cardiovascular Morphogenesis and Are Fundamental in the Etiology of Congenital Heart Disease. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020; 7:E23. [PMID: 32545681 PMCID: PMC7344498 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd7020023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The goal of this review is to provide a broad overview of the biomechanical maturation and regulation of vertebrate cardiovascular (CV) morphogenesis and the evidence for mechanistic relationships between function and form relevant to the origins of congenital heart disease (CHD). The embryonic heart has been investigated for over a century, initially focusing on the chick embryo due to the opportunity to isolate and investigate myocardial electromechanical maturation, the ability to directly instrument and measure normal cardiac function, intervene to alter ventricular loading conditions, and then investigate changes in functional and structural maturation to deduce mechanism. The paradigm of "Develop and validate quantitative techniques, describe normal, perturb the system, describe abnormal, then deduce mechanisms" was taught to many young investigators by Dr. Edward B. Clark and then validated by a rapidly expanding number of teams dedicated to investigate CV morphogenesis, structure-function relationships, and pathogenic mechanisms of CHD. Pioneering studies using the chick embryo model rapidly expanded into a broad range of model systems, particularly the mouse and zebrafish, to investigate the interdependent genetic and biomechanical regulation of CV morphogenesis. Several central morphogenic themes have emerged. First, CV morphogenesis is inherently dependent upon the biomechanical forces that influence cell and tissue growth and remodeling. Second, embryonic CV systems dynamically adapt to changes in biomechanical loading conditions similar to mature systems. Third, biomechanical loading conditions dynamically impact and are regulated by genetic morphogenic systems. Fourth, advanced imaging techniques coupled with computational modeling provide novel insights to validate regulatory mechanisms. Finally, insights regarding the genetic and biomechanical regulation of CV morphogenesis and adaptation are relevant to current regenerative strategies for patients with CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley B. Keller
- Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute, Greater Louisville and Western Kentucky Practice, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - William J. Kowalski
- Laboratory of Stem Cell and Neuro-Vascular Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Joseph P. Tinney
- Kosair Charities Pediatric Heart Research Program, Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
| | - Kimimasa Tobita
- Department of Medical Affairs, Abiomed Japan K.K., Muromachi Higashi Mitsui Bldg, Tokyo 103-0022, Japan;
| | - Norman Hu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA;
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20
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Benslimane FM, Zakaria ZZ, Shurbaji S, Abdelrasool MKA, Al-Badr MAHI, Al Absi ESK, Yalcin HC. Cardiac function and blood flow hemodynamics assessment of zebrafish (Danio rerio) using high-speed video microscopy. Micron 2020; 136:102876. [PMID: 32512409 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2020.102876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last few decades, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were introduced as a model organism to investigate human diseases including cardiovascular and neuronal disorders. In most zebrafish investigations, cardiac function and blood flow hemodynamics need to be assessed to study the effects of the interference on the cardiovascular system. For heart function assessment, most important parameters include heart rate, cardiac output, ejection fraction, fractional area change, and fractional shortening. METHODS A 10 s high-speed video of beating heart and flowing blood within major vessels of zebrafish that are less than 5 days post fertilization (dpf) were recorded via a stereo microscope equipped with a high speed camera. The videos were analyzed using MicroZebraLab and image J software for the assessment of cardiac function. RESULTS Using the technique described here, we were able to simply yet effectively assess cardiac function and blood flow dynamics of normal zebrafish embryos. We believe that the practical method presented here will help cardiac researchers using the zebrafish as a model to examine cardiac function by using tools that could be available in their laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zain Z Zakaria
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Samar Shurbaji
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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