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Donnaloja F, Raimondi MT, Messa L, Barzaghini B, Carnevali F, Colombo E, Mazza D, Martinelli C, Boeri L, Rey F, Cereda C, Osellame R, Cerullo G, Carelli S, Soncini M, Jacchetti E. 3D photopolymerized microstructured scaffolds influence nuclear deformation, nucleo/cytoskeletal protein organization, and gene regulation in mesenchymal stem cells. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:036112. [PMID: 37692376 PMCID: PMC10491463 DOI: 10.1063/5.0153215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical stimuli from the extracellular environment affect cell morphology and functionality. Recently, we reported that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) grown in a custom-made 3D microscaffold, the Nichoid, are able to express higher levels of stemness markers. In fact, the Nichoid is an interesting device for autologous MSC expansion in clinical translation and would appear to regulate gene activity by altering intracellular force transmission. To corroborate this hypothesis, we investigated mechanotransduction-related nuclear mechanisms, and we also treated spread cells with a drug that destroys the actin cytoskeleton. We observed a roundish nuclear shape in MSCs cultured in the Nichoid and correlated the nuclear curvature with the import of transcription factors. We observed a more homogeneous euchromatin distribution in cells cultured in the Nichoid with respect to the Flat sample, corresponding to a standard glass coverslip. These results suggest a different gene regulation, which we confirmed by an RNA-seq analysis that revealed the dysregulation of 1843 genes. We also observed a low structured lamina mesh, which, according to the implemented molecular dynamic simulations, indicates reduced damping activity, thus supporting the hypothesis of low intracellular force transmission. Also, our investigations regarding lamin expression and spatial organization support the hypothesis that the gene dysregulation induced by the Nichoid is mainly related to a reduction in force transmission. In conclusion, our findings revealing the Nichoid's effects on MSC behavior is a step forward in the control of stem cells via mechanical manipulation, thus paving the way to new strategies for MSC translation to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Donnaloja
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Teresa Raimondi
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Bianca Barzaghini
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Carnevali
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Davide Mazza
- Istituto Scientifico Ospedale San Raffaele, Centro di Imaging Sperimentale, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Martinelli
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Boeri
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Rey
- Pediatric Research Center “Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi,” Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Center of Functional Genomic and Rare Diseases, “V. Buzzi” Children's Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Osellame
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies—CNR, and Physics Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Cerullo
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies—CNR, and Physics Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Monica Soncini
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Jacchetti
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Afthinos A, Bera K, Chen J, Ozcelikkale A, Amitrano A, Choudhury MI, Huang R, Pachidis P, Mistriotis P, Chen Y, Konstantopoulos K. Migration and 3D Traction Force Measurements inside Compliant Microchannels. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:7318-7327. [PMID: 36112517 PMCID: PMC9872269 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Cells migrate in vivo through channel-like tracks. While polydimethylsiloxane devices emulate such tracks in vitro, their channel walls are impermeable and have supraphysiological stiffness. Existing hydrogel-based platforms address these issues but cannot provide high-throughput analysis of cell motility in independently controllable stiffness and confinement. We herein develop polyacrylamide (PA)-based microchannels of physiological stiffness and prescribed dimensions for high-throughput analysis of cell migration and identify a biphasic dependence of speed upon confinement and stiffness. By utilizing novel four-walled microchannels with heterogeneous stiffness, we reveal the distinct contributions of apicolateral versus basal microchannel wall stiffness to confined versus unconfined migration. While the basal wall stiffness dictates unconfined migration, apicolateral stiffness controls confined migration. By tracking nanobeads embedded within channel walls, we innovate three-dimensional traction force measurements around spatially confining cells at subcellular resolution. Our unique and highly customizable device fabrication strategy provides a physiologically relevant in vitro platform to study confined cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Afthinos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
| | - Kaustav Bera
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
| | - Junjie Chen
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Center for Cell Dynamics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21205, USA
| | - Altug Ozcelikkale
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06531 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Alice Amitrano
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
| | - Mohammad Ikbal Choudhury
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
| | - Randy Huang
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Center for Cell Dynamics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21205, USA
| | - Pavlos Pachidis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
| | - Panagiotis Mistriotis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn AL, 36849, USA
| | - Yun Chen
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Center for Cell Dynamics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21205, USA
| | - Konstantinos Konstantopoulos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, 21205, USA
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Moyle LA, Davoudi S, Gilbert PM. Innovation in culture systems to study muscle complexity. Exp Cell Res 2021; 411:112966. [PMID: 34906582 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Endogenous skeletal muscle development, regeneration, and pathology are extremely complex processes, influenced by local and systemic factors. Unpinning how these mechanisms function is crucial for fundamental biology and to develop therapeutic interventions for genetic disorders, but also conditions like sarcopenia and volumetric muscle loss. Ex vivo skeletal muscle models range from two- and three-dimensional primary cultures of satellite stem cell-derived myoblasts grown alone or in co-culture, to single muscle myofibers, myobundles, and whole tissues. Together, these systems provide the opportunity to gain mechanistic insights of stem cell behavior, cell-cell interactions, and mature muscle function in simplified systems, without confounding variables. Here, we highlight recent advances (published in the last 5 years) using in vitro primary cells and ex vivo skeletal muscle models, and summarize the new insights, tools, datasets, and screening methods they have provided. Finally, we highlight the opportunity for exponential advance of skeletal muscle knowledge, with spatiotemporal resolution, that is offered by guiding the study of muscle biology and physiology with in silico modelling and implementing high-content cell biology systems and ex vivo physiology platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise A Moyle
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Sadegh Davoudi
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Penney M Gilbert
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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Zhang Y, Jing X, Li Z, Tian Q, Wang Q, Chen X. Investigation of the role of the miR17-92 cluster in BMP9-induced osteoblast lineage commitment. J Orthop Surg Res 2021; 16:652. [PMID: 34717687 PMCID: PMC8557618 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-021-02804-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) has been identified as a crucial inducer of osteoblastic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Although microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play a role in MSC osteogenesis, the mechanisms of action of miRNAs in BMP9-induced osteoblastic differentiation remain poorly understood. METHODS In this study, we investigate the possible role of the miR17-92 cluster in the BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs by using both in vitro and in vivo bone formation assays. RESULTS The results show that miR-17, a member of the miR17-92 cluster, significantly impairs BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation. This impairment is effectively rescued by a miR-17 sponge, an antagomiR sequence against miR-17. Using TargetScan and the 3'-untranslated region luciferase reporter assays, we show that the direct target of miR-17 is the retinoblastoma gene (RB1), a gene that is pivotal to osteoblastic differentiation. We also confirm that RB1 is essential for the miR-17 effects on osteogenesis. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that miR-17 expression impairs normal osteogenesis by downregulating RB1 expression and significantly inhibiting the function of BMP9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyuan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xuran Jing
- Department of Molecular Laboratory, Qingdao, Endocrine and Diabetes Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongzhu Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Pingyi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Linyi, 273300, Shandong, China
| | - Qingwu Tian
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
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González-García C, Cantini M, Ballester-Beltrán J, Altankov G, Salmerón-Sánchez M. The strength of the protein-material interaction determines cell fate. Acta Biomater 2018; 77:74-84. [PMID: 30006313 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are key mediators of cell/material interactions. The surface density and conformation of these proteins adsorbed on the material surface influence cell adhesion and the cellular response. We have previously shown that subtle variations in surface chemistry lead to drastic changes in the conformation of adsorbed fibronectin (FN). On poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA), FN unfolds and displays domains for cell adhesion and FN-FN interaction, whereas on poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) - with only one methyl group less - FN remains globular as it is in solution. The effect of the strength of the protein/material interaction in cell response, and its relation to protein density and conformation, has received limited attention so far. In this work, we used FN-functionalized AFM cantilevers to evaluate, via force spectroscopy, the strength of interaction between fibronectin and the underlying polymer which controls FN conformation (PEA and PMA). We found that the strength of FN/PEA interaction is significantly higher than FN/PMA, which limits the mobility of FN layer on PEA, reduces the ability of cells to mechanically reorganize FN and then leads to enhanced proteolysis and degradation of the surrounding matrix with compromised cell viability. By contrast, both PEA and PMA support cell adhesion when FN density is increased and also in the presence of serum or other serum proteins, including vitronectin (VN) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), which provide a higher degree of mobility to the matrix. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The identification of parameters influencing cell response is of paramount importance for the design of biomaterials that will act as synthetic scaffolds for cells to anchor, grow and, eventually, become specialised tissues. Cells interact with materials through an intermediate layer of proteins adsorbed on the material surface. It is known that the density and conformation of these proteins determine cell behaviour. Here we show that the strength of protein/material interactions, which has received very limited attention so far, is key to understand the cellular response to biomaterials. Very strong protein/material interactions reduce the ability of cells to mechanically reorganize proteins at the material interface which results in enhanced matrix degradation, leading ultimately to compromised cell viability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Cantini
- Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - George Altankov
- Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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