1
|
Parameshwar PK, Vaillancourt C, Moraes C. Engineering placental trophoblast fusion: A potential role for biomechanics in syncytialization. Placenta 2024:S0143-4004(24)00054-7. [PMID: 38448351 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The process by which placental trophoblasts fuse to form the syncytiotrophoblast around the chorionic villi is not fully understood. Mechanical features of the in vivo and in vitro culture environments have recently emerged as having the potential to influence fusion efficiency, and considering these mechanical cues may ultimately allow predictive control of trophoblast syncytialization. Here, we review recent studies that suggest that biomechanical factors such as shear stress, tissue stiffness, and dimensionally-related stresses affect villous trophoblast fusion efficiency. We then discuss how these stimuli might arise in vivo and how they can be incorporated in cultures to study and enhance villous trophoblast fusion. We believe that this mechanical paradigm will provide novel insight into manipulating the syncytialization process to better engineer improved models, understand disease progression, and ultimately develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Cathy Vaillancourt
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, H7B 1B7, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, and Research Center Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3L 1K5, Canada
| | - Christopher Moraes
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0C5, Canada; Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xie T, St Pierre SR, Olaranont N, Brown LE, Wu M, Sun Y. Condensation tendency and planar isotropic actin gradient induce radial alignment in confined monolayers. eLife 2021; 10:e60381. [PMID: 34542405 PMCID: PMC8478414 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A monolayer of highly motile cells can establish long-range orientational order, which can be explained by hydrodynamic theory of active gels and fluids. However, it is less clear how cell shape changes and rearrangement are governed when the monolayer is in mechanical equilibrium states when cell motility diminishes. In this work, we report that rat embryonic fibroblasts (REF), when confined in circular mesoscale patterns on rigid substrates, can transition from the spindle shapes to more compact morphologies. Cells align radially only at the pattern boundary when they are in the mechanical equilibrium. This radial alignment disappears when cell contractility or cell-cell adhesion is reduced. Unlike monolayers of spindle-like cells such as NIH-3T3 fibroblasts with minimal intercellular interactions or epithelial cells like Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) with strong cortical actin network, confined REF monolayers present an actin gradient with isotropic meshwork, suggesting the existence of a stiffness gradient. In addition, the REF cells tend to condense on soft substrates, a collective cell behavior we refer to as the 'condensation tendency'. This condensation tendency, together with geometrical confinement, induces tensile prestretch (i.e. an isotropic stretch that causes tissue to contract when released) to the confined monolayer. By developing a Voronoi-cell model, we demonstrate that the combined global tissue prestretch and cell stiffness differential between the inner and boundary cells can sufficiently define the cell radial alignment at the pattern boundary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianfa Xie
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
| | - Sarah R St Pierre
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
| | - Nonthakorn Olaranont
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcesterUnited States
| | - Lauren E Brown
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
| | - Min Wu
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcesterUnited States
| | - Yubing Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Riehl BD, Kim E, Bouzid T, Lim JY. The Role of Microenvironmental Cues and Mechanical Loading Milieus in Breast Cancer Cell Progression and Metastasis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:608526. [PMID: 33585411 PMCID: PMC7874074 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.608526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer can disrupt the microenvironments and mechanical homeostatic actions in multiple scales from large tissue modification to altered cellular signaling pathway in mechanotransduction. In this review, we highlight recent progresses in breast cancer cell mechanobiology focusing on cell-microenvironment interaction and mechanical loading regulation of cells. First, the effects of microenvironmental cues on breast cancer cell progression and metastasis will be reviewed with respect to substrate stiffness, chemical/topographic substrate patterning, and 2D vs. 3D cultures. Then, the role of mechanical loading situations such as tensile stretch, compression, and flow-induced shear will be discussed in relation to breast cancer cell mechanobiology and metastasis prevention. Ultimately, the substrate microenvironment and mechanical signal will work together to control cancer cell progression and metastasis. The discussions on breast cancer cell responsiveness to mechanical signals, from static substrate and dynamic loading, and the mechanotransduction pathways involved will facilitate interdisciplinary knowledge transfer, enabling further insights into prognostic markers, mechanically mediated metastasis pathways for therapeutic targets, and model systems required to advance cancer mechanobiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon D Riehl
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Eunju Kim
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Tasneem Bouzid
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Jung Yul Lim
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States.,Mary and Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gao J, Yang C, Li J, Liu S, Ao Z, Han D. Interfacial Curvature as a Potential Index for Prognosis of Colon Adenocarcinoma. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e1900277. [PMID: 33729697 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Tumor invasion and metastasis are complex interfacial mechanical processes between the tumor and its surrounding tissue, with the interfacial curvature of tumor playing an important role in cancer progression. In this study, the potential role of interfacial curvature in the prognosis of patients with colon adenocarcinoma is investigated. The front edge interfacial curvature of adenocarcinoma from biopsies of patients in different tumor, lymph node, and metastasis (TNM) stages are calculated and compared, and prognosis assessment is conducted using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Results reveal that patients with larger interfacial curvature of adenocarcinoma are more likely to belong to higher TNM stages. Concomitantly, in the same TNM stage, patients with increased adenocarcinoma interfacial curvature show worse prognosis with higher recurrence and lower survival rates. Besides, interfacial curvature is an independent prognostic factor for cause-specific survival and relapse-free survival among all selected patients. Mechanical models of colon adenocarcinoma invasion and metastasis are established to better understand the close association between interfacial curvature and tumor progression. The results together with hematoxylin and eosin staining indicate that metastasis in stages T3N0M0 and T3N1M0 may be linked to large interfacial curvatures. Therefore, interfacial curvature may serve as a potential index for predicting prognosis in patients with colon adenocarcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Chongqing Yang
- Pathology Department, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, 100730, P. R. China
| | - Jianjun Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Sidi Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhuo Ao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Dong Han
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li Y, Khuu N, Prince E, Tao H, Zhang N, Chen Z, Gevorkian A, McGuigan AP, Kumacheva E. Matrix Stiffness-Regulated Growth of Breast Tumor Spheroids and Their Response to Chemotherapy. Biomacromolecules 2020; 22:419-429. [PMID: 33136364 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) are an important factor contributing to therapy failure in cancer patients. Current in vitro breast cancer spheroid models examining the role of mechanical properties on spheroid response to chemotherapy are limited by the use of two-dimensional cell culture, as well as simultaneous variation in hydrogel matrix stiffness and other properties, e.g., hydrogel composition, pore size, and cell adhesion ligand density. In addition, currently used hydrogel matrices do not replicate the filamentous ECM architecture in a breast tumor microenvironment. Here, we report a collagen-alginate hydrogel with a filamentous architecture and a 20-fold variation in stiffness, achieved independently of other properties, used for the evaluation of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer spheroid response to doxorubicin. The variation in hydrogel mechanical properties was achieved by altering the degree of cross-linking of alginate molecules. We show that soft hydrogels promote the growth of larger MCF-7 tumor spheroids with a lower fraction of proliferating cells and enhance spheroid resistance to doxorubicin. Notably, the stiffness-dependent chemotherapeutic response of the spheroids was temporally mediated: it became apparent at sufficiently long cell culture times, when the matrix stiffness has influenced the spheroid growth. These findings highlight the significance of decoupling matrix stiffness from other characteristics in studies of chemotherapeutic resistance of tumor spheroids and in development of drug screening platforms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, People's Republic of China
| | - Nancy Khuu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Elisabeth Prince
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Huachen Tao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Ningtong Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Zhengkun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Albert Gevorkian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Alison P McGuigan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada.,The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada.,The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li J, Wijeratne SS, Nelson TE, Lin TC, He X, Feng X, Nikoloutsos N, Fang R, Jiang K, Lian I, Kiang CH. Dependence of Membrane Tether Strength on Substrate Rigidity Probed by Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:4173-4178. [PMID: 32356665 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c00730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Substrate rigidity modulates cell mechanics, which affect cell migration and proliferation. Quantifying the effects of substrate rigidity on cancer cell mechanics requires a quantifiable parameter that can be measured for individual cells, as well as a substrate platform with rigidity being the only variable. Here we used single-cell force spectroscopy to pull cancer cells on substrates varying only in rigidity, and extracted a parameter from the force-distance curves to be used to quantify the properties of membrane tethers. Our results showed that tether force increases with substrate rigidity until it reaches its asymptotic limit. The variations are similar for all three cancer cell lines studied, and the largest change occurs in the rigidity regions of softer tissues, indicating a universal response of cancer cell elasticity to substrate rigidity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingqiang Li
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Sithara S Wijeratne
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Tyler E Nelson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710, United States
| | - Tsung-Cheng Lin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Xin He
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Xuewen Feng
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Nicolas Nikoloutsos
- Department of Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710, United States
| | - Raymond Fang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Kevin Jiang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Ian Lian
- Department of Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710, United States
| | - Ching-Hwa Kiang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhu P, Hawkins J, Linthicum WH, Wang M, Li N, Zhou N, Wen Q, Timme-Laragy A, Song X, Sun Y. Heavy Metal Exposure Leads to Rapid Changes in Cellular Biophysical Properties. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:1965-1976. [PMID: 33455329 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b01640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Biophysical properties of cells, such as cell mechanics, cell shape, and cell migration, are emerging hallmarks for characterizing various cell functions. Conversely, disruptions to these biophysical properties may be used as reliable indicators of disruptions to cell homeostasis, such as in the case of chemical-induced toxicity. In this study, we demonstrate that treatment of lead(II) nitrate and cadmium nitrate leads to dosage-dependent changes in a collection of biophysical properties, including cellular traction forces, focal adhesions, mechanical stiffness, cell shape, migration speed, permeability, and wound-healing efficacy in mammalian cells. As those changes appear within a few hours after the treatment with a trace amount of lead/cadmium, our results highlight the promise of using biophysical properties to screen environmental chemicals to identify potential toxicants and establish dose response curves. Our systematic and quantitative characterization of the rapid changes in cytoskeletal structure and cell functions upon heavy metal treatment may inspire new research on the mechanisms of toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peiran Zhu
- Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China.,Institute of Advanced Technology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | | | - Will Hamilton Linthicum
- Department of Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, United States
| | - Menglin Wang
- Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, Anhui Province, China
| | | | - Nanjia Zhou
- Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China.,Institute of Advanced Technology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qi Wen
- Department of Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, United States
| | | | - Xiaofei Song
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
|
9
|
Ma Z, Sagrillo-Fagundes L, Tran R, Parameshwar PK, Kalashnikov N, Vaillancourt C, Moraes C. Biomimetic Micropatterned Adhesive Surfaces To Mechanobiologically Regulate Placental Trophoblast Fusion. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:47810-47821. [PMID: 31773938 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b19906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The placental syncytiotrophoblast is a giant multinucleated cell that forms a tree-like structure and regulates transport between mother and baby during development. It is maintained throughout pregnancy by continuous fusion of trophoblast cells, and disruptions in fusion are associated with considerable adverse health effects including diseases such as preeclampsia. Developing predictive control over cell fusion in culture models is hence of critical importance in placental drug discovery and transport studies, but this can currently be only partially achieved with biochemical factors. Here, we investigate whether biophysical signals associated with budding morphogenesis during development of the placental villous tree can synergistically direct and enhance trophoblast fusion. We use micropatterning techniques to manipulate physical stresses in engineered microtissues and demonstrate that biomimetic geometries simulating budding robustly enhance fusion and alter spatial patterns of synthesis of pregnancy-related hormones. These findings indicate that biophysical signals play a previously unrecognized and significant role in regulating placental fusion and function, in synergy with established soluble signals. More broadly, our studies demonstrate that biomimetic strategies focusing on tissue mechanics can be important approaches to design, build, and test placental tissue cultures for future studies of pregnancy-related drug safety, efficacy, and discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenwei Ma
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McGill University , Montréal , QC H3A 0C5 , Canada
| | - Lucas Sagrillo-Fagundes
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McGill University , Montréal , QC H3A 0C5 , Canada
- INRS-Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotehnologie and Réseau Intersectoriel de Recherche en Santé de l'Université du Québec , Laval , QC H7V 1B7 , Canada
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Well-Being, Health, Society and Environment , Université du Québec à Montréal , Montréal , QC H3C 3P8 , Canada
| | - Raymond Tran
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McGill University , Montréal , QC H3A 0C5 , Canada
| | - Prabu Karthick Parameshwar
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering , McGill University , Montréal , QC H3A 2B4 , Canada
| | - Nikita Kalashnikov
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McGill University , Montréal , QC H3A 0C5 , Canada
| | - Cathy Vaillancourt
- INRS-Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotehnologie and Réseau Intersectoriel de Recherche en Santé de l'Université du Québec , Laval , QC H7V 1B7 , Canada
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Well-Being, Health, Society and Environment , Université du Québec à Montréal , Montréal , QC H3C 3P8 , Canada
| | - Christopher Moraes
- Department of Chemical Engineering , McGill University , Montréal , QC H3A 0C5 , Canada
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering , McGill University , Montréal , QC H3A 2B4 , Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre , McGill University , Montréal , QC H3A 1A3 , Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
|