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Marvin Tan XH, Wang Y, Zhu X, Mendes FN, Chung PS, Chow YT, Man T, Lan H, Lin YJ, Zhang X, Zhang X, Nguyen T, Ardehali R, Teitell MA, Deb A, Chiou PY. Massive field-of-view sub-cellular traction force videography enabled by Single-Pixel Optical Tracers (SPOT). Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 258:116318. [PMID: 38701538 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116318] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
We report a massive field-of-view and high-speed videography platform for measuring the sub-cellular traction forces of more than 10,000 biological cells over 13 mm2 at 83 frames per second. Our Single-Pixel Optical Tracers (SPOT) tool uses 2-dimensional diffraction gratings embedded into a soft substrate to convert cells' mechanical traction force into optical colors detectable by a video camera. The platform measures the sub-cellular traction forces of diverse cell types, including tightly connected tissue sheets and near isolated cells. We used this platform to explore the mechanical wave propagation in a tightly connected sheet of Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes (NRVMs) and discovered that the activation time of some tissue regions are heterogeneous from the overall spiral wave behavior of the cardiac wave.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Haw Marvin Tan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States; Department of Electronics and Photonics, Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, 138632, Singapore
| | - Yijie Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 675 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Xiongfeng Zhu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Felipe Nanni Mendes
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Pei-Shan Chung
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Yu Ting Chow
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Tianxing Man
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Hsin Lan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Yen-Ju Lin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Xiaohe Zhang
- Department of Mathematics, University of California Los Angeles, 520 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Thang Nguyen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Reza Ardehali
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 675 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Michael A Teitell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 675 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Arjun Deb
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 675 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Pei-Yu Chiou
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States.
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2
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Dindo M, Bevilacqua A, Soligo G, Calabrese V, Monti A, Shen AQ, Rosti ME, Laurino P. Chemotactic Interactions Drive Migration of Membraneless Active Droplets. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:15965-15976. [PMID: 38620052 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
In nature, chemotactic interactions are ubiquitous and play a critical role in driving the collective behavior of living organisms. Reproducing these interactions in vitro is still a paramount challenge due to the complexity of mimicking and controlling cellular features, such as tangled metabolic networks, cytosolic macromolecular crowding, and cellular migration, on a microorganism size scale. Here, we generate enzymatically active cell-sized droplets able to move freely, and by following a chemical gradient, able to interact with the surrounding droplets in a collective manner. The enzyme within the droplets generates a pH gradient that extends outside the edge of the droplets. We discovered that the external pH gradient triggers droplet migration and controls its directionality, which is selectively toward the neighboring droplets. Hence, by changing the enzyme activity inside the droplet, we tuned the droplet migration speed. Furthermore, we showed that these cellular-like features can facilitate the reconstitution of a simple and linear protometabolic pathway and increase the final reaction product generation. Our work suggests that simple and stable membraneless droplets can reproduce complex biological phenomena, opening new perspectives as bioinspired materials and synthetic biology tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirco Dindo
- Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0412, Japan
| | - Alessandro Bevilacqua
- Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0412, Japan
| | - Giovanni Soligo
- Complex Fluids and Flows Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0412, Japan
| | - Vincenzo Calabrese
- Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0412, Japan
| | - Alessandro Monti
- Complex Fluids and Flows Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0412, Japan
| | - Amy Q Shen
- Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0412, Japan
| | - Marco Edoardo Rosti
- Complex Fluids and Flows Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0412, Japan
| | - Paola Laurino
- Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0412, Japan
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
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Katoh TA, Fukai YT, Ishibashi T. Optical microscopic imaging, manipulation, and analysis methods for morphogenesis research. Microscopy (Oxf) 2024; 73:226-242. [PMID: 38102756 PMCID: PMC11154147 DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfad059] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Morphogenesis is a developmental process of organisms being shaped through complex and cooperative cellular movements. To understand the interplay between genetic programs and the resulting multicellular morphogenesis, it is essential to characterize the morphologies and dynamics at the single-cell level and to understand how physical forces serve as both signaling components and driving forces of tissue deformations. In recent years, advances in microscopy techniques have led to improvements in imaging speed, resolution and depth. Concurrently, the development of various software packages has supported large-scale, analyses of challenging images at the single-cell resolution. While these tools have enhanced our ability to examine dynamics of cells and mechanical processes during morphogenesis, their effective integration requires specialized expertise. With this background, this review provides a practical overview of those techniques. First, we introduce microscopic techniques for multicellular imaging and image analysis software tools with a focus on cell segmentation and tracking. Second, we provide an overview of cutting-edge techniques for mechanical manipulation of cells and tissues. Finally, we introduce recent findings on morphogenetic mechanisms and mechanosensations that have been achieved by effectively combining microscopy, image analysis tools and mechanical manipulation techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanobu A Katoh
- Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yohsuke T Fukai
- Nonequilibrium Physics of Living Matter RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 2-2-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Tomoki Ishibashi
- Laboratory for Physical Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 2-2-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
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Tang L, Wang YJ, Wang YY, Li ST, Kong L, Li XT, Ma LL, Liu XX. Construction of ROS-Responsive Hyaluronic Acid Modified Paclitaxel and Diosgenin Liposomes and Study on Synergistic Enhancement of Anti-Ovarian Cancer Efficacy. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:5193-5211. [PMID: 38859958 PMCID: PMC11162966 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s455942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Ovarian cancer is a fatal gynecologic malignancy with a high rate of abdominal metastasis. Chemotherapy still has a poor clinical prognosis for ovarian cancer patients, with cell proliferation and angiogenesis leading to invasion, migration, and recurrence. To overcome these obstacles, we constructed a novel HA-modified paclitaxel and diosgenin liposome (PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs) using two novel functional materials, DSPE-PEG2000-HA and DSPE-PEG2000-TK-PEG5000, to specifically deliver the drugs to the tumor site in order to reduce OC cell proliferation and anti-angiogenic generation, thereby inhibiting invasion and migration. Methods and Results PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs were prepared by film dispersion, with ideal physicochemical properties and exhibits active targeting for enhanced cellular uptake. The ZIP synergy score for PTX and Dios was calculated using the online SynergyFinder software to be 3.15, indicating synergy. In vitro results showed that PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs were highly cytotoxic to ID8 cells, induced ID8 cell apoptosis, and inhibited ID8 cell migration and invasion. In vivo studies showed that PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs could prolong the circulation time in the blood, accumulate significantly in the tumor site, and effectively fight against angiogenesis with significant anti-tumor effects. Conclusion The production of PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs is an effective strategy for the treatment of OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Tang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Jia Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shu-Tong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, 116600, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liang Kong
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, 116600, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xue-Tao Li
- School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, 116600, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling-Ling Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiu-Xiu Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, People’s Republic of China
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5
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Vos BE, Muenker TM, Betz T. Characterizing intracellular mechanics via optical tweezers-based microrheology. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 88:102374. [PMID: 38824902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular organization is a highly regulated homeostatic state maintained to ensure eukaryotic cells' correct and efficient functioning. Thanks to decades of research, vast knowledge of the proteins involved in intracellular transport and organization has been acquired. However, how these influence and potentially regulate the intracellular mechanical properties of the cell is largely unknown. There is a deep knowledge gap between the understanding of cortical mechanics, which is accessible by a series of experimental tools, and the intracellular situation that has been largely neglected due to the difficulty of performing intracellular mechanics measurements. Recently, tools required for such quantitative and localized analysis of intracellular mechanics have been introduced. Here, we review how these approaches and the resulting viscoelastic models lead the way to a full mechanical description of the cytoplasm, which is instrumental for a quantitative characterization of the intracellular life of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart E Vos
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Till M Muenker
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Timo Betz
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence 'Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells' (MBExC), Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
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6
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Lunova M, Jirsa M, Dejneka A, Sullivan GJ, Lunov O. Mechanical regulation of mitochondrial morphodynamics in cancer cells by extracellular microenvironment. BIOMATERIALS AND BIOSYSTEMS 2024; 14:100093. [PMID: 38585282 PMCID: PMC10992729 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbiosy.2024.100093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, it has been recognized that physical abnormalities (e.g. elevated solid stress, elevated interstitial fluid pressure, increased stiffness) are associated with tumor progression and development. Additionally, these mechanical forces originating from tumor cell environment through mechanotransduction pathways can affect metabolism. On the other hand, mitochondria are well-known as bioenergetic, biosynthetic, and signaling organelles crucial for sensing stress and facilitating cellular adaptation to the environment and physical stimuli. Disruptions in mitochondrial dynamics and function have been found to play a role in the initiation and advancement of cancer. Consequently, it is logical to hypothesize that mitochondria dynamics subjected to physical cues may play a pivotal role in mediating tumorigenesis. Recently mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover, fission and fusion dynamics was linked to mechanotransduction in cancer. However, how cancer cell mechanics and mitochondria functions are connected, still remain poorly understood. Here, we discuss recent studies that link mechanical stimuli exerted by the tumor cell environment and mitochondria dynamics and functions. This interplay between mechanics and mitochondria functions may shed light on how mitochondria regulate tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Lunova
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18200, Czech Republic
- Institute for Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Prague 14021, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Jirsa
- Institute for Clinical & Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Prague 14021, Czech Republic
| | - Alexandr Dejneka
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18200, Czech Republic
| | | | - Oleg Lunov
- Department of Optical and Biophysical Systems, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18200, Czech Republic
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V Yannas I. Unusual cell-cell cooperative mechanical activity elucidates the process of tissue regeneration. J Biomech 2024; 171:112174. [PMID: 38852483 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
We have studied wound contraction in three model wounds in animals: excised skin (guinea pig), transected peripheral nerve (rat) and the excised conjunctiva (rabbit). Wound contraction is driven by myofibroblasts bound together by adherens junctions (AJ) that confer cooperative activity to myofibroblasts during wound contraction and synthesis of scar. Grafting with the dermis regeneration template (DRT) cancels cell cooperativity by abolishing AJ connections in myofibroblasts, while also cancelling wound contraction, preventing synthesis of scar and inducing regeneration of excised tissues. The observed definitive prevention of scar synthesis suggests the exploration of DRT scaffolds to regenerate tissues in several other organs and to prevent fibrosis in humans.
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8
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Koh JYC, Chen L, Gong L, Tan SJ, Hou HW, Tay CY. Lost in Rotation: How TiO 2 and ZnO Nanoparticles Disrupt Coordinated Epithelial Cell Rotation. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2312007. [PMID: 38708799 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202312007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Coordinated cell movement is a cardinal feature in tissue organization that highlights the importance of cells working together as a collective unit. Disruptions to this synchronization can have far-reaching pathological consequences, ranging from developmental disorders to tissue repair impairment. Herein, it is shown that metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), even at low and non-toxic doses (1 and 10 µg mL-1), can perturb the coordinated epithelial cell rotation (CECR) in micropatterned human epithelial cell clusters via distinct nanoparticle-specific mechanisms. Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs are found to induce significant levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) to promote mitogenic activity. Generation of a new localized force field through changes in the cytoskeleton organization and an increase in cell density leads to the arrest of CECR. Conversely, epithelial cell clusters exposed to titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs maintain their CECR directionality but display suppressed rotational speed in an autophagy-dependent manner. Thus, these findings reveal that nanoparticles can actively hijack the nano-adaptive responses of epithelial cells to disrupt the fundamental mechanics of cooperation and communication in a collective setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yan Cheryl Koh
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Environmental Chemistry and Materials Centre, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637141, Singapore
| | - Liuying Chen
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Lingyan Gong
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Shao Jie Tan
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Han Wei Hou
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore
| | - Chor Yong Tay
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Environmental Chemistry and Materials Centre, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637141, Singapore
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9
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Hartmann B, Fleischhauer L, Nicolau M, Jensen THL, Taran FA, Clausen-Schaumann H, Reuten R. Profiling native pulmonary basement membrane stiffness using atomic force microscopy. Nat Protoc 2024; 19:1498-1528. [PMID: 38429517 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-00955-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian cells sense and react to the mechanics of their immediate microenvironment. Therefore, the characterization of the biomechanical properties of tissues with high spatial resolution provides valuable insights into a broad variety of developmental, homeostatic and pathological processes within living organisms. The biomechanical properties of the basement membrane (BM), an extracellular matrix (ECM) substructure measuring only ∼100-400 nm across, are, among other things, pivotal to tumor progression and metastasis formation. Although the precise assignment of the Young's modulus E of such a thin ECM substructure especially in between two cell layers is still challenging, biomechanical data of the BM can provide information of eminent diagnostic potential. Here we present a detailed protocol to quantify the elastic modulus of the BM in murine and human lung tissue, which is one of the major organs prone to metastasis. This protocol describes a streamlined workflow to determine the Young's modulus E of the BM between the endothelial and epithelial cell layers shaping the alveolar wall in lung tissues using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our step-by-step protocol provides instructions for murine and human lung tissue extraction, inflation of these tissues with cryogenic cutting medium, freezing and cryosectioning of the tissue samples, and AFM force-map recording. In addition, it guides the reader through a semi-automatic data analysis procedure to identify the pulmonary BM and extract its Young's modulus E using an in-house tailored user-friendly AFM data analysis software, the Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine processing toolbox, which enables automatic loading of the recorded force maps, conversion of the force versus piezo-extension curves to force versus indentation curves, calculation of Young's moduli and generation of Young's modulus maps, where the pulmonary BM can be identified using a semi-automatic spatial filtering tool. The entire protocol takes 1-2 d.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Hartmann
- Munich University of Applied Sciences, Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - CANTER, Munich, Germany
- Center for Nanoscience, Munich, Germany
| | - Lutz Fleischhauer
- Munich University of Applied Sciences, Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - CANTER, Munich, Germany
- Center for Nanoscience, Munich, Germany
| | - Monica Nicolau
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Hartvig Lindkær Jensen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Florin-Andrei Taran
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hauke Clausen-Schaumann
- Munich University of Applied Sciences, Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - CANTER, Munich, Germany.
- Center for Nanoscience, Munich, Germany.
| | - Raphael Reuten
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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10
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Wang C, Felli E, Selicean S, Nulan Y, Lozano JJ, Guixé-Muntet S, Bosch J, Berzigotti A, Gracia-Sancho J. Role of calcium integrin-binding protein 1 in the mechanobiology of the liver endothelium. J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e31198. [PMID: 38451745 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31198] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) dysfunction is a key process in the development of chronic liver disease (CLD). Progressive scarring increases liver stiffness in a winch-like loop stimulating a dysfunctional liver cell phenotype. Cellular stretching is supported by biomechanically modulated molecular factors (BMMFs) that can translocate into the cytoplasm to support mechanotransduction through cytoskeleton remodeling and gene transcription. Currently, the molecular mechanisms of stiffness-induced LSECs dysfunction remain largely unclear. Here we propose calcium- and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) as BMMF with crucial role in LSECs mechanobiology in CLD. CIB1 expression and translocation was characterized in healthy and cirrhotic human livers and in LSECs cultured on polyacrylamide gels with healthy and cirrhotic-like stiffnesses. Following the modulation of CIB1 with siRNA, the transcriptome was scrutinized to understand downstream effects of CIB1 downregulation. CIB1 expression is increased in LSECs in human cirrhosis. In vitro, CIB1 emerges as an endothelial BMMF. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells and LSECs, CIB1 expression and localization are modulated by stiffness-induced trafficking across the nuclear membrane. LSECs from cirrhotic liver tissue both in animal model and human disease exhibit an increased amount of CIB1 in cytoplasm. Knockdown of CIB1 in LSECs exposed to high stiffness improves LSECs phenotype by regulating the intracellular tension as well as the inflammatory response. Our results demonstrate that CIB1 is a key factor in sustaining cellular tension and stretching in response to high stiffness. CIB1 downregulation ameliorates LSECs dysfunction, enhancing their redifferentiation, and reducing the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Wang
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eric Felli
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sonia Selicean
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yeliduosi Nulan
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Juan José Lozano
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Guixé-Muntet
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Bosch
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Annalisa Berzigotti
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jordi Gracia-Sancho
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Liver Vascular Biology Research Group, IDIBAPS Biomedical Research Institute, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
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11
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Li L, Griebel ME, Uroz M, Bubli SY, Gagnon KA, Trappmann B, Baker BM, Eyckmans J, Chen CS. A Protein-Adsorbent Hydrogel with Tunable Stiffness for Tissue Culture Demonstrates Matrix-Dependent Stiffness Responses. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2024; 34:2309567. [PMID: 38693998 PMCID: PMC11060701 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202309567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Although tissue culture plastic has been widely employed for cell culture, the rigidity of plastic is not physiologic. Softer hydrogels used to culture cells have not been widely adopted in part because coupling chemistries are required to covalently capture extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and support cell adhesion. To create an in vitro system with tunable stiffnesses that readily adsorbs ECM proteins for cell culture, we present a novel hydrophobic hydrogel system via chemically converting hydroxyl residues on the dextran backbone to methacrylate groups, thereby transforming non-protein adhesive, hydrophilic dextran to highly protein adsorbent substrates. Increasing methacrylate functionality increases the hydrophobicity in the resulting hydrogels and enhances ECM protein adsorption without additional chemical reactions. These hydrophobic hydrogels permit facile and tunable modulation of substrate stiffness independent of hydrophobicity or ECM coatings. Using this approach, we show that substrate stiffness and ECM adsorption work together to affect cell morphology and proliferation, but the strengths of these effects vary in different cell types. Furthermore, we reveal that stiffness mediated differentiation of dermal fibroblasts into myofibroblasts is modulated by the substrate ECM. Our material system demonstrates remarkable simplicity and flexibility to tune ECM coatings and substrate stiffness and study their effects on cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linqing Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, 02115, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, 03824, United States
| | - Megan E Griebel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, United States
| | - Marina Uroz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, 02115, United States
| | - Saniya Yesmin Bubli
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, 03824, United States
| | - Keith A Gagnon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, United States
| | - Britta Trappmann
- Bioactive Materials Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, Münster, 48149 Germany
| | - Brendon M Baker
- Engineered Microenvironments and Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109 United States
| | - Jeroen Eyckmans
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, 02115, United States
| | - Christopher S Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, 02115, United States
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12
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Jin H, Xue Z, Liu J, Ma B, Yang J, Lei L. Advancing Organoid Engineering for Tissue Regeneration and Biofunctional Reconstruction. Biomater Res 2024; 28:0016. [PMID: 38628309 PMCID: PMC11018530 DOI: 10.34133/bmr.0016] [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: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue damage and functional abnormalities in organs have become a considerable clinical challenge. Organoids are often applied as disease models and in drug discovery and screening. Indeed, several studies have shown that organoids are an important strategy for achieving tissue repair and biofunction reconstruction. In contrast to established stem cell therapies, organoids have high clinical relevance. However, conventional approaches have limited the application of organoids in clinical regenerative medicine. Engineered organoids might have the capacity to overcome these challenges. Bioengineering-a multidisciplinary field that applies engineering principles to biomedicine-has bridged the gap between engineering and medicine to promote human health. More specifically, bioengineering principles have been applied to organoids to accelerate their clinical translation. In this review, beginning with the basic concepts of organoids, we describe strategies for cultivating engineered organoids and discuss the multiple engineering modes to create conditions for breakthroughs in organoid research. Subsequently, studies on the application of engineered organoids in biofunction reconstruction and tissue repair are presented. Finally, we highlight the limitations and challenges hindering the utilization of engineered organoids in clinical applications. Future research will focus on cultivating engineered organoids using advanced bioengineering tools for personalized tissue repair and biofunction reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hairong Jin
- Institute of Translational Medicine,
Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325200, China
- Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Zengqi Xue
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325200, China
| | - Jinnv Liu
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325200, China
| | - Binbin Ma
- Department of Biology,
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jianfeng Yang
- Institute of Translational Medicine,
Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325200, China
| | - Lanjie Lei
- Institute of Translational Medicine,
Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
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13
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Mao Y, Wickström SA. Mechanical state transitions in the regulation of tissue form and function. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00719-x. [PMID: 38600372 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00719-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
From embryonic development, postnatal growth and adult homeostasis to reparative and disease states, cells and tissues undergo constant changes in genome activity, cell fate, proliferation, movement, metabolism and growth. Importantly, these biological state transitions are coupled to changes in the mechanical and material properties of cells and tissues, termed mechanical state transitions. These mechanical states share features with physical states of matter, liquids and solids. Tissues can switch between mechanical states by changing behavioural dynamics or connectivity between cells. Conversely, these changes in tissue mechanical properties are known to control cell and tissue function, most importantly the ability of cells to move or tissues to deform. Thus, tissue mechanical state transitions are implicated in transmitting information across biological length and time scales, especially during processes of early development, wound healing and diseases such as cancer. This Review will focus on the biological basis of tissue-scale mechanical state transitions, how they emerge from molecular and cellular interactions, and their roles in organismal development, homeostasis, regeneration and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlan Mao
- Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK.
- Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Sara A Wickström
- Department of Cell and Tissue Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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14
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Saucedo-Mora L, Sanz MÁ, Montáns FJ, Benítez JM. A simple agent-based hybrid model to simulate the biophysics of glioblastoma multiforme cells and the concomitant evolution of the oxygen field. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2024; 246:108046. [PMID: 38301393 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2024.108046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive cancers of the central nervous system. It is characterized by a high mitotic activity and an infiltrative ability of the glioma cells, neovascularization and necrosis. GBM evolution entails the continuous interplay between heterogeneous cell populations, chemotaxis, and physical cues through different scales. In this work, an agent-based hybrid model is proposed to simulate the coupling of the multiscale biological events involved in the GBM invasion, specifically the individual and collective migration of GBM cells and the concurrent evolution of the oxygen field and phenotypic plasticity. An asset of the formulation is that it is conceptually and computationally simple but allows to reproduce the complexity and the progression of the GBM micro-environment at cell and tissue scales simultaneously. METHODS The migration is reproduced as the result of the interaction between every single cell and its micro-environment. The behavior of each individual cell is formulated through genotypic variables whereas the cell micro-environment is modeled in terms of the oxygen concentration and the cell density surrounding each cell. The collective behavior is formulated at a cellular scale through a flocking model. The phenotypic plasticity of the cells is induced by the micro-environment conditions, considering five phenotypes. RESULTS The model has been contrasted by benchmark problems and experimental tests showing the ability to reproduce different scenarios of glioma cell migration. In all cases, the individual and collective cell migration and the coupled evolution of both the oxygen field and phenotypic plasticity have been properly simulated. This simple formulation allows to mimic the formation of relevant hallmarks of glioblastoma multiforme, such as the necrotic cores, and to reproduce experimental evidences related to the mitotic activity in pseudopalisades. CONCLUSIONS In the collective migration, the survival of the clusters prevails at the expense of cell mitosis, regardless of the size of the groups, which delays the formation of necrotic foci and reduces the rate of oxygen consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Saucedo-Mora
- E.T.S. de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pza. Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040, Madrid, Spain; Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ, UK; Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA 02139, USA
| | - Miguel Ángel Sanz
- E.T.S. de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pza. Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Montáns
- E.T.S. de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pza. Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040, Madrid, Spain; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, FL 32611, USA
| | - José María Benítez
- E.T.S. de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pza. Cardenal Cisneros 3, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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15
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Prieto ML, Maduke M. Towards an ion-channel-centric approach to ultrasound neuromodulation. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2024; 56:101355. [PMID: 38505510 PMCID: PMC10947167 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2024.101355] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Ultrasound neuromodulation is a promising technology that could revolutionize study and treatment of brain conditions ranging from mood disorders to Alzheimer's disease and stroke. An understanding of how ultrasound directly modulates specific ion channels could provide a roadmap for targeting specific neurological circuits and achieving desired neurophysiological outcomes. Although experimental challenges make it difficult to unambiguously identify which ion channels are sensitive to ultrasound in vivo, recent progress indicates that there are likely several different ion channels involved, including members of the K2P, Piezo, and TRP channel families. A recent result linking TRPM2 channels in the hypothalamus to induction of torpor by ultrasound in rodents demonstrates the feasibility of targeting a specific ion channel in a specific population of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Loynaz Prieto
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, 279 Campus Drive West, B151 Beckman Center, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Merritt Maduke
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, 279 Campus Drive West, B155 Beckman Center, Stanford, CA 94305
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16
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Chen J, Holt JR, Evans EL, Lowengrub JS, Pathak MM. PIEZO1 regulates leader cell formation and cellular coordination during collective keratinocyte migration. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011855. [PMID: 38578817 PMCID: PMC11023636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The collective migration of keratinocytes during wound healing requires both the generation and transmission of mechanical forces for individual cellular locomotion and the coordination of movement across cells. Leader cells along the wound edge transmit mechanical and biochemical cues to ensuing follower cells, ensuring their coordinated direction of migration across multiple cells. Despite the observed importance of mechanical cues in leader cell formation and in controlling coordinated directionality of cell migration, the underlying biophysical mechanisms remain elusive. The mechanically-activated ion channel PIEZO1 was recently identified to play an inhibitory role during the reepithelialization of wounds. Here, through an integrative experimental and mathematical modeling approach, we elucidate PIEZO1's contributions to collective migration. Time-lapse microscopy reveals that PIEZO1 activity inhibits leader cell formation at the wound edge. To probe the relationship between PIEZO1 activity, leader cell formation and inhibition of reepithelialization, we developed an integrative 2D continuum model of wound closure that links observations at the single cell and collective cell migration scales. Through numerical simulations and subsequent experimental validation, we found that coordinated directionality plays a key role during wound closure and is inhibited by upregulated PIEZO1 activity. We propose that PIEZO1-mediated retraction suppresses leader cell formation which inhibits coordinated directionality between cells during collective migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghao Chen
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Jesse R. Holt
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth L. Evans
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - John S. Lowengrub
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Medha M. Pathak
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
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17
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Graham JN, Zhang G, Yeomans JM. Cell sorting by active forces in a phase-field model of cell monolayers. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:2955-2960. [PMID: 38469688 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01033c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Cell sorting, the segregation of cells with different properties into distinct domains, is a key phenomenon in biological processes such as embryogenesis. We use a phase-field model of a confluent cell layer to study the role of activity in cell sorting. We find that a mixture of cells with extensile or contractile dipolar activity, and which are identical apart from their activity, quickly sort into small, elongated patches which then grow slowly in time. We interpret the sorting as driven by the different diffusivity of the extensile and contractile cells, mirroring the ordering of Brownian particles connected to different hot and cold thermostats. We check that the free energy is not changed by either partial or complete sorting, thus confirming that activity can be responsible for the ordering even in the absence of thermodynamic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- James N Graham
- Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK.
| | - Guanming Zhang
- Center for Soft Matter Research, Department of Physics, New York University, New York 10003, USA
- Simons Center for Computational Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York 10003, USA
| | - Julia M Yeomans
- Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK.
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18
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Sakamoto N, Ito K, Ii S, Conway DE, Ueda Y, Nagatomi J. A homeostatic role of nucleus-actin filament coupling in the regulation of cellular traction forces in fibroblasts. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2024:10.1007/s10237-024-01839-1. [PMID: 38502433 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-024-01839-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Cellular traction forces are contractile forces that depend on the material/substrate stiffness and play essential roles in sensing mechanical environments and regulating cell morphology and function. Traction forces are primarily generated by the actin cytoskeleton and transmitted to the substrate through focal adhesions. The cell nucleus is also believed to be involved in the regulation of this type of force; however, the role of the nucleus in cellular traction forces remains unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of nucleus-actin filament coupling on cellular traction forces in human dermal fibroblasts cultured on substrates with varying stiffness (5, 15, and 48 kPa). To investigate these effects, we transfected the cells with a dominant-negative Klarsicht/ANC-1/Syne homology (DN-KASH) protein that was designed to displace endogenous linker proteins and disrupt nucleus-actin cytoskeleton connections. The force that exists between the cytoskeleton and the nucleus (nuclear tension) was also evaluated with a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based tension sensor. We observed a biphasic change in cellular traction forces with a peak at 15 kPa, regardless of DN-KASH expression, that was inversely correlated with the nuclear tension. In addition, the relative magnitude and distribution of traction forces in nontreated wild-type cells were similar across different stiffness conditions, while DN-KASH-transfected cells exhibited a different distribution pattern that was impacted by the substrate stiffness. These results suggest that the nucleus-actin filament coupling play a homeostatic role by maintaining the relative magnitude of cellular traction forces in fibroblasts under different stiffness conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami- Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan.
- Research Center for Medicine-Engineering Collaboration, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan.
| | - Keisuke Ito
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami- Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ii
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami- Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan
- Research Center for Medicine-Engineering Collaboration, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan
| | - Daniel E Conway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 140W 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Yuki Ueda
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami- Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan
| | - Jiro Nagatomi
- Research Center for Medicine-Engineering Collaboration, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 301 Rhodes Research Center, Clemson, SC, 29634-0905, USA
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19
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Smandri A, Al-Masawa ME, Hwei NM, Fauzi MB. ECM-derived biomaterials for regulating tissue multicellularity and maturation. iScience 2024; 27:109141. [PMID: 38405613 PMCID: PMC10884934 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent breakthroughs in developing human-relevant organotypic models led to the building of highly resemblant tissue constructs that hold immense potential for transplantation, drug screening, and disease modeling. Despite the progress in fine-tuning stem cell multilineage differentiation in highly controlled spatiotemporal conditions and hosting microenvironments, 3D models still experience naive and incomplete morphogenesis. In particular, existing systems and induction protocols fail to maintain stem cell long-term potency, induce high tissue-level multicellularity, or drive the maturity of stem cell-derived 3D models to levels seen in their in vivo counterparts. In this review, we highlight the use of extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived biomaterials in providing stem cell niche-mimicking microenvironment capable of preserving stem cell long-term potency and inducing spatial and region-specific differentiation. We also examine the maturation of different 3D models, including organoids, encapsulated in ECM biomaterials and provide looking-forward perspectives on employing ECM biomaterials in building more innovative, transplantable, and functional organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Smandri
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Maimonah Eissa Al-Masawa
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Ng Min Hwei
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Mh Busra Fauzi
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
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20
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Ebrahim T, Ebrahim AS, Kandouz M. Diversity of Intercellular Communication Modes: A Cancer Biology Perspective. Cells 2024; 13:495. [PMID: 38534339 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
From the moment a cell is on the path to malignant transformation, its interaction with other cells from the microenvironment becomes altered. The flow of molecular information is at the heart of the cellular and systemic fate in tumors, and various processes participate in conveying key molecular information from or to certain cancer cells. For instance, the loss of tight junction molecules is part of the signal sent to cancer cells so that they are no longer bound to the primary tumors and are thus free to travel and metastasize. Upon the targeting of a single cell by a therapeutic drug, gap junctions are able to communicate death information to by-standing cells. The discovery of the importance of novel modes of cell-cell communication such as different types of extracellular vesicles or tunneling nanotubes is changing the way scientists look at these processes. However, are they all actively involved in different contexts at the same time or are they recruited to fulfill specific tasks? What does the multiplicity of modes mean for the overall progression of the disease? Here, we extend an open invitation to think about the overall significance of these questions, rather than engage in an elusive attempt at a systematic repertory of the mechanisms at play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanzeela Ebrahim
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Abdul Shukkur Ebrahim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Mustapha Kandouz
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
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21
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Brenner LM, Meyer F, Yang H, Köhler AR, Bashtrykov P, Guo M, Jeltsch A, Lungu C, Olayioye MA. Repeat DNA methylation is modulated by adherens junction signaling. Commun Biol 2024; 7:286. [PMID: 38454140 PMCID: PMC10920906 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05990-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Through its involvement in gene transcription and heterochromatin formation, DNA methylation regulates how cells interact with their environment. Nevertheless, the extracellular signaling cues that modulate the distribution of this central chromatin modification are largely unclear. DNA methylation is highly abundant at repetitive elements, but its investigation in live cells has been complicated by methodological challenges. Utilizing a CRISPR/dCas9 biosensor that reads DNA methylation of human α-satellite repeats in live cells, we here uncover a signaling pathway linking the chromatin and transcriptional state of repetitive elements to epithelial adherens junction integrity. Specifically, we find that in confluent breast epithelial cell monolayers, α-satellite repeat methylation is reduced by comparison to low density cultures. This is coupled with increased transcriptional activity at repeats. Through comprehensive perturbation experiments, we identify the junctional protein E-cadherin, which links to the actin cytoskeleton, as a central molecular player for signal relay into the nucleus. Furthermore, we find that this pathway is impaired in cancer cells that lack E-cadherin and are not contact-inhibited. This suggests that the molecular connection between cell density and repetitive element methylation could play a role in the maintenance of epithelial tissue homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Marie Brenner
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Florian Meyer
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Haiqian Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA
| | - Anja R Köhler
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Pavel Bashtrykov
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ming Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Cristiana Lungu
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
- Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology (SRCSB), University of Stuttgart, Nobelstraße 15, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Monilola A Olayioye
- Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
- Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology (SRCSB), University of Stuttgart, Nobelstraße 15, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
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22
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Sone K, Sakamaki Y, Hirose S, Inagaki M, Tachikawa M, Yoshino D, Funamoto K. Hypoxia suppresses glucose-induced increases in collective cell migration in vascular endothelial cell monolayers. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5164. [PMID: 38431674 PMCID: PMC10908842 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55706-1] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood glucose levels fluctuate during daily life, and the oxygen concentration is low compared to the atmosphere. Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) maintain vascular homeostasis by sensing changes in glucose and oxygen concentrations, resulting in collective migration. However, the behaviors of ECs in response to high-glucose and hypoxic environments and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the collective migration of ECs simultaneously stimulated by changes in glucose and oxygen concentrations. Cell migration in EC monolayer formed inside the media channels of microfluidic devices was observed while varying the glucose and oxygen concentrations. The cell migration increased with increasing glucose concentration under normoxic condition but decreased under hypoxic condition, even in the presence of high glucose levels. In addition, inhibition of mitochondrial function reduced the cell migration regardless of glucose and oxygen concentrations. Thus, oxygen had a greater impact on cell migration than glucose, and aerobic energy production in mitochondria plays an important mechanistic role. These results provide new insights regarding vascular homeostasis relative to glucose and oxygen concentration changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki Sone
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-12 Aramaki-aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
- Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Yuka Sakamaki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima, Tokushima, 770-8505, Japan
| | - Satomi Hirose
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-12 Aramaki-aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
- Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Mai Inagaki
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima, Tokushima, 770-8505, Japan
| | - Masanori Tachikawa
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima, Tokushima, 770-8505, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yoshino
- Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan
| | - Kenichi Funamoto
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-12 Aramaki-aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan.
- Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8577, Japan.
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-1 Aramaki-aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8597, Japan.
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Cao R, Tian H, Tian Y, Fu X. A Hierarchical Mechanotransduction System: From Macro to Micro. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2302327. [PMID: 38145330 PMCID: PMC10953595 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Mechanotransduction is a strictly regulated process whereby mechanical stimuli, including mechanical forces and properties, are sensed and translated into biochemical signals. Increasing data demonstrate that mechanotransduction is crucial for regulating macroscopic and microscopic dynamics and functionalities. However, the actions and mechanisms of mechanotransduction across multiple hierarchies, from molecules, subcellular structures, cells, tissues/organs, to the whole-body level, have not been yet comprehensively documented. Herein, the biological roles and operational mechanisms of mechanotransduction from macro to micro are revisited, with a focus on the orchestrations across diverse hierarchies. The implications, applications, and challenges of mechanotransduction in human diseases are also summarized and discussed. Together, this knowledge from a hierarchical perspective has the potential to refresh insights into mechanotransduction regulation and disease pathogenesis and therapy, and ultimately revolutionize the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Cao
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Huimin Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Yan Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Xianghui Fu
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
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24
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Smith AM, Inocencio DG, Pardi BM, Gopinath A, Andresen Eguiluz RC. Facile Determination of the Poisson's Ratio and Young's Modulus of Polyacrylamide Gels and Polydimethylsiloxane. ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS 2024; 6:2405-2416. [PMID: 38420286 PMCID: PMC10897882 DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.3c03154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Polyacrylamide hydrogels (PAH gel) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, an elastomer) are two soft materials often used in cell mechanics and mechanobiology, in manufacturing lab-on-a-chip applications, among others. This is partly due to the ability to tune their elasticity with ease in addition to various chemical modifications. For affine polymeric networks, two (of three) elastic constants, Young's modulus (E), the shear modulus (G), and Poisson's ratio (ν), describe the purely elastic response to external forces. However, the literature addressing the experimental determination of ν for PAH (sometimes called PAA gels in the literature) and the PDMS elastomer is surprisingly limited when compared to the literature that reports values of the elastic moduli, E and G. Here, we present a facile method to obtain the Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus for PAH gel and PDMS elastomer based on static tensile tests. The value of ν obtained from the deformation of the sample is compared to the value determined by comparing E and G via a second independent method that utilizes small amplitude shear rheology. We show that the Poisson's ratio may vary significantly from the value for incompressible materials (ν = 0.5), often assumed in the literature even for soft compressible hydrogels. Surprisingly, we find a high degree of agreement between elastic constants obtained by shear rheology and macroscopic static tension test data for polyacrylamide hydrogels but not for elastomeric PDMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariell Marie Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
| | - Dominique Gabriele Inocencio
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
| | - Brandon Michael Pardi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
| | - Arvind Gopinath
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
- Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
| | - Roberto Carlos Andresen Eguiluz
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
- Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95344, United States
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25
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Xiang Y, Yan J, Bao X, Gleadall A, Sun T. Investigation of cell infiltration and colonization in 3D porous scaffolds via integrated experimental and computational strategies. J Biotechnol 2024; 382:78-87. [PMID: 38307299 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.01.015] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to integrate experimental and computational methods to systematically investigate cell infiltration and colonization within porous scaffolds. Poly(lactic acid) discs (Diameter: 6 mm; Thickness: 500 µm) with open pores (Diameter: 400-1100 µm), corners (Angle: 30-120°) and gaps (Distance: 100-500 µm), and cellulosic scaffolds with irregular pores (Diameter: 50-300 µm) were situated in tissue culture plates and cultured with human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Both phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy revealed that HDFs initially proliferated on scaffold surfaces, then infiltrated into the porous structures via cell bridging and stacking strategies, which was affected by the initial cell seeding densities, porous structures and culture times. Based on the density-dependent cell growths in two-dimensional cell cultures, power law models were developed to quantitatively simulate cell growths on scaffold surfaces. Model analysis predicted the effect of cell seeding efficiency on cell infiltrations into the porous scaffolds, which was further validated via series cell seeding experiments. The novelty of this research lies in the incorporation of multiple experimental and computational strategies, which enables the mechanistic insights of cell invasion and colonization in porous scaffolds, also facilitates the development of suitable bioprocesses for cell seeding and tissue manufacturing in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xiang
- Department of Materials, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Jiongyi Yan
- Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Xujin Bao
- Department of Materials, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Andrew Gleadall
- Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK.
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26
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Claude-Taupin A, Dupont N. To squeeze or not: Regulation of cell size by mechanical forces in development and human diseases. Biol Cell 2024; 116:e2200101. [PMID: 38059665 DOI: 10.1111/boc.202200101] [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: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Physical constraints, such as compression, shear stress, stretching and tension play major roles during development and tissue homeostasis. Mechanics directly impact physiology, and their alteration is also recognized as having an active role in driving human diseases. Recently, growing evidence has accumulated on how mechanical forces are translated into a wide panel of biological responses, including metabolism and changes in cell morphology. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss our knowledge on the impact of mechanical forces on cell size regulation. Other biological consequences of mechanical forces will not be covered by this review. Moreover, wherever possible, we also discuss mechanosensors and molecular and cellular signaling pathways upstream of cell size regulation. We finally highlight the relevance of mechanical forces acting on cell size in physiology and human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Claude-Taupin
- Institut Necker Enfants Malades (INEM), INSERM UMR-S1151, CNRS UMR-S8253, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Dupont
- Institut Necker Enfants Malades (INEM), INSERM UMR-S1151, CNRS UMR-S8253, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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27
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Pinheiro D, Mitchel J. Pulling the strings on solid-to-liquid phase transitions in cell collectives. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 86:102310. [PMID: 38176350 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Cell collectives must dynamically adapt to different biological contexts. For instance, in homeostatic conditions, epithelia must establish a barrier between body compartments and resist external stresses, while during development, wound healing or cancer invasion, these tissues undergo extensive remodeling. Using analogies from inert, passive materials, changes in cellular density, shape, rearrangements and/or migration were shown to result in collective transitions between solid and fluid states. However, what biological mechanisms govern these transitions remains an open question. In particular, the upstream signaling pathways and molecular effectors controlling the key physical axes determining tissue rheology and dynamics remain poorly understood. In this perspective, we focus on emerging evidence identifying the first biological signals determining the collective state of living tissues, with an emphasis on how these mechanisms are exploited for functionality across biological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Pinheiro
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, 1030, Austria
| | - Jennifer Mitchel
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.
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28
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Wang Y, Han X, Deng L, Wang X. Tunneling nanotube-transmitted mechanical signal and its cellular response. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 693:149368. [PMID: 38091838 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149368] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are elastic tubular structures that physically link cells, facilitating the intercellular transfer of organelles, chemical signals, and electrical signals. Despite TNTs serving as a multifunctional pathway for cell-cell communication, the transmission of mechanical signals through TNTs and the response of TNT-connected cells to these forces remain unexplored. In this study, external mechanical forces were applied to induce TNT bending between rat kidney (NRK) cells using micromanipulation. These forces, transmitted via TNTs, induced reduced curvature of the actin cortex and increased membrane tension at the TNT-connected sites. Additionally, TNT bending results in an elevation of intracellular calcium levels in TNT-connected cells, a response attenuated by gadolinium ions, a non-selective mechanosensitive calcium channel blocker. The degree of TNT deflection positively correlated with decreased actin cortex curvature and increased calcium levels. Furthermore, stretching TNT due to the separation of TNT-connected cells resulted in decreased actin cortex curvature and increased intracellular calcium in TNT-connected cells. The levels of these cellular responses depended on the length changes of TNTs. Moreover, TNT connections influence cell migration by regulating cell rotation, which involves the activation of mechanosensitive calcium channels. In conclusion, our study revealed the transmission of mechanical signals through TNTs and the subsequent responses of TNT-connected cells, highlighting a previously unrecognized communication function of TNTs. This research provides valuable insights into the role of TNTs in long-distance intercellular mechanical signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China; School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoning Han
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China; School of Medical and Health Engineering, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Linhong Deng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China; School of Medical and Health Engineering, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xiang Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China; School of Medical and Health Engineering, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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29
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张 德, 张 豪, 李 博. [The Dynamic Model of the Active-Inactive Cell Interface]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2024; 55:39-46. [PMID: 38322532 PMCID: PMC10839493 DOI: 10.12182/20240160508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Objective To explore the morphodynamics of the active-inactive cell monolayer interfaces by using the active liquid crystal model. Methods A continuum mechanical model was established based on the active liquid crystal theory and the active-inactive cell monolayer interfaces were established by setting the activity difference of cell monolayers. The theoretical equations were solved numerically by the finite difference and the lattice Boltzmann method. Results The active-inactive cell interfaces displayed three typical morphologies, namely, flat interface, wavy interface, and finger-like interface. On the flat interfaces, the cells were oriented perpendicular to the interface, the -1/2 topological defects were clustered in the interfaces, and the interfaces were negatively charged. On the wavy interfaces, cells showed no obvious preference for orientation at the interfaces and the interfaces were neutrally charged. On the finger-like interfaces, cells were tangentially oriented at the interfaces, the +1/2 topological defects were collected at the interfaces, driving the growth of the finger-like structures, and the interfaces were positively charged. Conclusion The orientation of the cell alignment at the interface can significantly affect the morphologies of the active-inactive cell monolayer interfaces, which is closely associated with the dynamics of topological defects at the interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- 德清 张
- 清华大学工程力学系 生物力学与医学工程研究所 (北京 100084)Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - 豪舜 张
- 清华大学工程力学系 生物力学与医学工程研究所 (北京 100084)Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - 博 李
- 清华大学工程力学系 生物力学与医学工程研究所 (北京 100084)Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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30
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Mierke CT. Extracellular Matrix Cues Regulate Mechanosensing and Mechanotransduction of Cancer Cells. Cells 2024; 13:96. [PMID: 38201302 PMCID: PMC10777970 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010096] [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: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular biophysical properties have particular implications for a wide spectrum of cellular behaviors and functions, including growth, motility, differentiation, apoptosis, gene expression, cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion, and signal transduction including mechanotransduction. Cells not only react to unambiguously mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM), but can occasionally manipulate the mechanical features of the matrix in parallel with biological characteristics, thus interfering with downstream matrix-based cues in both physiological and pathological processes. Bidirectional interactions between cells and (bio)materials in vitro can alter cell phenotype and mechanotransduction, as well as ECM structure, intentionally or unintentionally. Interactions between cell and matrix mechanics in vivo are of particular importance in a variety of diseases, including primarily cancer. Stiffness values between normal and cancerous tissue can range between 500 Pa (soft) and 48 kPa (stiff), respectively. Even the shear flow can increase from 0.1-1 dyn/cm2 (normal tissue) to 1-10 dyn/cm2 (cancerous tissue). There are currently many new areas of activity in tumor research on various biological length scales, which are highlighted in this review. Moreover, the complexity of interactions between ECM and cancer cells is reduced to common features of different tumors and the characteristics are highlighted to identify the main pathways of interaction. This all contributes to the standardization of mechanotransduction models and approaches, which, ultimately, increases the understanding of the complex interaction. Finally, both the in vitro and in vivo effects of this mechanics-biology pairing have key insights and implications for clinical practice in tumor treatment and, consequently, clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Biological Physics Division, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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31
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Wang Y, Huang H, Weng H, Jia C, Liao B, Long Y, Yu F, Nie Y. Talin mechanotransduction in disease. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2024; 166:106490. [PMID: 37914021 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2023.106490] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Talin protein (Talin 1/2) is a mechanosensitive cytoskeleton protein. The unique structure of the Talin plays a vital role in transmitting mechanical forces. Talin proteins connect the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton by linking to integrins and actin, thereby mediating the conversion of mechanical signals into biochemical signals and influencing disease progression as potential diagnostic indicators, therapeutic targets, and prognostic indicators of various diseases. Most studies in recent years have confirmed that mechanical forces also have a crucial role in the development of disease, and Talin has been found to play a role in several diseases. Still, more studies need to be done on how Talin is involved in mechanical signaling in disease. This review focuses on the mechanical signaling of Talin in disease, aiming to summarize the mechanisms by which Talin plays a role in disease and to provide references for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingzi Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, China
| | - Haozhong Huang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, China
| | - Huimin Weng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, China
| | - Chunsen Jia
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, China
| | - Bin Liao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, China; Metabolic Vascular Disease Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Dysfunction, Luzhou, China
| | - Yang Long
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Metabolic Vascular Disease Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, Luzhou, China
| | - Fengxu Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, China; Metabolic Vascular Disease Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Dysfunction, Luzhou, China
| | - Yongmei Nie
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, China; Metabolic Vascular Disease Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Dysfunction, Luzhou, China.
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32
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Guan LY, Lin SZ, Chen PC, Lv JQ, Li B, Feng XQ. Interfacial Organization and Forces Arising from Epithelial-Cancerous Monolayer Interactions. ACS NANO 2023; 17:24668-24684. [PMID: 38091551 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The interfacial interactions between epithelia and cancer cells have profound relevance for tumor development and metastasis. Through monolayer confrontation of MCF10A (nontumorigenic human breast epithelial cells) and MDA-MB-231 (human epithelial breast cancer cells) cells, we investigate the epithelial-cancerous interfacial interactions at the tissue level. We show that the monolayer interaction leads to competitive interfacial morphodynamics and drives an intricate spatial organization of MCF10A cells into multicellular finger-like structures, which further branch into multiple subfinger-like structures. These hierarchical interfacial structures penetrate the cancer monolayer and can spontaneously segregate or even envelop cancer cell clusters, consistent with our theoretical prediction. By tracking the substrate displacements via embedded fluorescent nanobeads and implementing nanomechanical modeling that combines atomic force microscopy and finite element simulations, we computed mechanical force patterns, including traction forces and monolayer stresses, caused by the monolayer interaction. It is found that the heterogeneous mechanical forces accumulated in the monolayers are able to squeeze cancer cells, leading to three-dimensional interfacial bulges or cell extrusion, initiating the p53 apoptosis signaling pathways of cancer cells. We reveal that intercellular E-cadherin and P-cadherin of epithelial cells differentially regulate the interfacial organization including migration speed, directionality, spatial correlation, F-actin alignment, and subcellular protrusions of MCF10A cells; whereas E-cadherin governs interfacial geometry that is relevant to force localization and cancer cell extrusion, P-cadherin maintains interfacial integrity that enables long-range force transmission. Our findings suggest that the collaborative molecular and mechanical behaviors are crucial for preventing epithelial tissues from undergoing tumor invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu-Yuan Guan
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shao-Zhen Lin
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Peng-Cheng Chen
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jian-Qing Lv
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bo Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xi-Qiao Feng
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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33
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Bonn L, Ardaševa A, Doostmohammadi A. Elasticity tunes mechanical stress localization around active topological defects. SOFT MATTER 2023; 20:115-123. [PMID: 38050783 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01113e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical stresses are increasingly found to be associated with various biological functionalities. At the same time, topological defects are being identified across a diverse range of biological systems and are points of localized mechanical stress. It is therefore important to ask how mechanical stress localization around topological defects is controlled. Here, we use continuum simulations of nonequilibrium, fluctuating and active nematics to explore the patterns of stress localization, as well as their extent and intensity around topological defects. We find that by increasing the orientational elasticity of the material, the isotropic stress pattern around topological defects is changed substantially, from a stress dipole characterized by symmetric compression-tension regions around the core of the defect, to a localized stress monopole at the defect position. Moreover, we show that elastic anisotropy alters the extent and intensity of the stresses, and can result in the dominance of tension or compression around defects. Finally, including both nonequilibrium fluctuations and active stress generation, we find that the elastic constant tunes the relative effect of each, leading to the flipping of tension and compression regions around topological defects. This flipping of the tension-compression regions only by changing the elastic constant presents an interesting, simple, way of switching the dynamic behavior in active matter by changing a passive material property. We expect these findings to motivate further exploration tuning stresses in active biological materials by varying material properties of the constituent units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lasse Bonn
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Aleksandra Ardaševa
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Amin Doostmohammadi
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Zhao F, Qiu Y, Liu W, Zhang Y, Liu J, Bian L, Shao L. Biomimetic Hydrogels as the Inductive Endochondral Ossification Template for Promoting Bone Regeneration. Adv Healthc Mater 2023:e2303532. [PMID: 38108565 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303532] [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: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Repairing critical size bone defects (CSBD) is a major clinical challenge and requires effective intervention by biomaterial scaffolds. Inspired by the fact that the cartilaginous template-based endochondral ossification (ECO) process is crucial to bone healing and development, developing biomimetic biomaterials to promote ECO is recognized as a promising approach for repairing CSBD. With the unique highly hydrated 3D polymeric network, hydrogels can be designed to closely emulate the physiochemical properties of cartilage matrix to facilitate ECO. In this review, the various preparation methods of hydrogels possessing the specific physiochemical properties required for promoting ECO are introduced. The materiobiological impacts of the physicochemical properties of hydrogels, such as mechanical properties, topographical structures and chemical compositions on ECO, and the associated molecular mechanisms related to the BMP, Wnt, TGF-β, HIF-1α, FGF, and RhoA signaling pathways are further summarized. This review provides a detailed coverage on the materiobiological insights required for the design and preparation of hydrogel-based biomaterials to facilitate bone regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fujian Zhao
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, P. R. China
| | - Yonghao Qiu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, P. R. China
| | - Wenjing Liu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, P. R. China
| | - Yanli Zhang
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, P. R. China
| | - Jia Liu
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, P. R. China
| | - Liming Bian
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 511442, P. R. China
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
| | - Longquan Shao
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Guangzhou, 510515, P. R. China
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35
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Shoyer TC, Gates EM, Cabe JI, Urs AN, Conway DE, Hoffman BD. Coupling during collective cell migration is controlled by a vinculin mechanochemical switch. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2316456120. [PMID: 38055737 PMCID: PMC10722971 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316456120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of cells to move in a mechanically coupled, coordinated manner, referred to as collective cell migration, is central to many developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes. Limited understanding of how mechanical forces and biochemical regulation interact to affect coupling has been a major obstacle to unravelling the underlying mechanisms. Focusing on the linker protein vinculin, we use a suite of Förster resonance energy transfer-based biosensors to probe its mechanical functions and biochemical regulation, revealing a switch that toggles vinculin between loadable and unloadable states. Perturbation of the switch causes covarying changes in cell speed and coordination, suggesting alteration of the friction within the system. Molecular scale modelling reveals that increasing levels of loadable vinculin increases friction, due to engagement of self-stabilizing catch bonds. Together, this work reveals a regulatory switch for controlling cell coupling and describes a paradigm for relating biochemical regulation, altered mechanical properties, and changes in cell behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Curtis Shoyer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
| | - Evan M. Gates
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
| | - Jolene I. Cabe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA23284
| | - Aarti N. Urs
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
| | - Daniel E. Conway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH43210
| | - Brenton D. Hoffman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
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36
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Serra M, Serrano Nájera G, Chuai M, Plum AM, Santhosh S, Spandan V, Weijer CJ, Mahadevan L. A mechanochemical model recapitulates distinct vertebrate gastrulation modes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh8152. [PMID: 38055823 PMCID: PMC10699781 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh8152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
During vertebrate gastrulation, an embryo transforms from a layer of epithelial cells into a multilayered gastrula. This process requires the coordinated movements of hundreds to tens of thousands of cells, depending on the organism. In the chick embryo, patterns of actomyosin cables spanning several cells drive coordinated tissue flows. Here, we derive a minimal theoretical framework that couples actomyosin activity to global tissue flows. Our model predicts the onset and development of gastrulation flows in normal and experimentally perturbed chick embryos, mimicking different gastrulation modes as an active stress instability. Varying initial conditions and a parameter associated with active cell ingression, our model recapitulates distinct vertebrate gastrulation morphologies, consistent with recently published experiments in the chick embryo. Altogether, our results show how changes in the patterning of critical cell behaviors associated with different force-generating mechanisms contribute to distinct vertebrate gastrulation modes via a self-organizing mechanochemical process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Serra
- Department of Physics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Guillermo Serrano Nájera
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Manli Chuai
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Alex M. Plum
- Department of Physics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sreejith Santhosh
- Department of Physics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Vamsi Spandan
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Cornelis J. Weijer
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - L. Mahadevan
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Departments of Physics, and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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37
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Potdar H, Pagonabarraga I, Muhuri S. Effect of contact inhibition locomotion on confined cellular organization. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21391. [PMID: 38049532 PMCID: PMC10695941 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47986-w] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Experiments performed using micro-patterned one dimensional collision assays have allowed a precise quantitative analysis of the collective manifestation of contact inhibition locomotion (CIL) wherein, individual migrating cells reorient their direction of motion when they come in contact with other cells. Inspired by these experiments, we present a discrete, minimal 1D Active spin model that mimics the CIL interaction between cells in one dimensional channels. We analyze the emergent collective behaviour of migrating cells in such confined geometries, as well as the sensitivity of the emergent patterns to driving forces that couple to cell motion. In the absence of vacancies, akin to dense cell packing, the translation dynamics is arrested and the model reduces to an equilibrium spin model which can be solved exactly. In the presence of vacancies, the interplay of activity-driven translation, cell polarity switching, and CIL results in an exponential steady cluster size distribution. We define a dimensionless Péclet number Q-the ratio of the translation rate and directional switching rate of particles in the absence of CIL. While the average cluster size increases monotonically as a function of Q, it exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on CIL strength, when the Q is sufficiently high. In the high Q limit, an analytical form of average cluster size can be obtained approximately by effectively mapping the system to an equivalent equilibrium process involving clusters of different sizes wherein the cluster size distribution is obtained by minimizing an effective Helmholtz free energy for the system. The resultant prediction of exponential dependence on CIL strength of the average cluster size and [Formula: see text] dependence of the average cluster size is borne out to reasonable accuracy as long as the CIL strength is not very large. The consequent prediction of a single scaling function of Q, particle density and CIL interaction strength, characterizing the distribution function of the cluster sizes and resultant data collapse is observed for a range of parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshal Potdar
- Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Ignacio Pagonabarraga
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, E08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- UBICS University of Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems, Martí i Franquès 1, E08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Sudipto Muhuri
- Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, India.
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38
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Cho DH, Aguayo S, Cartagena-Rivera AX. Atomic force microscopy-mediated mechanobiological profiling of complex human tissues. Biomaterials 2023; 303:122389. [PMID: 37988897 PMCID: PMC10842832 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Tissue mechanobiology is an emerging field with the overarching goal of understanding the interplay between biophysical and biochemical responses affecting development, physiology, and disease. Changes in mechanical properties including stiffness and viscosity have been shown to describe how cells and tissues respond to mechanical cues and modify critical biological functions. To quantitatively characterize the mechanical properties of tissues at physiologically relevant conditions, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a highly versatile biomechanical technology. In this review, we describe the fundamental principles of AFM, typical AFM modalities used for tissue mechanics, and commonly used elastic and viscoelastic contact mechanics models to characterize complex human tissues. Furthermore, we discuss the application of AFM-based mechanobiology to characterize the mechanical responses within complex human tissues to track their developmental, physiological/functional, and diseased states, including oral, hearing, and cancer-related tissues. Finally, we discuss the current outlook and challenges to further advance the field of tissue mechanobiology. Altogether, AFM-based tissue mechanobiology provides a mechanistic understanding of biological processes governing the unique functions of tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Cho
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sebastian Aguayo
- Dentistry School, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Schools of Engineering, Medicine, and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexander X Cartagena-Rivera
- Section on Mechanobiology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Tervonen A, Korpela S, Nymark S, Hyttinen J, Ihalainen TO. The Effect of Substrate Stiffness on Elastic Force Transmission in the Epithelial Monolayers over Short Timescales. Cell Mol Bioeng 2023; 16:475-495. [PMID: 38099211 PMCID: PMC10716100 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-023-00772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The importance of mechanical forces and microenvironment in guiding cellular behavior has been widely accepted. Together with the extracellular matrix (ECM), epithelial cells form a highly connected mechanical system subjected to various mechanical cues from their environment, such as ECM stiffness, and tensile and compressive forces. ECM stiffness has been linked to many pathologies, including tumor formation. However, our understanding of the effect of ECM stiffness and its heterogeneities on rapid force transduction in multicellular systems has not been fully addressed. Methods We used experimental and computational methods. Epithelial cells were cultured on elastic hydrogels with fluorescent nanoparticles. Single cells were moved by a micromanipulator, and epithelium and substrate deformation were recorded. We developed a computational model to replicate our experiments and quantify the force distribution in the epithelium. Our model further enabled simulations with local stiffness gradients. Results We found that substrate stiffness affects the force transduction and the cellular deformation following an external force. Also, our results indicate that the heterogeneities, e.g., gradients, in the stiffness can substantially influence the strain redistribution in the cell monolayers. Furthermore, we found that the cells' apico-basal elasticity provides a level of mechanical isolation between the apical cell-cell junctions and the basal focal adhesions. Conclusions Our simulation results show that increased ECM stiffness, e.g., due to a tumor, can mechanically isolate cells and modulate rapid mechanical signaling between cells over distances. Furthermore, the developed model has the potential to facilitate future studies on the interactions between epithelial monolayers and elastic substrates. Supplementary Information The online version of this article (10.1007/s12195-023-00772-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aapo Tervonen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Jyväskylä, Survontie 9 C, 40500 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Sanna Korpela
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Soile Nymark
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Jari Hyttinen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Teemu O. Ihalainen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
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40
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Zhang Z, Zhu H, Zhao G, Miao Y, Zhao L, Feng J, Zhang H, Miao R, Sun L, Gao B, Zhang W, Wang Z, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Guo H, Xu F, Lu TJ, Genin GM, Lin M. Programmable and Reversible Integrin-Mediated Cell Adhesion Reveals Hysteresis in Actin Kinetics that Alters Subsequent Mechanotransduction. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302421. [PMID: 37849221 PMCID: PMC10724447 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Dynamically evolving adhesions between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) transmit time-varying signals that control cytoskeletal dynamics and cell fate. Dynamic cell adhesion and ECM stiffness regulate cellular mechanosensing cooperatively, but it has not previously been possible to characterize their individual effects because of challenges with controlling these factors independently. Therefore, a DNA-driven molecular system is developed wherein the integrin-binding ligand RGD can be reversibly presented and removed to achieve cyclic cell attachment/detachment on substrates of defined stiffness. Using this culture system, it is discovered that cyclic adhesion accelerates F-actin kinetics and nuclear mechanosensing in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), with the result that hysteresis can completely change how hMSCs transduce ECM stiffness. Results are dramatically different from well-known results for mechanotransduction on static substrates, but are consistent with a mathematical model of F-actin fragments retaining structure following loss of integrin ligation and participating in subsequent repolymerization. These findings suggest that cyclic integrin-mediated adhesion alters the mechanosensing of ECM stiffness by hMSCs through transient, hysteretic memory that is stored in F-actin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Hongyuan Zhu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Guoqing Zhao
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Yunyi Miao
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Lingzhu Zhao
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Jinteng Feng
- Department of Medical OncologyFirst Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710061P. R. China
| | - Huan Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Run Miao
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Lin Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Bin Gao
- Department of EndocrinologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical UniversityXi'an710038P. R. China
| | - Wencheng Zhang
- Department of EndocrinologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical UniversityXi'an710038P. R. China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryFirst Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710061P. R. China
| | - Jianfang Zhang
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University710054Xi'anP. R. China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Xijing 986 Hospital DepartmentFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'an710054P. R. China
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of Medical OncologyFirst Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710061P. R. China
| | - Feng Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Tian Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical StructuresNanjing University of Aeronautics and AstronauticsNanjing210016P. R. China
| | - Guy M. Genin
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials ScienceWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMO63130USA
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanobiologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMO63130USA
| | - Min Lin
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of EducationSchool of Life Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
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Wibbe N, Ebnet K. Cell Adhesion at the Tight Junctions: New Aspects and New Functions. Cells 2023; 12:2701. [PMID: 38067129 PMCID: PMC10706136 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tight junctions (TJ) are cell-cell adhesive structures that define the permeability of barrier-forming epithelia and endothelia. In contrast to this seemingly static function, TJs display a surprisingly high molecular complexity and unexpected dynamic regulation, which allows the TJs to maintain a barrier in the presence of physiological forces and in response to perturbations. Cell-cell adhesion receptors play key roles during the dynamic regulation of TJs. They connect individual cells within cellular sheets and link sites of cell-cell contacts to the underlying actin cytoskeleton. Recent findings support the roles of adhesion receptors in transmitting mechanical forces and promoting phase separation. In this review, we discuss the newly discovered functions of cell adhesion receptors localized at the TJs and their role in the regulation of the barrier function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolina Wibbe
- Institute-Associated Research Group "Cell Adhesion and Cell Polarity", Institute of Medical Biochemistry, ZMBE, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Klaus Ebnet
- Institute-Associated Research Group "Cell Adhesion and Cell Polarity", Institute of Medical Biochemistry, ZMBE, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Münster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003-CiM), University of Münster, D-48419 Münster, Germany
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42
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Wang ZH, Zhao W, Combs CA, Zhang F, Knutson JR, Lilly MA, Xu H. Mechanical stimulation from the surrounding tissue activates mitochondrial energy metabolism in Drosophila differentiating germ cells. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2249-2260.e9. [PMID: 37647895 PMCID: PMC10843713 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
In multicellular lives, the differentiation of stem cells and progenitor cells is often accompanied by a transition from glycolysis to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). However, the underlying mechanism of this metabolic transition remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigate the role of mechanical stress in activating OXPHOS during differentiation of the female germline cyst in Drosophila. We demonstrate that the surrounding somatic cells flatten the 16-cell differentiating cyst, resulting in an increase of the membrane tension of germ cells inside the cyst. This mechanical stress is necessary to maintain cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in germ cells through a mechanically activated channel, transmembrane channel-like. The sustained cytosolic Ca2+ triggers a CaMKI-Fray-JNK signaling relay, leading to the transcriptional activation of OXPHOS in differentiating cysts. Our findings demonstrate a molecular link between cell mechanics and mitochondrial energy metabolism, with implications for other developmentally orchestrated metabolic transitions in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zong-Heng Wang
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wenjing Zhao
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Christian A Combs
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jay R Knutson
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mary A Lilly
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hong Xu
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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43
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Niloy RA, Holcomb MC, Thomas JH, Blawzdziewicz J. The mechanics of cephalic furrow formation in the Drosophila embryo. Biophys J 2023; 122:3843-3859. [PMID: 37571824 PMCID: PMC10560681 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Cephalic furrow formation (CFF) is a major morphogenetic movement during gastrulation in Drosophila melanogaster embryos that gives rise to a deep, transitory epithelial invagination. Recent studies have identified the individual cell shape changes that drive the initiation and progression phases of CFF; however, the underlying mechanics are not yet well understood. During the progression phase, the furrow deepens as columnar cells from both the anterior and posterior directions fold inwards rotating by 90°. To analyze the mechanics of this process, we have developed an advanced two-dimensional lateral vertex model that includes multinode representation of cellular membranes and allows us to capture the membrane curvature associated with pressure variation. Our investigations reveal some key potential mechanical features of CFF, as follows. When cells begin to roll over the cephalic furrow cleft, they become wedge shaped as their apical cortices and overlying membranes expand, lateral cortices and overlying membranes release tension, internal pressures drop, and basal cortices and membranes contract. Then, cells reverse this process by shortening apical cortices and membranes, increasing lateral tension, and causing internal pressures to rise. Since the basal membranes expand, the cells recover their rotated columnar shape once in the furrow. Interestingly, our findings indicate that the basal membranes may be passively reactive throughout the progression phase. We also find that the smooth rolling of cells over the cephalic furrow cleft necessitates that internalized cells provide a solid base through high levels of membrane tension and internal pressure, which allows the transmission of tensile force that pulls new cells into the furrow. These results lead us to suggest that CFF helps to establish a baseline tension across the apical surface of the embryo to facilitate cellular coordination of other morphogenetic movements via mechanical stress feedback mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Redowan A Niloy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
| | - Michael C Holcomb
- Department of Physics and Geosciences, Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas
| | - Jeffrey H Thomas
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
| | - Jerzy Blawzdziewicz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
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44
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Triguero-Platero G, Ziebert F, Bonilla LL. Coarse-graining the vertex model and its response to shear. Phys Rev E 2023; 108:044118. [PMID: 37978645 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.108.044118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Tissue dynamics and collective cell motion are crucial biological processes. Their biological machinery is mostly known, and simulation models such as the active vertex model exist and yield reasonable agreement with experimental observations such as tissue fluidization or fingering. However, a good and well-founded continuum description for tissues remains to be developed. In this work, we derive a macroscopic description for a two-dimensional cell monolayer by coarse-graining the vertex model through the Poisson bracket approach. We obtain equations for cell density, velocity, and the cellular shape tensor. We then study the homogeneous steady states, their stability (which coincides with thermodynamic stability), and especially their behavior under an externally applied shear. Our results contribute to elucidate the interplay between flow and cellular shape. The obtained macroscopic equations present a good starting point for adding cell motion, morphogenetic, and other biologically relevant processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Falko Ziebert
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luis L Bonilla
- Department of Mathematics, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain and G. Millán Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Nanoscience and Industrial Mathematics, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
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45
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Ezzo M, Hinz B. Novel approaches to target fibroblast mechanotransduction in fibroproliferative diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 250:108528. [PMID: 37708995 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108528] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The ability of cells to sense and respond to changes in mechanical environment is vital in conditions of organ injury when the architecture of normal tissues is disturbed or lost. Among the various cellular players that respond to injury, fibroblasts take center stage in re-establishing tissue integrity by secreting and organizing extracellular matrix into stabilizing scar tissue. Activation, activity, survival, and death of scar-forming fibroblasts are tightly controlled by mechanical environment and proper mechanotransduction ensures that fibroblast activities cease after completion of the tissue repair process. Conversely, dysregulated mechanotransduction often results in fibroblast over-activation or persistence beyond the state of normal repair. The resulting pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix is called fibrosis, a condition that has been associated with over 40% of all deaths in the industrialized countries. Consequently, elements in fibroblast mechanotransduction are scrutinized for their suitability as anti-fibrotic therapeutic targets. We review the current knowledge on mechanically relevant factors in the fibroblast extracellular environment, cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion structures, stretch-activated membrane channels, stress-regulated cytoskeletal structures, and co-transcription factors. We critically discuss the targetability of these elements in therapeutic approaches and their progress in pre-clinical and/or clinical trials to treat organ fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Ezzo
- Keenan Research Institute for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Boris Hinz
- Keenan Research Institute for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Jodra A, García-Iriepa C, Frutos LM. An Algorithm Predicting the Optimal Mechanical Response of Electronic Energy Difference. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:6392-6401. [PMID: 37669417 PMCID: PMC10536970 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
The use of mechanical forces at the molecular level has been shown to be an interesting tool for modulating different chemical and physical molecular properties. The so-called covalent mechanochemistry deals with the application of precise mechanical forces that induce specific changes in the structure, stability, reactivity, and other physical properties. The use of this kind of force to modulate photophysical properties and photochemical reactivity has also been studied. Nevertheless, the general problem of mechanical modulation of the energy gap between two electronic states has been addressed only with the development of simple theoretical models. Here, we develop and implement an algorithm providing the Largest energy Gap variation with Minimal mechanical Force (LGMF) that allows the determination of the optimal mechanical forces tuning the electronic energy gap, as well as to identify the maximum mechanical response of a molecular system to the application of any mechanical stimulus. The algorithm has been implemented for diverse molecular systems showing different degrees of flexibility. The phyton code of the algorithm is available in a public repository.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Jodra
- Departamento
de Química Analítica, Química Física e
Ingeniería Química, y Grupo de Reactividad y Estructura
Molecular (RESMOL), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28806 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina García-Iriepa
- Departamento
de Química Analítica, Química Física e
Ingeniería Química, y Grupo de Reactividad y Estructura
Molecular (RESMOL), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28806 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto
de Investigación Química ‘‘Andrés
M. del Río’’ (IQAR), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28806 Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Manuel Frutos
- Departamento
de Química Analítica, Química Física e
Ingeniería Química, y Grupo de Reactividad y Estructura
Molecular (RESMOL), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28806 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto
de Investigación Química ‘‘Andrés
M. del Río’’ (IQAR), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28806 Madrid, Spain
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de Freitas Nader GP, García-Arcos JM. Cell migration in dense microenvironments. C R Biol 2023; 346:89-93. [PMID: 37779383 DOI: 10.5802/crbiol.124] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The nucleus has been viewed as a passenger during cell migration that functions merely to protect the genome. However, increasing evidence shows that the nucleus is an active organelle, constantly sensing the surrounding environment and translating extracellular mechanical inputs into intracellular signaling. The nuclear envelope has a large membrane reservoir which serves as a buffer for mechanical inputs as it unfolds without increasing its tension. In contrast, when cells cope with mechanical strain, such as migration through solid tumors or dense interstitial spaces, the nuclear envelope folds stretch, increasing nuclear envelope tension and sometimes causing rupture. Different degrees of nuclear envelope tension regulate cellular behaviors and functions, especially in cells that move and grow within dense matrices. The crosstalk between extracellular mechanical inputs and the cell nucleus is a critical component in the modulation of cell function of cells that navigate within packed microenvironments. Moreover, there is a link between regimes of nuclear envelope unfolding and different cellular behaviors, from orchestrated signaling cascades to cellular perturbations and damage.
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Espina JA, Cordeiro MH, Milivojevic M, Pajić-Lijaković I, Barriga EH. Response of cells and tissues to shear stress. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs260985. [PMID: 37747423 PMCID: PMC10560560 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Shear stress is essential for normal physiology and malignancy. Common physiological processes - such as blood flow, particle flow in the gut, or contact between migratory cell clusters and their substrate - produce shear stress that can have an impact on the behavior of different tissues. In addition, shear stress has roles in processes of biomedical interest, such as wound healing, cancer and fibrosis induced by soft implants. Thus, understanding how cells react and adapt to shear stress is important. In this Review, we discuss in vivo and in vitro data obtained from vascular and epithelial models; highlight the insights these have afforded regarding the general mechanisms through which cells sense, transduce and respond to shear stress at the cellular levels; and outline how the changes cells experience in response to shear stress impact tissue organization. Finally, we discuss the role of shear stress in collective cell migration, which is only starting to be appreciated. We review our current understanding of the effects of shear stress in the context of embryo development, cancer and fibrosis, and invite the scientific community to further investigate the role of shear stress in these scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime A. Espina
- Mechanisms of Morphogenesis Lab, Gulbenkian Institute of Science (IGC), 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Marilia H. Cordeiro
- Mechanisms of Morphogenesis Lab, Gulbenkian Institute of Science (IGC), 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Milan Milivojevic
- Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade University, 11120 Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Elias H. Barriga
- Mechanisms of Morphogenesis Lab, Gulbenkian Institute of Science (IGC), 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
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Hadjifrangiskou I, Ruske LJ, Yeomans JM. Active nematics with deformable particles. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6664-6670. [PMID: 37609906 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00627a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
The hydrodynamic theory of active nematics has been often used to describe the spatio-temporal dynamics of cell flows and motile topological defects within soft confluent tissues. Those theories, however, often rely on the assumption that tissues consist of cells with a fixed, anisotropic shape and do not resolve dynamical cell shape changes due to flow gradients. In this paper we extend the continuum theory of active nematics to include cell shape deformability. We find that circular cells in tissues must generate sufficient active stress to overcome an elastic barrier to deforming their shape in order to drive tissue-scale flows. Above this threshold the systems enter a dynamical steady-state with regions of elongated cells and strong flows coexisting with quiescent regions of isotropic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Hadjifrangiskou
- The Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, Beecroft Building, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK.
| | - Liam J Ruske
- The Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, Beecroft Building, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK.
| | - Julia M Yeomans
- The Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, Beecroft Building, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK.
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Mochizuki T, Tanigawa T, Shindo S, Suematsu M, Oguchi Y, Mioka T, Kato Y, Fujiyama M, Hatano E, Yamaguchi M, Chibana H, Abe F. Activation of CWI pathway through high hydrostatic pressure, enhancing glycerol efflux via the aquaglyceroporin Fps1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:ar92. [PMID: 37379203 PMCID: PMC10398897 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-03-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungal cell wall is the initial barrier for the fungi against diverse external stresses, such as osmolarity changes, harmful drugs, and mechanical injuries. This study explores the roles of osmoregulation and the cell-wall integrity (CWI) pathway in response to high hydrostatic pressure in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate the roles of the transmembrane mechanosensor Wsc1 and aquaglyceroporin Fps1 in a general mechanism to maintain cell growth under high-pressure regimes. The promotion of water influx into cells at 25 MPa, as evident by an increase in cell volume and a loss of the plasma membrane eisosome structure, activates the CWI pathway through the function of Wsc1. Phosphorylation of Slt2, the downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase, was increased at 25 MPa. Glycerol efflux increases via Fps1 phosphorylation, which is initiated by downstream components of the CWI pathway, and contributes to the reduction in intracellular osmolarity under high pressure. The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying adaptation to high pressure through the well-established CWI pathway could potentially translate to mammalian cells and provide novel insights into cellular mechanosensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Mochizuki
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
| | - Toshiki Tanigawa
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
| | - Seiya Shindo
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
| | - Momoka Suematsu
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
| | - Yuki Oguchi
- Center for Instrumental Analysis, College of Science and Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Mioka
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kato
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
| | - Mina Fujiyama
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
| | - Eri Hatano
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
| | - Masashi Yamaguchi
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Japan
| | - Hiroji Chibana
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Japan
| | - Fumiyoshi Abe
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5258, Japan
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