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Blackiston D, Kriegman S, Bongard J, Levin M. Biological Robots: Perspectives on an Emerging Interdisciplinary Field. Soft Robot 2023; 10:674-686. [PMID: 37083430 PMCID: PMC10442684 DOI: 10.1089/soro.2022.0142] [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] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in science and engineering often reveal the limitations of classical approaches initially used to understand, predict, and control phenomena. With progress, conceptual categories must often be re-evaluated to better track recently discovered invariants across disciplines. It is essential to refine frameworks and resolve conflicting boundaries between disciplines such that they better facilitate, not restrict, experimental approaches and capabilities. In this essay, we address specific questions and critiques which have arisen in response to our research program, which lies at the intersection of developmental biology, computer science, and robotics. In the context of biological machines and robots, we explore changes across concepts and previously distinct fields that are driven by recent advances in materials, information, and life sciences. Herein, each author provides their own perspective on the subject, framed by their own disciplinary training. We argue that as with computation, certain aspects of developmental biology and robotics are not tied to specific materials; rather, the consilience of these fields can help to shed light on issues of multiscale control, self-assembly, and relationships between form and function. We hope new fields can emerge as boundaries arising from technological limitations are overcome, furthering practical applications from regenerative medicine to useful synthetic living machines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Blackiston
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
| | - Sam Kriegman
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
- Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Josh Bongard
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
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2
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Sui BD, Zheng CX, Zhao WM, Xuan K, Li B, Jin Y. Mesenchymal condensation in tooth development and regeneration: a focus on translational aspects of organogenesis. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1899-1964. [PMID: 36656056 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00019.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The teeth are vertebrate-specific, highly specialized organs performing fundamental functions of mastication and speech, the maintenance of which is crucial for orofacial homeostasis and is further linked to systemic health and human psychosocial well-being. However, with limited ability for self-repair, the teeth can often be impaired by traumatic, inflammatory, and progressive insults, leading to high prevalence of tooth loss and defects worldwide. Regenerative medicine holds the promise to achieve physiological restoration of lost or damaged organs, and in particular an evolving framework of developmental engineering has pioneered functional tooth regeneration by harnessing the odontogenic program. As a key event of tooth morphogenesis, mesenchymal condensation dictates dental tissue formation and patterning through cellular self-organization and signaling interaction with the epithelium, which provides a representative to decipher organogenetic mechanisms and can be leveraged for regenerative purposes. In this review, we summarize how mesenchymal condensation spatiotemporally assembles from dental stem cells (DSCs) and sequentially mediates tooth development. We highlight condensation-mimetic engineering efforts and mechanisms based on ex vivo aggregation of DSCs, which have achieved functionally robust and physiologically relevant tooth regeneration after implantation in animals and in humans. The discussion of this aspect will add to the knowledge of development-inspired tissue engineering strategies and will offer benefits to propel clinical organ regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Dong Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chen-Xi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wan-Min Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kun Xuan
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Bei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yan Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Xi'an Institute of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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Chan CU, Xiong F, Michaut A, Vidigueira JMN, Pourquié O, Mahadevan L. Direct force measurement and loading on developing tissues in intact avian embryos. Development 2023; 150:dev201054. [PMID: 37070753 PMCID: PMC10259510 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201054] [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: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Developmental morphogenesis is driven by tissue stresses acting on tissue rheology. Direct measurements of forces in small tissues (100 µm-1 mm) in situ, such as in early embryos, require high spatial precision and minimal invasiveness. Here, we introduce a control-based approach, tissue force microscopy (TiFM), that integrates a mechanical cantilever probe and live imaging with closed-loop feedback control of mechanical loading in early chicken embryos. By testing previously qualitatively characterized force-producing tissues in the elongating body axis, we show that TiFM quantitatively captures stress dynamics with high sensitivity. TiFM also provides the means to apply stable, minimally invasive and physiologically relevant loads to drive tissue deformation and to follow the resulting morphogenetic progression associated with large-scale cell movements. Together, TiFM allows us to control tissue force measurement and manipulation in small developing embryos, and promises to contribute to the quantitative understanding of complex multi-tissue mechanics during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chon U. Chan
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore 138673
| | - Fengzhu Xiong
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham Women's Hospital and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Arthur Michaut
- Department of Pathology, Brigham Women's Hospital and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Olivier Pourquié
- Department of Pathology, Brigham Women's Hospital and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - L. Mahadevan
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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4
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Lee J, Møller AF, Chae S, Bussek A, Park TJ, Kim Y, Lee HS, Pers TH, Kwon T, Sedzinski J, Natarajan KN. A single-cell, time-resolved profiling of Xenopus mucociliary epithelium reveals nonhierarchical model of development. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd5745. [PMID: 37027470 PMCID: PMC10081853 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add5745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The specialized cell types of the mucociliary epithelium (MCE) lining the respiratory tract enable continuous airway clearing, with its defects leading to chronic respiratory diseases. The molecular mechanisms driving cell fate acquisition and temporal specialization during mucociliary epithelial development remain largely unknown. Here, we profile the developing Xenopus MCE from pluripotent to mature stages by single-cell transcriptomics, identifying multipotent early epithelial progenitors that execute multilineage cues before specializing into late-stage ionocytes and goblet and basal cells. Combining in silico lineage inference, in situ hybridization, and single-cell multiplexed RNA imaging, we capture the initial bifurcation into early epithelial and multiciliated progenitors and chart cell type emergence and fate progression into specialized cell types. Comparative analysis of nine airway atlases reveals an evolutionary conserved transcriptional module in ciliated cells, whereas secretory and basal types execute distinct function-specific programs across vertebrates. We uncover a continuous nonhierarchical model of MCE development alongside a data resource for understanding respiratory biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Lee
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Fønss Møller
- Danish Institute of Advanced Study (DIAS) and Functional Genomics and Metabolism Research Unit, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Sino-Danish College (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shinhyeok Chae
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Alexandra Bussek
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tae Joo Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Youni Kim
- KNU-Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Shik Lee
- KNU-Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Tune H. Pers
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Taejoon Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
- Center for Genomic Integrity, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jakub Sedzinski
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kedar Nath Natarajan
- Danish Institute of Advanced Study (DIAS) and Functional Genomics and Metabolism Research Unit, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Zhao W, Cao S, Cai H, Wu Y, Pan Q, Lin H, Fang J, He Y, Deng H, Liu Z. Chitosan/silk fibroin biomimic scaffolds reinforced by cellulose acetate nanofibers for smooth muscle tissue engineering. Carbohydr Polym 2022; 298:120056. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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De Belly H, Paluch EK, Chalut KJ. Interplay between mechanics and signalling in regulating cell fate. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:465-480. [PMID: 35365816 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00472-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical signalling affects multiple biological processes during development and in adult organisms, including cell fate transitions, cell migration, morphogenesis and immune responses. Here, we review recent insights into the mechanisms and functions of two main routes of mechanical signalling: outside-in mechanical signalling, such as mechanosensing of substrate properties or shear stresses; and mechanical signalling regulated by the physical properties of the cell surface itself. We discuss examples of how these two classes of mechanical signalling regulate stem cell function, as well as developmental processes in vivo. We also discuss how cell surface mechanics affects intracellular signalling and, in turn, how intracellular signalling controls cell surface mechanics, generating feedback into the regulation of mechanosensing. The cooperation between mechanosensing, intracellular signalling and cell surface mechanics has a profound impact on biological processes. We discuss here our understanding of how these three elements interact to regulate stem cell fate and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry De Belly
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ewa K Paluch
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Kevin J Chalut
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Wellcome/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Chowdhury F, Huang B, Wang N. Forces in stem cells and cancer stem cells. Cells Dev 2022; 170:203776. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2022.203776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Kriegman S, Blackiston D, Levin M, Bongard J. Kinematic self-replication in reconfigurable organisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2112672118. [PMID: 34845026 PMCID: PMC8670470 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112672118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
All living systems perpetuate themselves via growth in or on the body, followed by splitting, budding, or birth. We find that synthetic multicellular assemblies can also replicate kinematically by moving and compressing dissociated cells in their environment into functional self-copies. This form of perpetuation, previously unseen in any organism, arises spontaneously over days rather than evolving over millennia. We also show how artificial intelligence methods can design assemblies that postpone loss of replicative ability and perform useful work as a side effect of replication. This suggests other unique and useful phenotypes can be rapidly reached from wild-type organisms without selection or genetic engineering, thereby broadening our understanding of the conditions under which replication arises, phenotypic plasticity, and how useful replicative machines may be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Kriegman
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Douglas Blackiston
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Josh Bongard
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405
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9
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A 'tad' of hope in the fight against airway disease. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 48:2347-2357. [PMID: 33079166 PMCID: PMC7614538 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Xenopus tadpoles have emerged as a powerful in vivo model system to study mucociliary epithelia such as those found in the human airways. The tadpole skin has mucin-secreting cells, motile multi-ciliated cells, ionocytes (control local ionic homeostasis) and basal stem cells. This cellular architecture is very similar to the large airways of the human lungs and represents an easily accessible and experimentally tractable model system to explore the molecular details of mucociliary epithelia. Each of the cell types in the tadpole skin has a human equivalent and a conserved network of genes and signalling pathways for their differentiation has been discovered. Great insight into the function of each of the cell types has been achieved using the Xenopus model and this has enhanced our understanding of airway disease. This simple model has already had a profound impact on the field but, as molecular technologies (e.g. gene editing and live imaging) continue to develop apace, its use for understanding individual cell types and their interactions will likely increase. For example, its small size and genetic tractability make it an ideal model for live imaging of a mucociliary surface especially during environmental challenges such as infection. Further potential exists for the mimicking of human genetic mutations that directly cause airway disease and for the pre-screening of drugs against novel therapeutic targets.
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10
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Lewis M, Stracker TH. Transcriptional regulation of multiciliated cell differentiation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 110:51-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Corkins ME, Krneta-Stankic V, Kloc M, Miller RK. Aquatic models of human ciliary diseases. Genesis 2021; 59:e23410. [PMID: 33496382 PMCID: PMC8593908 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23410] [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: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cilia are microtubule-based structures that either transmit information into the cell or move fluid outside of the cell. There are many human diseases that arise from malfunctioning cilia. Although mammalian models provide vital insights into the underlying pathology of these diseases, aquatic organisms such as Xenopus and zebrafish provide valuable tools to help screen and dissect out the underlying causes of these diseases. In this review we focus on recent studies that identify or describe different types of human ciliopathies and outline how aquatic organisms have aided our understanding of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark E. Corkins
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Research Center, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, Houston Texas 77030
| | - Vanja Krneta-Stankic
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Research Center, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, Houston Texas 77030
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Program in Genes & Development, Houston Texas 77030
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Program in Genetics & Epigenetics, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Malgorzata Kloc
- Houston Methodist, Research Institute, Houston Texas 77030
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas 77030
| | - Rachel K. Miller
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Research Center, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, Houston Texas 77030
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Program in Genetics & Epigenetics, Houston, Texas 77030
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas 77030
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Program in Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Houston Texas 77030
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Xenopus Deep Cell Aggregates: A 3D Tissue Model for Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2179:275-287. [PMID: 32939727 PMCID: PMC9972462 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0779-4_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) describes the ability of loosely associated migratory cells to form a more adherent sheet-like assembly of cells. MET is a conserved motif occurring throughout organogenesis and plays a key role in regeneration and cancer metastasis, and is the first step in producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). To resolve fundamental biological questions about MET, its relation to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and to explore MET's role in tissue assembly and remodeling requires live models for MET that are amenable to experimentation. Many cases of clinically important MET are inferred since they occur deep with the body of the embryo or adult. We have developed a tractable model for MET, where cellular transitions can be directly observed under conditions where molecular, mechanical, and cellular contexts can be controlled experimentally. In this chapter, we introduce a 3-dimensional (3D) tissue model to study MET using Xenopus laevis embryonic mesenchymal cell aggregates.
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Gao J, Shen W. Xenopus in revealing developmental toxicity and modeling human diseases. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115809. [PMID: 33096388 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Xenopus model offers many advantages for investigation of the molecular, cellular, and behavioral mechanisms underlying embryo development. Moreover, Xenopus oocytes and embryos have been extensively used to study developmental toxicity and human diseases in response to various environmental chemicals. This review first summarizes recent advances in using Xenopus as a vertebrate model to study distinct types of tissue/organ development following exposure to environmental toxicants, chemical reagents, and pharmaceutical drugs. Then, the successful use of Xenopus as a model for diseases, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, autism, epilepsy, and cardiovascular disease, is reviewed. The potential application of Xenopus in genetic and chemical screening to protect against embryo deficits induced by chemical toxicants and related diseases is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanmei Gao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China; College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Wanhua Shen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China.
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