Adherens junctions organize size-selective proteolytic hotspots critical for Notch signalling

Signalling interaction between β-catenin and other signalling molecules during osteoarthritis development

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent disorder of synovial joint affecting multiple joints. In the past decade, we have witnessed conceptual switch of OA pathogenesis from a 'wear and tear' disease to a disease affecting entire joint. Extensive studies have been conducted to understand the underlying mechanisms of OA using genetic mouse models and ex vivo joint tissues derived from individuals with OA. These studies revealed that multiple signalling pathways are involved in OA development, including the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling and its interaction with other signalling pathways, such as transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), bone morphogenic protein (BMP), Indian Hedgehog (Ihh), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and Notch. The identification of signalling interaction and underlying mechanisms are currently underway and the specific molecule(s) and key signalling pathway(s) playing a decisive role in OA development need to be evaluated. This review will focus on recent progresses in understanding of the critical role of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in OA pathogenesis and interaction of β-catenin with other pathways, such as TGF-β, BMP, Notch, Ihh, NF-κB, and FGF. Understanding of these novel insights into the interaction of β-catenin with other pathways and its integration into a complex gene regulatory network during OA development will help us identify the key signalling pathway of OA pathogenesis leading to the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies for OA intervention.

A magnetically powered nanomachine with a DNA clutch

Machines found in nature and human-made machines share common components, such as an engine, and an output element, such as a rotor, linked by a clutch. This clutch, as seen in biological structures such as dynein, myosin or bacterial flagellar motors, allows for temporary disengagement of the moving parts from the running engine. However, such sophistication is still challenging to achieve in artificial nanomachines. Here we present a spherical rotary nanomotor with a reversible clutch system based on precise molecular recognition of built-in DNA strands. The clutch couples and decouples the engine from the machine's rotor in response to encoded inputs such as DNA or RNA. The nanomotor comprises a porous nanocage as a spherical rotor to confine the magnetic engine particle within the nanospace (∼0.004 μm3) of the cage. Thus, the entropically driven irreversible disintegration of the magnetic engine and the spherical rotor during the disengagement process is eliminated, and an exchange of microenvironmental inputs is possible through the nanopores. Our motor is only 200 nm in size and the clutch-mediated force transmission powered by an embedded ferromagnetic nanocrystal is high enough (∼15.5 pN at 50 mT) for the in vitro mechanical activation of Notch and integrin receptors, demonstrating its potential as nano-bio machinery.

Adherens junctions as molecular regulators of emergent tissue mechanics

Tissue and organ development during embryogenesis relies on the collective and coordinated action of many cells. Recent studies have revealed that tissue material properties, including transitions between fluid and solid tissue states, are controlled in space and time to shape embryonic structures and regulate cell behaviours. Although the collective cellular flows that sculpt tissues are guided by tissue-level physical changes, these ultimately emerge from cellular-level and subcellular-level molecular mechanisms. Adherens junctions are key subcellular structures, built from clusters of classical cadherin receptors. They mediate physical interactions between cells and connect biochemical signalling to the physical characteristics of cell contacts, hence playing a fundamental role in tissue morphogenesis. In this Review, we take advantage of the results of recent, quantitative measurements of tissue mechanics to relate the molecular and cellular characteristics of adherens junctions, including adhesion strength, tension and dynamics, to the emergent physical state of embryonic tissues. We focus on systems in which cell-cell interactions are the primary contributor to morphogenesis, without significant contribution from cell-matrix interactions. We suggest that emergent tissue mechanics is an important direction for future research, bridging cell biology, developmental biology and mechanobiology to provide a holistic understanding of morphogenesis in health and disease.

Spatial-temporal order-disorder transition in angiogenic NOTCH signaling controls cell fate specification

Angiogenesis is a morphogenic process resulting in the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, usually in hypoxic micro-environments. The initial steps of angiogenesis depend on robust differentiation of oligopotent endothelial cells into the Tip and Stalk phenotypic cell fates, controlled by NOTCH-dependent cell-cell communication. The dynamics of spatial patterning of this cell fate specification are only partially understood. Here, by combining a controlled experimental angiogenesis model with mathematical and computational analyses, we find that the regular spatial Tip-Stalk cell patterning can undergo an order-disorder transition at a relatively high input level of a pro-angiogenic factor VEGF. The resulting differentiation is robust but temporally unstable for most cells, with only a subset of presumptive Tip cells leading sprout extensions. We further find that sprouts form in a manner maximizing their mutual distance, consistent with a Turing-like model that may depend on local enrichment and depletion of fibronectin. Together, our data suggest that NOTCH signaling mediates a robust way of cell differentiation enabling but not instructing subsequent steps in angiogenic morphogenesis, which may require additional cues and self-organization mechanisms. This analysis can assist in further understanding of cell plasticity underlying angiogenesis and other complex morphogenic processes.

Microvascular rarefaction caused by the NOTCH signaling pathway is a key cause of TKI-apatinib-induced hypertension and cardiac damage

With the advancement of tumour-targeted therapy technology, the survival of cancer patients has continued to increase, and cardiovascular events have gradually become an important cause of death in cancer patients. This phenomenon occurs due to adverse cardiovascular reactions caused by the cardiovascular toxicity of antitumour therapy. Moreover, the increase in the proportion of elderly patients with cancer and cardiovascular diseases is due to the extension of life expectancy. Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular side effect of small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The increase in blood pressure induced by TKIs and subsequent cardiovascular complications and events affect the survival and quality of life of patients and partly offset the benefits of antitumour therapy. Many studies have confirmed that in the pathogenesis of hypertension, arterioles and capillary thinness are involved in its occurrence and development. Our previous findings showing that apatinib causes microcirculation rarefaction of the superior mesenteric artery and impaired microvascular growth may inspire new therapeutic strategies for treating hypertension. Thus, by restoring microvascular development and branching patterns, total peripheral resistance and blood pressure are reduced. Therefore, exploring the key molecular targets of TKIs that inhibit the expression of angiogenic factors and elucidating the specific molecular mechanism involved are key scientific avenues for effectively promoting endothelial cell angiogenesis and achieving accurate repair of microcirculation injury in hypertension patients.

Notch1 cortical signaling regulates epithelial architecture and cell-cell adhesion

Notch receptors control tissue morphogenic processes that involve coordinated changes in cell architecture and gene expression, but how a single receptor can produce these diverse biological outputs is unclear. Here, we employ a 3D model of a human ductal epithelium to reveal tissue morphogenic defects result from loss of Notch1, but not Notch1 transcriptional signaling. Instead, defects in duct morphogenesis are driven by dysregulated epithelial cell architecture and mitogenic signaling which result from the loss of a transcription-independent, Notch1 cortical signaling mechanism that ultimately functions to stabilize adherens junctions and cortical actin. We identify that Notch1 localization and cortical signaling are tied to apical-basal cell restructuring and discover that a Notch1-FAM83H interaction underlies control of epithelial adherens junctions and cortical actin. Together, these results offer new insights into Notch1 signaling and regulation and advance a paradigm in which transcriptional and cell adhesive programs might be coordinated by a single receptor.

Mechanical regulation of the Notch signaling pathway

The mechanical regulation of Notch signaling is an emerging area of interest in cell biology. Notch is essential in many physiological processes in which mechanical stress plays an important role. This review provides an overview of the mechanoregulation of Notch signaling in multiple steps of the pathway. First, we discuss the current knowledge on the direct mechanoregulation of Notch receptor maturation and localization to the membrane and the effect of mechanical stress on the Notch components. Next, we explore how ligand-receptor interactions and membrane dynamics are possible subjects to mechano-regulation, emphasizing the role of cytoskeletal interactions, membrane stiffness, and endocytic complex formation. We further delve into the necessity of tension generation for negative regulatory region (NRR) domain unfolding, facilitated by ligand endocytosis and other microforces. Additionally, we examine the indirect mechano-regulation of S2 and S3 cleavages. Finally, we discuss the mechanoregulation of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) trafficking and nuclear entry and the impact of mechanical stress on heterochromatin dynamics and nuclear NICD interactions. This review aims to draw attention to the intricate interplay between mechanical cues and Notch signaling regulation, offering novel insights into the multifaceted nature of cellular mechanobiology.

The blood-brain barrier: structure, regulation, and drug delivery

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a natural protective membrane that prevents central nervous system (CNS) from toxins and pathogens in blood. However, the presence of BBB complicates the pharmacotherapy for CNS disorders as the most chemical drugs and biopharmaceuticals have been impeded to enter the brain. Insufficient drug delivery into the brain leads to low therapeutic efficacy as well as aggravated side effects due to the accumulation in other organs and tissues. Recent breakthrough in materials science and nanotechnology provides a library of advanced materials with customized structure and property serving as a powerful toolkit for targeted drug delivery. In-depth research in the field of anatomical and pathological study on brain and BBB further facilitates the development of brain-targeted strategies for enhanced BBB crossing. In this review, the physiological structure and different cells contributing to this barrier are summarized. Various emerging strategies for permeability regulation and BBB crossing including passive transcytosis, intranasal administration, ligands conjugation, membrane coating, stimuli-triggered BBB disruption, and other strategies to overcome BBB obstacle are highlighted. Versatile drug delivery systems ranging from organic, inorganic, and biologics-derived materials with their synthesis procedures and unique physio-chemical properties are summarized and analyzed. This review aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive guideline for researchers in diverse fields, offering perspectives on further development of brain-targeted drug delivery system.

Notch1 cortical signaling regulates epithelial architecture and cell-cell adhesion

Notch receptors control tissue morphogenic processes that involve coordinated changes in cell architecture and gene expression, but how a single receptor can produce these diverse biological outputs is unclear. Here we employ a 3D organotypic model of a ductal epithelium to reveal tissue morphogenic defects result from loss of Notch1, but not Notch1 transcriptional signaling. Instead, defects in duct morphogenesis are driven by dysregulated epithelial cell architecture and mitogenic signaling which result from loss of a transcription-independent Notch1 cortical signaling mechanism that ultimately functions to stabilize adherens junctions and cortical actin. We identify that Notch1 localization and cortical signaling are tied to apical-basal cell restructuring and discover a Notch1-FAM83H interaction underlies stabilization of adherens junctions and cortical actin. Together, these results offer new insights into Notch1 signaling and regulation, and advance a paradigm in which transcriptional and cell adhesive programs might be coordinated by a single receptor.

Matrix stiffness regulates Notch signaling activity in endothelial cells

Notch signaling is critical for many developmental and disease-related processes. It is widely accepted that Notch has a mechanotransduction module that regulates receptor cleavage. However, the role of biomechanical properties of the cellular environment in Notch signaling in general is still poorly understood. During angiogenesis, differentiation of endothelial cells into tip and stalk cells is regulated by Notch signaling, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix occurs. We investigated the influence of substrate stiffness on the Notch signaling pathway in endothelial cells. Using stiffness-tuned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates, we show that activity of the Notch signaling pathway inversely correlates with a physiologically relevant range of substrate stiffness (i.e. increased Notch signaling activity on softer substrates). Trans-endocytosis of the Notch extracellular domain, but not the overall endocytosis, is regulated by substrate stiffness, and integrin cell-matrix connections are both stiffness dependent and influenced by Notch signaling. We conclude that mechanotransduction of Notch activation is modulated by substrate stiffness, highlighting the role of substrate rigidity as an important cue for signaling. This might have implications in pathological situations associated with stiffening of the extracellular matrix, such as tumor growth.