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Liang L, Song X, Zhao H, Lim CT. Insights into the mechanobiology of cancer metastasis via microfluidic technologies. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:021506. [PMID: 38841688 PMCID: PMC11151435 DOI: 10.1063/5.0195389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
During cancer metastasis, cancer cells will encounter various microenvironments with diverse physical characteristics. Changes in these physical characteristics such as tension, stiffness, viscosity, compression, and fluid shear can generate biomechanical cues that affect cancer cells, dynamically influencing numerous pathophysiological mechanisms. For example, a dense extracellular matrix drives cancer cells to reorganize their cytoskeleton structures, facilitating confined migration, while this dense and restricted space also acts as a physical barrier that potentially results in nuclear rupture. Identifying these pathophysiological processes and understanding their underlying mechanobiological mechanisms can aid in the development of more effective therapeutics targeted to cancer metastasis. In this review, we outline the advances of engineering microfluidic devices in vitro and their role in replicating tumor microenvironment to mimic in vivo settings. We highlight the potential cellular mechanisms that mediate their ability to adapt to different microenvironments. Meanwhile, we also discuss some important mechanical cues that still remain challenging to replicate in current microfluidic devices in future direction. While much remains to be explored about cancer mechanobiology, we believe the developments of microfluidic devices will reveal how these physical cues impact the behaviors of cancer cells. It will be crucial in the understanding of cancer metastasis, and potentially contributing to better drug development and cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanfeng Liang
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiao Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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2
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Kiss C, Wurth S, Heschl B, Khalil M, Gattringer T, Enzinger C, Ropele S. Low-frequency MR elastography reveals altered deep gray matter viscoelasticity in multiple sclerosis. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 42:103606. [PMID: 38669859 PMCID: PMC11068637 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103606] [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: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Brain viscoelasticity as assessed by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) has been discussed as a promising surrogate of microstructural alterations due to neurodegenerative processes. Existing studies indicate that multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with a global reduction in brain stiffness. However, no study to date systematically investigated the MS-related characteristics of brain viscoelasticity separately in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), deep gray matter (DGM) and T2-hyperintense white matter (WM) lesions. METHODS 70 MS patients and 42 healthy volunteers underwent whole-cerebral MRE using a stimulated echo sequence (DENSE) with a low-frequency mechanical excitation at 20 Hertz. The magnitude |G∗| (Pa) and phase angle φ (rad) of the complex shear modulus G∗ were reconstructed by multifrequency dual elasto-visco (MDEV) inversion and related to structural imaging and clinical parameters. RESULTS We observed φ in the thalamus to be higher by 4.3 % in patients relative to healthy controls (1.11 ± 0.07 vs. 1.06 ± 0.07, p < 0.0001). Higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were negatively associated with φ in the basal ganglia (p = 0.01). We measured φ to be lower in MS lesions compared to surrounding NAWM (p = 0.001), which was most prominent for lesions in the temporal lobe (1.01 ± 0.22 vs. 1.06 ± 0.19, p = 0.003). Age was associated with lower values of |G∗| (p = 0.04) and φ (p = 0.004) in the thalamus of patients. No alteration in NAWM stiffness relative to WM in healthy controls was observed. CONCLUSION Low-frequency elastography in MS patients reveals age-independent alterations in the viscoelasticity of deep gray matter at early stages of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kiss
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
| | - Sebastian Wurth
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
| | - Bettina Heschl
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
| | - Michael Khalil
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
| | | | | | - Stefan Ropele
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria; Neuroimaging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
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3
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Liu S, Han Y, Kong L, Wang G, Ye Z. Atomic force microscopy in disease-related studies: Exploring tissue and cell mechanics. Microsc Res Tech 2024; 87:660-684. [PMID: 38063315 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24471] [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: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Despite significant progress in human medicine, certain diseases remain challenging to promptly diagnose and treat. Hence, the imperative lies in the development of more exhaustive criteria and tools. Tissue and cellular mechanics exhibit distinctive traits in both normal and pathological states, suggesting that "force" represents a promising and distinctive target for disease diagnosis and treatment. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) holds great promise as a prospective clinical medical device due to its capability to concurrently assess surface morphology and mechanical characteristics of biological specimens within a physiological setting. This review presents a comprehensive examination of the operational principles of AFM and diverse mechanical models, focusing on its applications in investigating tissue and cellular mechanics associated with prevalent diseases. The findings from these studies lay a solid groundwork for potential clinical implementations of AFM. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: By examining the surface morphology and assessing tissue and cellular mechanics of biological specimens in a physiological setting, AFM shows promise as a clinical device to diagnose and treat challenging diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaiyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yibo Han
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingwen Kong
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Central Hospital of Chongqing University, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Guixue Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- JinFeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiyi Ye
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- JinFeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
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4
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Lozinski BM, Ghorbani S, Yong VW. Biology of neurofibrosis with focus on multiple sclerosis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1370107. [PMID: 38596673 PMCID: PMC11002094 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1370107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue damage elicits a wound healing response of inflammation and remodeling aimed at restoring homeostasis. Dysregulation of wound healing leads to accumulation of effector cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) components, collectively termed fibrosis, which impairs organ functions. Fibrosis of the central nervous system, neurofibrosis, is a major contributor to the lack of neural regeneration and it involves fibroblasts, microglia/macrophages and astrocytes, and their deposited ECM. Neurofibrosis occurs commonly across neurological conditions. This review describes processes of wound healing and fibrosis in tissues in general, and in multiple sclerosis in particular, and considers approaches to ameliorate neurofibrosis to enhance neural recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - V. Wee Yong
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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5
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Elbaz B, Darwish A, Vardy M, Isaac S, Tokars HM, Dzhashiashvili Y, Korshunov K, Prakriya M, Eden A, Popko B. The bone transcription factor Osterix controls extracellular matrix- and node of Ranvier-related gene expression in oligodendrocytes. Neuron 2024; 112:247-263.e6. [PMID: 37924811 PMCID: PMC10843489 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.10.008] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes are the primary producers of many extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins found in the CNS. Therefore, oligodendrocytes play a critical role in the determination of brain stiffness, node of Ranvier formation, perinodal ECM deposition, and perineuronal net formation, all of which depend on the ECM. Nevertheless, the transcription factors that control ECM-related gene expression in oligodendrocytes remain unknown. Here, we found that the transcription factor Osterix (also known as Sp7) binds in proximity to genes important for CNS ECM and node of Ranvier formation and mediates their expression. Oligodendrocyte-specific ablation of Sp7 changes ECM composition and brain stiffness and results in aberrant node of Ranvier formation. Sp7 is known to control osteoblast maturation and bone formation. Our comparative analyses suggest that Sp7 plays a conserved biological role in oligodendrocytes and in bone-forming cells, where it mediates brain and bone tissue stiffness by controlling expression of ECM components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benayahu Elbaz
- Department of Neurology, Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Alaa Darwish
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maia Vardy
- Department of Neurology, Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sara Isaac
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Haley Margaret Tokars
- Department of Neurology, Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yulia Dzhashiashvili
- Department of Neurology, Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kirill Korshunov
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Murali Prakriya
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Amir Eden
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Brian Popko
- Department of Neurology, Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Hong J, Kirkland JM, Acheta J, Marziali LN, Beck B, Jeanette H, Bhatia U, Davis G, Herron J, Roué C, Abi-Ghanem C, Feltri ML, Zuloaga K, Bechler ME, Poitelon Y, Belin S. YAP and TAZ regulate remyelination in the central nervous system. Glia 2024; 72:156-166. [PMID: 37724047 PMCID: PMC10659087 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24467] [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: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Myelinating cells are sensitive to mechanical stimuli from their extracellular matrix. Ablation of YAP and TAZ mechanotransducers in Schwann cells abolishes the axon-Schwann cell recognition, myelination, and remyelination in the peripheral nervous system. It was unknown if YAP and TAZ are also required for myelination and remyelination in the central nervous system. Here we define the importance of oligodendrocyte (OL) YAP and TAZ in vivo, by specific deletion in oligodendroglial cells in adult OLs during myelin repair. Blocking YAP and TAZ expression in OL lineage cells did not affect animal viability or any major defects on OL maturation and myelination. However, using a mouse model of demyelination/remyelination, we demonstrate that YAP and TAZ modulate the capacity of OLs to remyelinate axons, particularly during the early stage of the repair process, when OL proliferation is most important. These results indicate that YAP and TAZ signaling is necessary for effective remyelination of the mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Hong
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Jules M Kirkland
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Jenica Acheta
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Leandro N Marziali
- Institute for Myelin and Glia Exploration, Dept. Biochemistry, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Brianna Beck
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Haley Jeanette
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Urja Bhatia
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Grace Davis
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Jacob Herron
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Clémence Roué
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Charly Abi-Ghanem
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - M Laura Feltri
- Institute for Myelin and Glia Exploration, Dept. Biochemistry, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Kristen Zuloaga
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Marie E Bechler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, and Department of Neuroscience and Physiology State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Yannick Poitelon
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Sophie Belin
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
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7
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Zhang X, Weickenmeier J. Brain Stiffness Follows Cuprizone-Induced Variations in Local Myelin Content. Acta Biomater 2023; 170:507-518. [PMID: 37660962 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.08.033] [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: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Brain maturation and neurological diseases are intricately linked to microstructural changes that inherently affect the brain's mechanical behavior. Animal models are frequently used to explore relative brain stiffness changes as a function of underlying microstructure. Here, we are using the cuprizone mouse model to study indentation-derived stiffness changes resulting from acute and chronic demyelination during a 15-week observation period. We focus on the corpus callosum, cingulum, and cortex which undergo different degrees of de- and remyelination and, therefore, result in region-specific stiffness changes. Mean stiffness of the corpus callosum starts at 1.1 ± 0.3 kPa in untreated mice, then cuprizone treatment causes stiffness to drop to 0.6 ± 0.1 kPa by week 3, temporarily increase to 0.9 ± 0.3 kPa by week 6, and ultimately stabilize around 0.7 ± 0.1 kPa by week 9 for the rest of the observation period. The cingulum starts at 3.2 ± 0.9 kPa, then drops to 1.6 ± 0.4 kPa by week 3, and then gradually stabilizes around 1.4 ± 0.3 kPa by week 9. Cortical stiffness exhibits less stiffness variations overall; it starts at 4.2 ± 1.3 kPa, drops to 2.4 ± 0.6 kPa by week 3, and stabilizes around 2.7 ± 0.9 kPa by week 6. We also assess the impact of tissue fixation on indentation-based mechanical tissue characterization. On the one hand, fixation drastically increases untreated mean tissue stiffness by a factor of 3.3 for the corpus callosum, 2.9 for the cingulum, and 3.6 for the cortex; on the other hand, fixation influences interregional stiffness ratios during demyelination, thus suggesting that fixation affects individual brain tissues differently. Lastly, we determine the spatial correlation between stiffness measurements and myelin density and observe a region-specific proportionality between myelin content and tissue stiffness. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Despite extensive work, the relationship between microstructure and mechanical behavior in the brain remains mostly unknown. Additionally, the existing variation of measurement results reported in literature requires in depth investigation of the impact of individual cell and protein populations on tissue stiffness and interregional stiffness ratios. Here, we used microindentation measurements to show that brain stiffness changes with myelin density in the cuprizone-based demyelination mouse model. Moreover, we explored the impact of tissue fixation prior to mechanical characterization because of conflicting results reported in literature. We observe that fixation has a distinctly different impact on our three regions of interest, thus causing region-specific tissue stiffening and, more importantly, changing interregional stiffness ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuesong Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030 United States
| | - Johannes Weickenmeier
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030 United States.
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8
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Exton J, Higgins JMG, Chen J. Acute brain slice elastic modulus decreases over time. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12826. [PMID: 37550376 PMCID: PMC10406937 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40074-z] [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: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A common benchmark in the brain tissue mechanics literature is that the properties of acute brain slices should be measured within 8 h of the experimental animal being sacrificed. The core assumption is that-since there is no substantial protein degradation during this time-there will be no change to elastic modulus. This assumption overlooks the possibility of other effects (such as osmotic swelling) that may influence the mechanical properties of the tissue. To achieve consistent and accurate analysis of brain mechanics, it is important to account for or mitigate these effects. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), tissue hydration and volume measurements, we find that acute brain slices in oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) with a standard osmolarity of 300 mOsm/l experience rapid swelling, softening, and increases in hydration within the first 2 hours after slicing. Reductions in elastic modulus can be partly mitigated by addition of chondroitinase ABC enzyme (CHABC). Increasing aCSF osmolarity to 400 mOsm/l does not prevent softening but may hasten equilibration of samples to a point where measurements of relative elastic modulus are consistent across experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Exton
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Jonathan M G Higgins
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Jinju Chen
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
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9
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Rocha DN, Carvalho ED, Pires LR, Gardin C, Zanolla I, Szewczyk PK, Machado C, Fernandes R, Stachewicz U, Zavan B, Relvas JB, Pêgo AP. It takes two to remyelinate: A bioengineered platform to study astrocyte-oligodendrocyte crosstalk and potential therapeutic targets in remyelination. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 151:213429. [PMID: 37148597 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The loss of the myelin sheath insulating axons is the hallmark of demyelinating diseases. These pathologies often lead to irreversible neurological impairment and patient disability. No effective therapies are currently available to promote remyelination. Several elements contribute to the inadequacy of remyelination, thus understanding the intricacies of the cellular and signaling microenvironment of the remyelination niche might help us to devise better strategies to enhance remyelination. Here, using a new in vitro rapid myelinating artificial axon system based on engineered microfibres, we investigated how reactive astrocytes influence oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation and myelination ability. This artificial axon culture system enables the effective uncoupling of molecular cues from the biophysical properties of the axons, allowing the detailed study of the astrocyte-OL crosstalk. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were cultured on poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-ε-caprolactone) copolymer electrospun microfibres that served as surrogate axons. This platform was then combined with a previously established tissue engineered glial scar model of astrocytes embedded in 1 % (w/v) alginate matrices, in which astrocyte reactive phenotype was acquired using meningeal fibroblast conditioned medium. OPCs were shown to adhere to uncoated engineered microfibres and differentiate into myelinating OL. Reactive astrocytes were found to significantly impair OL differentiation ability, after six and eight days in a co-culture system. Differentiation impairment was seen to be correlated with astrocytic miRNA release through exosomes. We found significantly reduction on the expression of pro-myelinating miRNAs (miR-219 and miR-338) and an increase in anti-myelinating miRNA (miR-125a-3p) content between reactive and quiescent astrocytes. Additionally, we show that OPC differentiation inhibition could be reverted by rescuing the activated astrocytic phenotype with ibuprofen, a chemical inhibitor of the small rhoGTPase RhoA. Overall, these findings show that modulating astrocytic function might be an interesting therapeutic avenue for demyelinating diseases. The use of these engineered microfibres as an artificial axon culture system will enable the screening for potential therapeutic agents that promote OL differentiation and myelination while providing valuable insight on the myelination/remyelination processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela N Rocha
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eva D Carvalho
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Liliana R Pires
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Chiara Gardin
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, Cotignola, 48033 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Ilaria Zanolla
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Piotr K Szewczyk
- Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
| | - Cláudia Machado
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Fernandes
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Urszula Stachewicz
- Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
| | - Barbara Zavan
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - João B Relvas
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade do Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana P Pêgo
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4050-343 Porto, Portugal.
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10
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Min W, Zhang H, Zhu J, Zhu M. Editorial: The role of glial cells in the autoimmune diseases of nervous system. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1141622. [PMID: 36814865 PMCID: PMC9939883 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1141622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wanwan Min
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongliang Zhang
- Department of Life Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China,Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mingqin Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China,*Correspondence: Mingqin Zhu ✉
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11
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Bertalan G, Becker J, Tzschätzsch H, Morr A, Herthum H, Shahryari M, Greenhalgh RD, Guo J, Schröder L, Alzheimer C, Budday S, Franze K, Braun J, Sack I. Mechanical behavior of the hippocampus and corpus callosum: An attempt to reconcile ex vivo with in vivo and micro with macro properties. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 138:105613. [PMID: 36549250 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical properties of brain tissue are very complex and vary with the species, region, method, and dynamic range, and between in vivo and ex vivo measurements. To reconcile this variability, we investigated in vivo and ex vivo stiffness properties of two distinct regions in the human and mouse brain - the hippocampus (HP) and the corpus callosum (CC) - using different methods. Under quasi-static conditions, we examined ex vivo murine HP and CC by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Between 16 and 40Hz, we investigated the in vivo brains of healthy volunteers by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in a 3-T clinical scanner. At high-frequency stimulation between 1000 and 1400Hz, we investigated the murine HP and CC ex vivo and in vivo with MRE in a 7-T preclinical system. HP and CC showed pronounced stiffness dispersion, as reflected by a factor of 32-36 increase in shear modulus from AFM to low-frequency human MRE and a 25-fold higher shear wave velocity in murine MRE than in human MRE. At low frequencies, HP was softer than CC, in both ex vivo mouse specimens (p < 0.05) and in vivo human brains (p < 0.01) while, at high frequencies, CC was softer than HP under in vivo (p < 0.01) and ex vivo (p < 0.05) conditions. The standard linear solid model comprising three elements reproduced the observed HP and CC stiffness dispersions, while other two- and three-element models failed. Our results indicate a remarkable consistency of brain stiffness across species, ex vivo and in vivo states, and different measurement techniques when marked viscoelastic dispersion properties combining equilibrium and non-equilibrium mechanical elements are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergerly Bertalan
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Becker
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Heiko Tzschätzsch
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Morr
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helge Herthum
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mehrgan Shahryari
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ryan D Greenhalgh
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leif Schröder
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Silvia Budday
- Institute of Applied Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kristian Franze
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Institute of Medical Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Braun
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingolf Sack
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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12
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Wu X, Georgiadis JG, Pelegri AA. Harmonic viscoelastic response of 3D histology-informed white matter model. Mol Cell Neurosci 2022; 123:103782. [PMID: 36154874 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2022.103782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
White matter (WM) consists of bundles of long axons embedded in a glial matrix, which lead to anisotropic mechanical properties of brain tissue, and this complicates direct numerical simulations of WM viscoelastic response. The detailed axonal geometry contains scales that range from axonal diameter (microscale) to many diameters (mesoscale) imposing an additional challenge to numerical simulations. Here we describe the development of a 3D homogenization model for the central nervous system (CNS) that accounts for the anisotropy introduced by the axon/neuroglia composite, the axonal trace curvature, and the tissue dynamic response in the frequency domain. Homogenized models that allow the incorporation of all the above factors are important for accurately simulating the tissue's mechanical behavior, and this in turn is essential in interpreting non-invasive elastography measurements. Geometric and material parameters affect the material properties and thus the response of the brain tissue. More complex, orthotropic, or anisotropic material properties are to be considered as necessitated by the 3D tissue structure. An assembly of micro-scale 3D representative elemental volumes (REVs) is constructed, leading to an integrated mesoscale WM finite element model. Assemblies of microscopic REVs, with orientations based on geometrical reconstructions driven by confocal microscopy data are employed to form the elements of the WM model. Each REV carries local material properties based on a finite element model of biphasic (axon-glial matrix) unidirectional composite. The viscoelastic response of the microscopic REVs is extracted based on geometric information and fiber volume fractions calculated from the relative distance between the local elements and global axonal trace. The response of the WM tissue model is homogenized by averaging the shear moduli over the total volume (thus deriving effective properties) under realistic external loading conditions. Under harmonic shear loading, it is proven that that the effective transverse shear moduli are higher than the axial moduli when the axon moduli are higher than the glial. Methodologically, the process of using micro-scale 3D REVs to describe more complex axon geometries avoids the partition process in traditional composite finite element methods (based on partition of finite element grids) and constitutes a robust algorithm to automatically build a WM model based on available axonal trace information. Analytically, the model provides unmatched simulation flexibility and computational power as the position, orientation, and the magnitude of each tissue building block is calculated using real tissue data, as are the training and testing processes at each level of the multiscale WM tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehai Wu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8058, USA
| | - John G Georgiadis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3255 S. Dearborn St., Wishnick Hall 314, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
| | - Assimina A Pelegri
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8058, USA.
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13
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Molina-Gonzalez I, Miron VE, Antel JP. Chronic oligodendrocyte injury in central nervous system pathologies. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1274. [PMID: 36402839 PMCID: PMC9675815 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04248-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelin, the membrane surrounding neuronal axons, is critical for central nervous system (CNS) function. Injury to myelin-forming oligodendrocytes (OL) in chronic neurological diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis) ranges from sublethal to lethal, leading to OL dysfunction and myelin pathology, and consequent deleterious impacts on axonal health that drive clinical impairments. This is regulated by intrinsic factors such as heterogeneity and age, and extrinsic cellular and molecular interactions. Here, we discuss the responses of OLs to injury, and perspectives for therapeutic targeting. We put forward that targeting mature OL health in neurological disease is a promising therapeutic strategy to support CNS function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Molina-Gonzalez
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Chancellor’s Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland UK
| | - Veronique E. Miron
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Chancellor’s Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland UK ,grid.415502.7Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Centre and Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Toronto, Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jack P. Antel
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Neuroimmunology Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
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14
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Caçoilo A, Rusinek H, Weickenmeier J. 3D finite-element brain modeling of lateral ventricular wall loading to rationalize periventricular white matter hyperintensity locations. ENGINEERING WITH COMPUTERS 2022; 38:3939-3955. [PMID: 37485473 PMCID: PMC10361695 DOI: 10.1007/s00366-022-01700-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Aging-related periventricular white matter hyperintensities (pvWMHs) are a common observation in medical images of the aging brain. The underlying tissue damage is part of the complex pathophysiology associated with age-related microstructural changes and cognitive decline. PvWMH formation is linked to blood-brain barrier dysfunction from cerebral small vessel disease as well as the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in periventricular tissue due to progressive denudation of the ventricular wall. In need of a unifying theory for pvWMH etiology, image-based finite-element modeling is used to demonstrate that ventricular expansion from age-related cerebral atrophy and hemodynamic loading leads to maximum mechanical loading of the ventricular wall in the same locations that show pvWMHs. Ventricular inflation, induced via pressurization of the ventricular wall, creates significant ventricular wall stretch and stress on the ependymal cells lining the wall, that are linked to cerebrospinal fluid leaking from the lateral ventricles into periventricular white matter tissue. Eight anatomically accurate 3D brain models of cognitively healthy subjects with a wide range of ventricular shapes are created. For all models, our simulations show that mechanomarkers of mechanical wall loading are consistently highest in pvWMHs locations (p < 0.05). Maximum principal strain, the ependymal cell thinning ratio, and wall curvature are on average 14%, 8%, and 24% higher in pvWMH regions compared to the remaining ventricular wall, respectively. Computational modeling provides a powerful framework to systematically study pvWMH formation and growth with the goal to develop pharmacological interventions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Caçoilo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA
| | - Henry Rusinek
- Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Johannes Weickenmeier
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA
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15
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Yang K, He X, Wu Z, Yin Y, Pan H, Zhao X, Sun T. The emerging roles of piezo1 channels in animal models of multiple sclerosis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:976522. [PMID: 36177027 PMCID: PMC9513475 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.976522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disease in the central nervous system (CNS). Its pathogenesis is quite complex: Accumulated evidence suggests that biochemical signals as well as mechanical stimuli play important roles in MS. In both patients and animal models of MS, brain viscoelasticity is reduced during disease progression. Piezo mechanosensitive channels are recently discovered, and their three-dimensional structure has been solved. Both the membrane dome mechanism and the membrane footprint hypothesis have been proposed to explain their mechanosensitivity. While membrane-mediated forces alone appear to be sufficient to induce Piezo gating, tethers attached to the membrane or to the channel itself also seem to play a role. Current research indicates that Piezo1 channels play a key role in multiple aspects of MS pathogenesis. Activation of Piezo1 channels in axon negatively regulates CNS myelination. in addition, the inhibition of Piezo1 in CD4+ T cells and/or T regulatory cells (Treg) attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) symptoms. Although more work has to be done to clarify the roles of Piezo1 channels in MS, they might be a promising future drug target for MS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Yang
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Kai Yang, ; Taolei Sun,
| | - Xueai He
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengqi Wu
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yimeng Yin
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hanyu Pan
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyue Zhao
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Taolei Sun
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Kai Yang, ; Taolei Sun,
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16
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van Schaik PEM, Zuhorn IS, Baron W. Targeting Fibronectin to Overcome Remyelination Failure in Multiple Sclerosis: The Need for Brain- and Lesion-Targeted Drug Delivery. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158418. [PMID: 35955549 PMCID: PMC9368816 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease with unknown etiology that can be characterized by the presence of demyelinated lesions. Prevailing treatment protocols in MS rely on the modulation of the inflammatory process but do not impact disease progression. Remyelination is an essential factor for both axonal survival and functional neurological recovery but is often insufficient. The extracellular matrix protein fibronectin contributes to the inhibitory environment created in MS lesions and likely plays a causative role in remyelination failure. The presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) hinders the delivery of remyelination therapeutics to lesions. Therefore, therapeutic interventions to normalize the pathogenic MS lesion environment need to be able to cross the BBB. In this review, we outline the multifaceted roles of fibronectin in MS pathogenesis and discuss promising therapeutic targets and agents to overcome fibronectin-mediated inhibition of remyelination. In addition, to pave the way for clinical use, we reflect on opportunities to deliver MS therapeutics to lesions through the utilization of nanomedicine and discuss strategies to deliver fibronectin-directed therapeutics across the BBB. The use of well-designed nanocarriers with appropriate surface functionalization to cross the BBB and target the lesion sites is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline E. M. van Schaik
- Section Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Inge S. Zuhorn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (I.S.Z.); (W.B.); Tel.: +31-50-3616178 (I.S.Z.); +31-503611652 (W.B.); Fax: +31-503616190 (W.B.)
| | - Wia Baron
- Section Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence: (I.S.Z.); (W.B.); Tel.: +31-50-3616178 (I.S.Z.); +31-503611652 (W.B.); Fax: +31-503616190 (W.B.)
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17
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Velasco-Estevez M, Koch N, Klejbor I, Caratis F, Rutkowska A. Mechanoreceptor Piezo1 Is Downregulated in Multiple Sclerosis Brain and Is Involved in the Maturation and Migration of Oligodendrocytes in vitro. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:914985. [PMID: 35722613 PMCID: PMC9204635 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.914985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical properties of the brain such as intracranial pressure or stiffness of the matrix play an important role in the brain’s normal physiology and pathophysiology. The physical properties are sensed by the cells through mechanoreceptors and translated into ion currents which activate multiple biochemical cascades allowing the cells to adapt and respond to changes in their microenvironment. Piezo1 is one of the first identified mechanoreceptors. It modulates various central nervous system functions such as axonal growth or activation of astrocytes. Piezo1 signaling was also shown to play a role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we explore the expression of the mechanoreceptor Piezo1 in human MO3.13 oligodendrocytes and human MS/non-MS patients’ brains and investigate its putative effects on oligodendrocyte proliferation, maturation, and migration. We found that Piezo1 is expressed in human oligodendrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the human brain and that its inhibition with GsMTx4 leads to an increment in proliferation and migration of MO3.13 oligodendrocytes. Activation of Piezo1 with Yoda-1 induced opposite effects. Further, we observed that expression of Piezo1 decreased with MO3.13 maturation in vitro. Differences in expression were also observed between healthy and multiple sclerosis brains. Remarkably, the data showed significantly lower expression of Piezo1 in the white matter in multiple sclerosis brains compared to its expression in the white matter in healthy controls. There were no differences in Piezo1 expression between the white matter plaque and healthy-appearing white matter in the multiple sclerosis brain. Taken together, we here show that Piezo1-induced signaling can be used to modulate oligodendrocyte function and that it may be an important player in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Velasco-Estevez
- H12O-CNIO Hematological Malignancies Group, Clinical Research Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Nina Koch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Ilona Klejbor
- Department of Anatomy, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Kielce, Poland
| | - Fionä Caratis
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Rutkowska
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
- *Correspondence: Aleksandra Rutkowska,
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18
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Rocha DN, Carvalho ED, Relvas JB, Oliveira MJ, Pêgo AP. Mechanotransduction: Exploring New Therapeutic Avenues in Central Nervous System Pathology. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:861613. [PMID: 35573316 PMCID: PMC9096357 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.861613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells are continuously exposed to physical forces and the central nervous system (CNS) is no exception. Cells dynamically adapt their behavior and remodel the surrounding environment in response to forces. The importance of mechanotransduction in the CNS is illustrated by exploring its role in CNS pathology development and progression. The crosstalk between the biochemical and biophysical components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are here described, considering the recent explosion of literature demonstrating the powerful influence of biophysical stimuli like density, rigidity and geometry of the ECM on cell behavior. This review aims at integrating mechanical properties into our understanding of the molecular basis of CNS disease. The mechanisms that mediate mechanotransduction events, like integrin, Rho/ROCK and matrix metalloproteinases signaling pathways are revised. Analysis of CNS pathologies in this context has revealed that a wide range of neurological diseases share as hallmarks alterations of the tissue mechanical properties. Therefore, it is our belief that the understanding of CNS mechanotransduction pathways may lead to the development of improved medical devices and diagnostic methods as well as new therapeutic targets and strategies for CNS repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Nogueira Rocha
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eva Daniela Carvalho
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Engenharia (FEUP), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Bettencourt Relvas
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biomedicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria José Oliveira
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Paula Pêgo
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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19
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Carvalho E, Morais M, Ferreira H, Silva M, Guimarães S, Pêgo A. A paradigm shift: Bioengineering meets mechanobiology towards overcoming remyelination failure. Biomaterials 2022; 283:121427. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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20
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Herthum H, Hetzer S, Scheel M, Shahryari M, Braun J, Paul F, Sack I. In vivo stiffness of multiple sclerosis lesions is similar to that of normal-appearing white matter. Acta Biomater 2022; 138:410-421. [PMID: 34757062 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In 1868, French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot coined the term multiple sclerosis (MS) after his observation that numerous white matter (WM) glial scars felt like sclerotic tissue. Nowadays, magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) can generate images with contrast of stiffness (CS) in soft in vivo tissues and may therefore be sensitive to MS lesions, provided that sclerosis is indeed a mechanical signature of this disease. We analyzed CS in a total of 147 lesions in patients with relapsing-remitting MS, compared with control regions in contralateral brain regions, and phantom data as well as performed numerical simulations to determine the delineation limits of multifrequency MRE (20 - 40 Hz) in MS. MRE analysis of simulated waves revealed a delineation limit of approximately 10% CS for detecting 9-mm lesions (mean size in our patient population). Due to inversion bias, this limit is reached when true CS is -11% for soft and 35% for stiff lesions. In vivo MRE identified 35 stiffer lesions and 17 softer lesions compared with surrounding WM (mean stiffness: 934±82 Pa). However, a similar pattern was found in the contralateral brain, suggesting that the range of stiffness changes in WM lesions due to MS is within the normal range of WM variability and normal heterogeneity-related CS. Consequently, Charcot's original intuition that MS is a focal sclerotic disease can neither be dismissed nor confirmed by in vivo MRE. However, the observation that MS lesions do not markedly differ in stiffness from surrounding brain tissue suggests that marked tissue sclerosis is not a mechanical signature of MS. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) was named by J.M. Charcot after the sclerotic changes in brain tissue he found in post-mortem autopsies. Since then, nothing has been revealed about the actual stiffening of MS lesions in vivo. Studying the viscoelastic properties of plaques in their natural environment is a major challenge that can only be overcome by MR elastography (MRE). Therefore, we used multifrequency MRE to answer the question whether MS lesions in patients with a relapsing-remitting disease course are mechanically different than surrounding tissue. Our findings suggest that the range of stiffness changes in white matter lesions due to MS is within the normal range of white matter variability and in vivo tissue sclerosis might not be a mechanical signature of MS.
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21
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Godbe JM, Freeman R, Lewis JA, Sasselli IR, Sangji MH, Stupp SI. Hydrogen Bonding Stiffens Peptide Amphiphile Supramolecular Filaments by Aza-Glycine Residues. Acta Biomater 2021; 135:87-99. [PMID: 34481055 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Peptide amphiphiles (PAs) are a class of molecules comprised of short amino acid sequences conjugated to hydrophobic moieties that may exhibit self-assembly in water into supramolecular structures. We investigate here how mechanical properties of hydrogels formed by PA supramolecular nanofibers are affected by hydrogen bond densities within their internal structure by substituting glycine for aza-glycine (azaG) residues. We found that increasing the number of PA molecules that contain azaG up to 5 mol% in PA supramolecular nanofibers increases their persistence length fivefold and decreases their diffusion coefficients as measured by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. When these PAs are used to create hydrogels, their bulk storage modulus (G') was found to increase as azaG PA content in the supramolecular assemblies increases up to a value of 10 mol% and beyond this value a decrease was observed, likely due to diminished levels of nanofiber entanglement in the hydrogels as a direct result of increased supramolecular rigidity. Interestingly, we found that the bioactivity of the scaffolds toward dopaminergic neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells can be enhanced directly by persistence length independently of storage modulus. We hypothesize that this is due to interactions between the cells and the extracellular environment across different size scales: from filopodia adhering to individual nanofiber bundles to cell adhesion sites that interact with the hydrogel as a bulk substrate. Fine tuning of hydrogen bond density in self-assembling peptide biomaterials such as PAs provides an approach to control nanoscale stiffness as part of an overall strategy to optimize bioactivity in these supramolecular systems. supramolecular biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Hydrogen bonding is an important driving force for the self-assembly of peptides in both biological and artificial systems. Here, we increase the amount of hydrogen bonding within self-assembled peptide amphiphile (PA) nanofibers by substituting glycine for an aza-glycine (azaG). We show that increasing the molar concentration of azaG increases the internal order of individual nanofibers and increases their persistence length. We also show that these changes are sufficient to increase survival and tyrosine hydroxylase expression in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons cultured in 3D gels made of these materials. Our strategy of tuning the number of hydrogen bonds in a supramolecular assembly provides mechanical customization for 3D cell culture and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M Godbe
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior St, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States; Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Ronit Freeman
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior St, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Jacob A Lewis
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior St, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Ivan R Sasselli
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - M Hussain Sangji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Samuel I Stupp
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior St, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States; Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States; Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N St Clair St Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, United States; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
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22
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Marangon D, Caporale N, Boccazzi M, Abbracchio MP, Testa G, Lecca D. Novel in vitro Experimental Approaches to Study Myelination and Remyelination in the Central Nervous System. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:748849. [PMID: 34720882 PMCID: PMC8551863 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.748849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelin is the lipidic insulating structure enwrapping axons and allowing fast saltatory nerve conduction. In the central nervous system, myelin sheath is the result of the complex packaging of multilamellar extensions of oligodendrocyte (OL) membranes. Before reaching myelinating capabilities, OLs undergo a very precise program of differentiation and maturation that starts from OL precursor cells (OPCs). In the last 20 years, the biology of OPCs and their behavior under pathological conditions have been studied through several experimental models. When co-cultured with neurons, OPCs undergo terminal maturation and produce myelin tracts around axons, allowing to investigate myelination in response to exogenous stimuli in a very simple in vitro system. On the other hand, in vivo models more closely reproducing some of the features of human pathophysiology enabled to assess the consequences of demyelination and the molecular mechanisms of remyelination, and they are often used to validate the effect of pharmacological agents. However, they are very complex, and not suitable for large scale drug discovery screening. Recent advances in cell reprogramming, biophysics and bioengineering have allowed impressive improvements in the methodological approaches to study brain physiology and myelination. Rat and mouse OPCs can be replaced by human OPCs obtained by induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from healthy or diseased individuals, thus offering unprecedented possibilities for personalized disease modeling and treatment. OPCs and neural cells can be also artificially assembled, using 3D-printed culture chambers and biomaterial scaffolds, which allow modeling cell-to-cell interactions in a highly controlled manner. Interestingly, scaffold stiffness can be adopted to reproduce the mechanosensory properties assumed by tissues in physiological or pathological conditions. Moreover, the recent development of iPSC-derived 3D brain cultures, called organoids, has made it possible to study key aspects of embryonic brain development, such as neuronal differentiation, maturation and network formation in temporal dynamics that are inaccessible to traditional in vitro cultures. Despite the huge potential of organoids, their application to myelination studies is still in its infancy. In this review, we shall summarize the novel most relevant experimental approaches and their implications for the identification of remyelinating agents for human diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Marangon
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicolò Caporale
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Boccazzi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria P. Abbracchio
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Testa
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Lecca
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Tsitlakidis A, Tsingotjidou AS, Kritis A, Cheva A, Selviaridis P, Aifantis EC, Foroglou N. Atomic Force Microscope Nanoindentation Analysis of Diffuse Astrocytic Tumor Elasticity: Relation with Tumor Histopathology. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4539. [PMID: 34572766 PMCID: PMC8465072 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the influence of isocitrate dehydrogenase gene family (IDH) mutations, World Health Organization (WHO) grade, and mechanical preconditioning on glioma and adjacent brain elasticity through standard monotonic and repetitive atomic force microscope (AFM) nanoindentation. The elastic modulus was measured ex vivo on fresh tissue specimens acquired during craniotomy from the tumor and the peritumoral white matter of 16 diffuse glioma patients. Linear mixed-effects models examined the impact of tumor traits and preconditioning on tissue elasticity. Tissues from IDH-mutant cases were stiffer than those from IDH-wildtype ones among anaplastic astrocytoma patients (p = 0.0496) but of similar elasticity to IDH-wildtype cases for diffuse astrocytoma patients (p = 0.480). The tumor was found to be non-significantly softer than white matter in anaplastic astrocytomas (p = 0.070), but of similar elasticity to adjacent brain in diffuse astrocytomas (p = 0.492) and glioblastomas (p = 0.593). During repetitive indentation, both tumor (p = 0.002) and white matter (p = 0.003) showed initial stiffening followed by softening. Stiffening was fully reversed in white matter (p = 0.942) and partially reversed in tumor (p = 0.015). Tissue elasticity comprises a phenotypic characteristic closely related to glioma histopathology. Heterogeneity between patients should be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Tsitlakidis
- First Department of Neurosurgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (N.F.)
| | - Anastasia S. Tsingotjidou
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Aristeidis Kritis
- Laboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Angeliki Cheva
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Panagiotis Selviaridis
- First Department of Neurosurgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (N.F.)
| | - Elias C. Aifantis
- Laboratory of Mechanics and Materials, Polytechnic School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Nicolas Foroglou
- First Department of Neurosurgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (N.F.)
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Ghorbani S, Yong VW. The extracellular matrix as modifier of neuroinflammation and remyelination in multiple sclerosis. Brain 2021; 144:1958-1973. [PMID: 33889940 PMCID: PMC8370400 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Remyelination failure contributes to axonal loss and progression of disability in multiple sclerosis. The failed repair process could be due to ongoing toxic neuroinflammation and to an inhibitory lesion microenvironment that prevents recruitment and/or differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells into myelin-forming oligodendrocytes. The extracellular matrix molecules deposited into lesions provide both an altered microenvironment that inhibits oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, and a fuel that exacerbates inflammatory responses within lesions. In this review, we discuss the extracellular matrix and where its molecules are normally distributed in an uninjured adult brain, specifically at the basement membranes of cerebral vessels, in perineuronal nets that surround the soma of certain populations of neurons, and in interstitial matrix between neural cells. We then highlight the deposition of different extracellular matrix members in multiple sclerosis lesions, including chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans, collagens, laminins, fibronectin, fibrinogen, thrombospondin and others. We consider reasons behind changes in extracellular matrix components in multiple sclerosis lesions, mainly due to deposition by cells such as reactive astrocytes and microglia/macrophages. We next discuss the consequences of an altered extracellular matrix in multiple sclerosis lesions. Besides impairing oligodendrocyte recruitment, many of the extracellular matrix components elevated in multiple sclerosis lesions are pro-inflammatory and they enhance inflammatory processes through several mechanisms. However, molecules such as thrombospondin-1 may counter inflammatory processes, and laminins appear to favour repair. Overall, we emphasize the crosstalk between the extracellular matrix, immune responses and remyelination in modulating lesions for recovery or worsening. Finally, we review potential therapeutic approaches to target extracellular matrix components to reduce detrimental neuroinflammation and to promote recruitment and maturation of oligodendrocyte lineage cells to enhance remyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Ghorbani
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - V Wee Yong
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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25
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Antonovaite N, Hulshof LA, Huffels CFM, Hol EM, Wadman WJ, Iannuzzi D. Mechanical alterations of the hippocampus in the APP/PS1 Alzheimer's disease mouse model. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2021; 122:104697. [PMID: 34271406 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence of altered tissue mechanics in neurodegeneration. However, due to difficulties in mechanical testing procedures and the complexity of the brain, there is still little consensus on the role of mechanics in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In the case of Alzheimer's disease (AD), magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) studies have indicated viscoelastic differences in the brain tissue of AD patients and healthy controls. However, there is a lack of viscoelastic data from contact mechanical testing at higher spatial resolution. Therefore, we report viscoelastic maps of the hippocampus obtained by a dynamic indentation on brain slices from the APP/PS1 mouse model where individual brain regions are resolved. A comparison of viscoelastic parameters shows that regions in the hippocampus of the APP/PS1 mice are significantly stiffer than wild-type (WT) mice and have increased viscous dissipation. Furthermore, indentation mapping at the cellular scale directly on the plaques and their surroundings did not show local alterations in stiffness although overall mechanical heterogeneity of the tissue was high (SD∼40%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelda Antonovaite
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB, VU Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Lianne A Hulshof
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan F M Huffels
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wytse J Wadman
- Center for Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Davide Iannuzzi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB, VU Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Marinval N, Chew SY. Mechanotransduction assays for neural regeneration strategies: A focus on glial cells. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:021505. [PMID: 33948526 PMCID: PMC8088332 DOI: 10.1063/5.0037814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Glial cells are mechanosensitive, and thus, engineered systems have taken a step forward to design mechanotransduction platforms in order to impart diverse mechanical stresses to cells. Mechanical strain encountered in the central nervous system can arise from diverse mechanisms, such as tissue reorganization, fluid flow, and axon growth, as well as pathological events including axon swelling or mechanical trauma. Biomechanical relevance of the in vitro mechanical testing requires to be placed in line with the physiological and mechanical changes in central nervous tissues that occur during the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Mechanotransduction signaling utilized by glial cells and the recent approaches intended to model altered microenvironment adapted to pathological context are discussed in this review. New insights in systems merging substrate's stiffness and topography should be considered for further glial mechanotransduction studies, while testing platforms for drug discoveries promise great advancements in pharmacotherapy. Potential leads and strategies for clinical outcomes are expected to be developed following the exploration of these glial mechanosensitive signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Marinval
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459
| | - Sing Yian Chew
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: . Tel.: +65 6316 8812. Fax: +65 6794 7553
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Cayre M, Falque M, Mercier O, Magalon K, Durbec P. Myelin Repair: From Animal Models to Humans. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:604865. [PMID: 33935649 PMCID: PMC8079744 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.604865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely thought that brain repair does not occur, but myelin regeneration provides clear evidence to the contrary. Spontaneous remyelination may occur after injury or in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the efficiency of remyelination varies considerably between MS patients and between the lesions of each patient. Myelin repair is essential for optimal functional recovery, so a profound understanding of the cells and mechanisms involved in this process is required for the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we describe how animal models and modern cell tracing and imaging methods have helped to identify the cell types involved in myelin regeneration. In addition to the oligodendrocyte progenitor cells identified in the 1990s as the principal source of remyelinating cells in the central nervous system (CNS), other cell populations, including subventricular zone-derived neural progenitors, Schwann cells, and even spared mature oligodendrocytes, have more recently emerged as potential contributors to CNS remyelination. We will also highlight the conditions known to limit endogenous repair, such as aging, chronic inflammation, and the production of extracellular matrix proteins, and the role of astrocytes and microglia in these processes. Finally, we will present the discrepancies between observations in humans and in rodents, discussing the relationship of findings in experimental models to myelin repair in humans. These considerations are particularly important from a therapeutic standpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Cayre
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM-UMR 7288), Marseille, France
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van Wageningen TA, Antonovaite N, Paardekam E, Brevé JJP, Iannuzzi D, van Dam AM. Viscoelastic properties of white and gray matter-derived microglia differentiate upon treatment with lipopolysaccharide but not upon treatment with myelin. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:83. [PMID: 33781276 PMCID: PMC8008683 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02134-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The biomechanical properties of the brain have increasingly been shown to relate to brain pathology in neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Inflammation and demyelination in MS induce significant changes in brain stiffness which can be linked to the relative abundance of glial cells in lesions. We hypothesize that the biomechanical, in addition to biochemical, properties of white (WM) and gray matter (GM)-derived microglia may contribute to the differential microglial phenotypes as seen in MS WM and GM lesions. Methods Primary glial cultures from WM or GM of rat adult brains were treated with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS), myelin, or myelin+LPS for 24 h or left untreated as a control. After treatment, microglial cells were indented using dynamic indentation to determine the storage and loss moduli reflecting cell elasticity and cell viscosity, respectively, and subsequently fixed for immunocytochemical analysis. In parallel, gene expression of inflammatory-related genes were measured using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Finally, phagocytosis of myelin was determined as well as F-actin visualized to study the cytoskeletal changes. Results WM-derived microglia were significantly more elastic and more viscous than microglia derived from GM. This heterogeneity in microglia biomechanical properties was also apparent when treated with LPS when WM-derived microglia decreased cell elasticity and viscosity, and GM-derived microglia increased elasticity and viscosity. The increase in elasticity and viscosity observed in GM-derived microglia was accompanied by an increase in Tnfα mRNA and reorganization of F-actin which was absent in WM-derived microglia. In contrast, when treated with myelin, both WM- and GM-derived microglia phagocytose myelin decrease their elasticity and viscosity. Conclusions In demyelinating conditions, when myelin debris is phagocytized, as in MS lesions, it is likely that the observed differences in WM- versus GM-derived microglia biomechanics are mainly due to a difference in response to inflammation, rather than to the event of demyelination itself. Thus, the differential biomechanical properties of WM and GM microglia may add to their differential biochemical properties which depend on inflammation present in WM and GM lesions of MS patients. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-021-02134-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thecla A van Wageningen
- Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, MS Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081, HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nelda Antonovaite
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Paardekam
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John J P Brevé
- Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, MS Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081, HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Davide Iannuzzi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie van Dam
- Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, MS Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081, HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Balestri S, Del Giovane A, Sposato C, Ferrarelli M, Ragnini-Wilson A. The Current Challenges for Drug Discovery in CNS Remyelination. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22062891. [PMID: 33809224 PMCID: PMC8001072 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The myelin sheath wraps around axons, allowing saltatory currents to be transmitted along neurons. Several genetic, viral, or environmental factors can damage the central nervous system (CNS) myelin sheath during life. Unless the myelin sheath is repaired, these insults will lead to neurodegeneration. Remyelination occurs spontaneously upon myelin injury in healthy individuals but can fail in several demyelination pathologies or as a consequence of aging. Thus, pharmacological intervention that promotes CNS remyelination could have a major impact on patient’s lives by delaying or even preventing neurodegeneration. Drugs promoting CNS remyelination in animal models have been identified recently, mostly as a result of repurposing phenotypical screening campaigns that used novel oligodendrocyte cellular models. Although none of these have as yet arrived in the clinic, promising candidates are on the way. Many questions remain. Among the most relevant is the question if there is a time window when remyelination drugs should be administrated and why adult remyelination fails in many neurodegenerative pathologies. Moreover, a significant challenge in the field is how to reconstitute the oligodendrocyte/axon interaction environment representative of healthy as well as disease microenvironments in drug screening campaigns, so that drugs can be screened in the most appropriate disease-relevant conditions. Here we will provide an overview of how the field of in vitro models developed over recent years and recent biological findings about how oligodendrocytes mature after reactivation of their staminal niche. These data have posed novel questions and opened new views about how the adult brain is repaired after myelin injury and we will discuss how these new findings might change future drug screening campaigns for CNS regenerative drugs.
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Werkman IL, Dubbelaar ML, van der Vlies P, de Boer-Bergsma JJ, Eggen BJL, Baron W. Transcriptional heterogeneity between primary adult grey and white matter astrocytes underlie differences in modulation of in vitro myelination. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:373. [PMID: 33308248 PMCID: PMC7733297 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-02045-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammation-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that eventually results in secondary axonal degeneration due to remyelination failure. Successful remyelination is orchestrated by astrocytes (ASTRs) and requires sequential activation, recruitment, and maturation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). In both MS and experimental models, remyelination is more robust in grey matter (GM) than white matter (WM), which is likely related to local differences between GM and WM lesions. Here, we investigated whether adult gmASTRs and wmASTRs per se and in response to MS relevant Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation differently modulate myelination. Methods Differences in modulation of myelination between adult gmASTRs and wmASTRs were examined using an in vitro myelinating system that relies on a feeding layer of ASTRs. Transcriptional profiling and weighted gene co-expression network analysis were used to analyze differentially expressed genes and gene networks. Potential differential modulation of OPC proliferation and maturation by untreated adult gmASTRs and wmASTRs and in response to TLR3 and TLR4 agonists were assessed. Results Our data reveal that adult wmASTRs are less supportive to in vitro myelination than gmASTRs. WmASTRs more abundantly express reactive ASTR genes and genes of a neurotoxic subtype of ASTRs, while gmASTRs have more neuro-reparative transcripts. We identified a gene network module containing cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme genes that positively correlated with gmASTRs, and a network module containing extracellular matrix-related genes that positively correlated with wmASTRs. Adult wmASTRs and gmASTRs responding to TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C) distinctly modulate OPC behavior, while exposure to TLR4 agonist LPS of both gmASTRs and wmASTRs results in a prominent decrease in myelin membrane formation. Conclusions Primary adult gmASTRs and wmASTRs are heterogeneous at the transcriptional level, differed in their support of in vitro myelination, and their pre-existing phenotype determined TLR3 agonist responses. These findings point to a role of ASTR heterogeneity in regional differences in remyelination efficiency between GM and WM lesions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-020-02045-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge L Werkman
- Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marissa L Dubbelaar
- Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter van der Vlies
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jelkje J de Boer-Bergsma
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bart J L Eggen
- Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Wia Baron
- Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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das Neves SP, Sousa JC, Sousa N, Cerqueira JJ, Marques F. Altered astrocytic function in experimental neuroinflammation and multiple sclerosis. Glia 2020; 69:1341-1368. [PMID: 33247866 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects about 2.5 million people worldwide. In MS, the patients' immune system starts to attack the myelin sheath, leading to demyelination, neurodegeneration, and, ultimately, loss of vital neurological functions such as walking. There is currently no cure for MS and the available treatments only slow the initial phases of the disease. The later-disease mechanisms are poorly understood and do not directly correlate with the activity of immune system cells, the main target of the available treatments. Instead, evidence suggests that disease progression and disability are better correlated with the maintenance of a persistent low-grade inflammation inside the CNS, driven by local glial cells, like astrocytes and microglia. Depending on the context, astrocytes can (a) exacerbate inflammation or (b) promote immunosuppression and tissue repair. In this review, we will address the present knowledge that exists regarding the role of astrocytes in MS and experimental animal models of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Pereira das Neves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - João Carlos Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center, Braga, Portugal
| | - João José Cerqueira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
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32
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Mijailovic AS, Galarza S, Raayai-Ardakani S, Birch NP, Schiffman JD, Crosby AJ, Cohen T, Peyton SR, Van Vliet KJ. Localized characterization of brain tissue mechanical properties by needle induced cavitation rheology and volume controlled cavity expansion. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020; 114:104168. [PMID: 33218928 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Changes in the elastic properties of brain tissue have been correlated with injury, cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, discrepancies in the reported elastic moduli of brain tissue are persistent, and spatial inhomogeneities complicate the interpretation of macroscale measurements such as rheology. Here we introduce needle induced cavitation rheology (NICR) and volume-controlled cavity expansion (VCCE) as facile methods to measure the apparent Young's modulus E of minimally manipulated brain tissue, at specific tissue locations and with sub-millimeter spatial resolution. For different porcine brain regions and sections analyzed by NICR, we found E to be 3.7 ± 0.7 kPa and 4.8 ± 1.0 kPa for gray matter, and white matter, respectively. For different porcine brain regions and sections analyzed by VCCE, we found E was 0.76 ± 0.02 kPa for gray matter and 0.92 ± 0.01 kPa for white matter. Measurements from VCCE were more similar to those obtained from macroscale shear rheology (0.75 ± 0.06 kPa) and from instrumented microindentation of white matter (0.97 ± 0.40 kPa) and gray matter (0.86 ± 0.20 kPa). We attributed the higher stiffness reported from NICR to that method's assumption of a cavitation instability due to a neo-Hookean constitutive response, which does not capture the strain-stiffening behavior of brain tissue under large strains, and therefore did not provide appropriate measurements. We demonstrate via both analytical modeling of a spherical cavity and finite element modeling of a needle geometry, that this strain stiffening may prevent a cavitation instability. VCCE measurements take this stiffening behavior into account by employing an incompressible one-term Ogden model to find the nonlinear elastic properties of the tissue. Overall, VCCE afforded rapid and facile measurement of nonlinear mechanical properties of intact, healthy mammalian brain tissue, enabling quantitative comparison among brain tissue regions and also between species. Finally, accurate estimation of elastic properties for this strain stiffening tissue requires methods that include appropriate constitutive models of the brain tissue response, which here are represented by inclusion of the Ogden model in VCCE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar S Mijailovic
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sualyneth Galarza
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Shabnam Raayai-Ardakani
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Nathan P Birch
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Jessica D Schiffman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Alfred J Crosby
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Tal Cohen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
| | - Krystyn J Van Vliet
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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33
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Ong W, Marinval N, Lin J, Nai MH, Chong YS, Pinese C, Sajikumar S, Lim CT, Ffrench-Constant C, Bechler ME, Chew SY. Biomimicking Fiber Platform with Tunable Stiffness to Study Mechanotransduction Reveals Stiffness Enhances Oligodendrocyte Differentiation but Impedes Myelination through YAP-Dependent Regulation. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e2003656. [PMID: 32790058 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202003656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A key hallmark of many diseases, especially those in the central nervous system (CNS), is the change in tissue stiffness due to inflammation and scarring. However, how such changes in microenvironment affect the regenerative process remains poorly understood. Here, a biomimicking fiber platform that provides independent variation of fiber structural and intrinsic stiffness is reported. To demonstrate the functionality of these constructs as a mechanotransduction study platform, these substrates are utilized as artificial axons and the effects of axon structural versus intrinsic stiffness on CNS myelination are independently analyzed. While studies have shown that substrate stiffness affects oligodendrocyte differentiation, the effects of mechanical stiffness on the final functional state of oligodendrocyte (i.e., myelination) has not been shown prior to this. Here, it is demonstrated that a stiff mechanical microenvironment impedes oligodendrocyte myelination, independently and distinctively from oligodendrocyte differentiation. Yes-associated protein is identified to be involved in influencing oligodendrocyte myelination through mechanotransduction. The opposing effects on oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination provide important implications for current work screening for promyelinating drugs, since these efforts have focused mainly on promoting oligodendrocyte differentiation. Thus, the platform may have considerable utility as part of a drug discovery program in identifying molecules that promote both differentiation and myelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Ong
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
- NTU Institute for Health Technologies (Health Tech NTU), Interdisciplinary Disciplinary School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637533, Singapore
| | - Nicolas Marinval
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
| | - Junquan Lin
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
| | - Mui Hoon Nai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Yee-Song Chong
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
- Life Sciences Institute Neurobiology Programme, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Coline Pinese
- Max Mousseron Institute of Biomolecules (IBMM), UMR CNRS 5247, University of Montpellier, ENSCM, Montpellier, F-34093, France
| | - Sreedharan Sajikumar
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
- Life Sciences Institute Neurobiology Programme, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Charles Ffrench-Constant
- MRC-Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Marie E Bechler
- MRC-Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Sing Yian Chew
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 308232, Singapore
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Ulbrich P, Khoshneviszadeh M, Jandke S, Schreiber S, Dityatev A. Interplay between perivascular and perineuronal extracellular matrix remodelling in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 53:3811-3830. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Ulbrich
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Magdeburg Germany
- Department of Neurology Otto‐von‐Guericke University Magdeburg Germany
| | - Mahsima Khoshneviszadeh
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Magdeburg Germany
- Department of Neurology Otto‐von‐Guericke University Magdeburg Germany
| | - Solveig Jandke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Magdeburg Germany
- Department of Neurology Otto‐von‐Guericke University Magdeburg Germany
| | - Stefanie Schreiber
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Magdeburg Germany
- Department of Neurology Otto‐von‐Guericke University Magdeburg Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS) Magdeburg Germany
| | - Alexander Dityatev
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Magdeburg Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS) Magdeburg Germany
- Medical Faculty Otto‐von‐Guericke University Magdeburg Germany
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Espinosa-Hoyos D, Burstein SR, Cha J, Jain T, Nijsure M, Jagielska A, Fossati V, Van Vliet KJ. Mechanosensitivity of Human Oligodendrocytes. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:222. [PMID: 32848617 PMCID: PMC7420028 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes produce and repair myelin, which is critical for the integrity and function of the central nervous system (CNS). Oligodendrocyte and oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) biology is modulated in vitro by mechanical cues within the magnitudes observed in vivo. In some cases, these cues are sufficient to accelerate or inhibit terminal differentiation of murine oligodendrocyte progenitors. However, our understanding of oligodendrocyte lineage mechanobiology has been restricted primarily to animal models to date, due to the inaccessibility and challenges of human oligodendrocyte cell culture. Here, we probe the mechanosensitivity of human oligodendrocyte lineage cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. We target phenotypically distinct stages of the human oligodendrocyte lineage and quantify the effect of substratum stiffness on cell migration and differentiation, within the range documented in vivo. We find that human oligodendrocyte lineage cells exhibit mechanosensitive migration and differentiation. Further, we identify two patterns of human donor line-dependent mechanosensitive differentiation. Our findings illustrate the variation among human oligodendrocyte responses, otherwise not captured by animal models, that are important for translational research. Moreover, these findings highlight the importance of studying glia under conditions that better approximate in vivo mechanical cues. Despite significant progress in human oligodendrocyte derivation methodology, the extended duration, low yield, and low selectivity of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte protocols significantly limit the scale-up and implementation of these cells and protocols for in vivo and in vitro applications. We propose that mechanical modulation, in combination with traditional soluble and insoluble factors, provides a key avenue to address these challenges in cell production and in vitro analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Espinosa-Hoyos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Suzanne R. Burstein
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jaaram Cha
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Tanya Jain
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Madhura Nijsure
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anna Jagielska
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Valentina Fossati
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Krystyn J. Van Vliet
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
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36
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Werkman IL, Lentferink DH, Baron W. Macroglial diversity: white and grey areas and relevance to remyelination. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 78:143-171. [PMID: 32648004 PMCID: PMC7867526 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03586-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Macroglia, comprising astrocytes and oligodendroglial lineage cells, have long been regarded as uniform cell types of the central nervous system (CNS). Although regional morphological differences between these cell types were initially described after their identification a century ago, these differences were largely ignored. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that macroglial cells form distinct populations throughout the CNS, based on both functional and morphological features. Moreover, with the use of refined techniques including single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing, additional evidence is emerging for regional macroglial heterogeneity at the transcriptional level. In parallel, several studies revealed the existence of regional differences in remyelination capacity between CNS grey and white matter areas, both in experimental models for successful remyelination as well as in the chronic demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS). In this review, we provide an overview of the diversity in oligodendroglial lineage cells and astrocytes from the grey and white matter, as well as their interplay in health and upon demyelination and successful remyelination. In addition, we discuss the implications of regional macroglial diversity for remyelination in light of its failure in MS. Since the etiology of MS remains unknown and only disease-modifying treatments altering the immune response are available for MS, the elucidation of macroglial diversity in grey and white matter and its putative contribution to the observed difference in remyelination efficiency between these regions may open therapeutic avenues aimed at enhancing endogenous remyelination in either area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge L Werkman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Dennis H Lentferink
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Wia Baron
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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37
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Hall CM, Moeendarbary E, Sheridan GK. Mechanobiology of the brain in ageing and Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 53:3851-3878. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chloe M. Hall
- Department of Mechanical Engineering University College London London UK
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences University of Brighton Brighton UK
| | - Emad Moeendarbary
- Department of Mechanical Engineering University College London London UK
- Department of Biological Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA USA
| | - Graham K. Sheridan
- School of Life Sciences Queens Medical Centre University of Nottingham Nottingham UK
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38
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Gorter RP, Baron W. Matrix metalloproteinases shape the oligodendrocyte (niche) during development and upon demyelination. Neurosci Lett 2020; 729:134980. [PMID: 32315713 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.134980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The oligodendrocyte lineage cell is crucial to proper brain function. During central nervous system development, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) migrate and proliferate to populate the entire brain and spinal cord, and subsequently differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes that wrap neuronal axons in an insulating myelin layer. When damage occurs to the myelin sheath, OPCs are activated and recruited to the demyelinated site, where they differentiate into oligodendrocytes that remyelinate the denuded axons. The process of OPC attraction and differentiation is influenced by a multitude of factors from the cell's niche. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are powerful and versatile enzymes that do not only degrade extracellular matrix proteins, but also cleave cell surface receptors, growth factors, signaling molecules, proteases and other precursor proteins, leading to their activation or degradation. MMPs are markedly upregulated during brain development and upon demyelinating injury, where their broad functions influence the behavior of neural progenitor cells (NPCs), OPCs and oligodendrocytes. In this review, we focus on the role of MMPs in (re)myelination. We will start out in the developing brain with describing the effects of MMPs on NPCs, OPCs and eventually oligodendrocytes. Then, we will outline their functions in oligodendrocyte process extension and developmental myelination. Finally, we will review their potential role in demyelination, describe their significance in remyelination and discuss the evidence for a role of MMPs in remyelination failure, focusing on multiple sclerosis. In conclusion, MMPs shape the oligodendrocyte (niche) both during development and upon demyelination, and thus are important players in directing the fate and behavior of oligodendrocyte lineage cells throughout their life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne P Gorter
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Wia Baron
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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39
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Godbe JM, Freeman R, Burbulla LF, Lewis J, Krainc D, Stupp SI. Gelator length precisely tunes supramolecular hydrogel stiffness and neuronal phenotype in 3D culture. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:1196-1207. [PMID: 33094153 PMCID: PMC7575210 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b01585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The brain is one of the softest tissues in the body with storage moduli (G') that range from hundreds to thousands of pascals (Pa) depending upon the anatomic region. Furthermore, pathological processes such as injury, aging and disease can cause subtle changes in the mechanical properties throughout the central nervous system. However, these changes in mechanical properties lie within an extremely narrow range of moduli and there is great interest in understanding their effect on neuron biology. We report here the design of supramolecular hydrogels based on anionic peptide amphiphile nanofibers using oligo-L-lysines of different molecular lengths to precisely tune gel stiffness over the range of interest and found that G' increases by 10.5 Pa for each additional lysine monomer in the oligo-L-lysine chain. We found that small changes in storage modulus on the order of 70 Pa significantly affect survival, neurite growth and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive population in dopaminergic neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. The work reported here offers a strategy to tune mechanical stiffness of hydrogels for use in 3D neuronal cell cultures and transplantation matrices for neural regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M. Godbe
- Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Ronit Freeman
- Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Lena F. Burbulla
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Jacob Lewis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Dimitri Krainc
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Samuel I. Stupp
- Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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40
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Casaccia P. Emerging concepts in neuroscience research: 2019 highlights. Lancet Neurol 2020; 19:21-22. [PMID: 31839244 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(19)30452-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Casaccia
- Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA; Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
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41
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Makhija EP, Espinosa-Hoyos D, Jagielska A, Van Vliet KJ. Mechanical regulation of oligodendrocyte biology. Neurosci Lett 2019; 717:134673. [PMID: 31838017 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes (OL) are a subset of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) comprising the brain and spinal cord. The CNS environment is defined by complex biochemical and biophysical cues during development and response to injury or disease. In the last decade, significant progress has been made in understanding some of the key biophysical factors in the CNS that modulate OL biology, including their key role in myelination of neurons. Taken together, those studies offer translational implications for remyelination therapies, pharmacological research, identification of novel drug targets, and improvements in methods to generate human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and OLs from donor stem cells in vitro. This review summarizes current knowledge of how various physical and mechanical cues affect OL biology and its implications for disease, therapeutic approaches, and generation of human OPCs and OLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta P Makhija
- BioSystems & Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore 138602; Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, 138602, Singapore
| | - Daniela Espinosa-Hoyos
- BioSystems & Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore 138602; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
| | - Anna Jagielska
- BioSystems & Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore 138602; Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA.
| | - Krystyn J Van Vliet
- BioSystems & Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore 138602; Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, 138602, Singapore; Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA.
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42
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Dagro A, Rajbhandari L, Orrego S, Kang SH, Venkatesan A, Ramesh KT. Quantifying the Local Mechanical Properties of Cells in a Fibrous Three-Dimensional Microenvironment. Biophys J 2019; 117:817-828. [PMID: 31421835 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Measurements of the mechanical response of biological cells are critical for understanding injury and disease, for developing diagnostic tools, and for computational models in mechanobiology. Although it is well known that cells are sensitive to the topography of their microenvironment, the current paradigm in mechanical testing of adherent cells is mostly limited to specimens grown on flat two-dimensional substrates. In this study, we introduce a technique in which cellular indentation via optical trapping is performed on cells at a high spatial resolution to obtain their regional mechanical properties while they exist in a more favorable three-dimensional microenvironment. We combine our approach with nonlinear contact mechanics theory to consider the effects of a large deformation. This allows us to probe length scales that are relevant for obtaining overall cell stiffness values. The experimental results herein provide the hyperelastic material properties at both high (∼100 s-1) and low (∼1-10 s-1) strain rates of murine central nervous system glial cells. The limitations due to possible misalignment of the indenter in the three-dimensional space are examined using a computational model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Dagro
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
| | | | - Santiago Orrego
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sung Hoon Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Arun Venkatesan
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kaliat T Ramesh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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