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Ramadan Q, Hazaymeh R, Zourob M. Immunity-on-a-Chip: Integration of Immune Components into the Scheme of Organ-on-a-Chip Systems. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200312. [PMID: 36866511 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200312] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Studying the immune system in vitro aims to understand how, when, and where the immune cells migrate/differentiate and respond to the various triggering events and the decision points along the immune response journey. It becomes evident that organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology has a superior capability to recapitulate the cell-cell and tissue-tissue interaction in the body, with a great potential to provide tools for tracking the paracrine signaling with high spatial-temporal precision and implementing in situ real-time, non-destructive detection assays, therefore, enabling extraction of mechanistic information rather than phenotypic information. However, despite the rapid development in this technology, integration of the immune system into OOC devices stays among the least navigated tasks, with immune cells still the major missing components in the developed models. This is mainly due to the complexity of the immune system and the reductionist methodology of the OOC modules. Dedicated research in this field is demanded to establish the understanding of mechanism-based disease endotypes rather than phenotypes. Herein, we systemically present a synthesis of the state-of-the-art of immune-cantered OOC technology. We comprehensively outlined what is achieved and identified the technology gaps emphasizing the missing components required to establish immune-competent OOCs and bridge these gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qasem Ramadan
- Alfaisal University, Riyadh, 11533, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rana Hazaymeh
- Almaarefa University, Diriyah, 13713, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Kim HA, Kim H, Nam MK, Park JK, Lee MY, Chung S, Lee KM, Kuh HJ. Suppression of the antitumoral activity of natural killer cells under indirect coculture with cancer-associated fibroblasts in a pancreatic TIME-on-chip model. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:219. [PMID: 37759302 PMCID: PMC10536815 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03064-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, natural killer (NK) cells emerged as a treatment option for various solid tumors. However, the immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) can reduce the cytotoxic ability of NK cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer-associated fibroblasts within the tumor stroma can suppress immune surveillance by dysregulating factors involved in the cellular activity of NK cells. Herein, the effect of activated pancreatic stellate cells (aPSCs) on NK cell-mediated anticancer efficacy under three-dimensional (3D) coculture conditions was investigated. METHODS 3D cocultures of PANC-1 tumor spheroids (TSs) with aPSCs and NK-92 cells in a collagen matrix were optimized to identify the occurring cellular interactions and differential cytokine profiles in conditioned media using microchannel chips. PANC-1 TSs and aPSCs were indirectly cocultured, whereas NK-92 cells were allowed to infiltrate the TS channel using convective medium flow. RESULTS Coculture with aPSCs promoted PANC-1 TSs growth and suppressed the antitumor cytotoxic effects of NK-92 cells. Mutual inhibition of cellular activity without compromising migration ability was observed between aPSCs and NK-92 cells. Moreover, the reduced killing activity of NK-92 cells was found to be related with reduced granzyme B expression in NK cells. CONCLUSIONS Herein, a novel TIME-on-chip model based on the coculture of PANC-1 TSs, aPSCs, and NK-92 cells was described. This model may be useful for studying the detailed mechanisms underlying NK cells dysregulation and for exploring future therapeutic interventions to restore NK cell activity in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Ah Kim
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunsoo Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Kyung Nam
- Cancer Evolution Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kook Park
- Department of Biomedical Science and Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon, 24252 Republic of Korea
| | - Moo-Yeal Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 North Elm Street, Denton, TX 76207 USA
| | - Seok Chung
- School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Mi Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jeong Kuh
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Cancer Evolution Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-ku, Seoul, 06591 Republic of Korea
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Understanding natural killer cell biology from a single cell perspective. Cell Immunol 2022; 373:104497. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Slyker L, Diamantides N, Kim J, Bonassar LJ. Mechanical performance of collagen gels is dependent on purity, α1/α2 ratio, and telopeptides. J Biomed Mater Res A 2022; 110:11-20. [PMID: 34236763 PMCID: PMC9271356 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
This article describes the compositional, mechanical, and structural differences between collagen gels fabricated from different sources and processing methods. Despite extensive use of collagen in the manufacturing of biomaterials and implants, there is little information as to the variation in properties based on collagen source or processing methods. As such, differences in purity and composition may affect gel structure and mechanical performance. Using mass spectrometry, we assessed protein composition of collagen from seven different sources. The mechanics and gelation kinetics of each gel were assessed through oscillatory shear rheology. Scanning electron microscopy enabled visualization of distinct differences in fiber morphology. Mechanics and gelation kinetics differed with source and processing method and were found to correlate with differences in composition. Gels fabricated from telopeptide-containing collagens had higher storage modulus (144 vs. 54 Pa) and faster gelation (251 vs. 734 s) compared to atelocollagens, despite having lower purity (93.4 vs. 99.8%). For telopeptide-containing collagens, as collagen purity increased, storage modulus increased and fiber diameter decreased. As α1/α2 chain ratio increased, fiber diameter increased and gelation slowed. As such, this study provides an examination of the effects of collagen processing on key quality attributes for use of collagen gels in biomedical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Slyker
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | | | - Jongkil Kim
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Lawrence J. Bonassar
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY,Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
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An automated real-time microfluidic platform to probe single NK cell heterogeneity and cytotoxicity on-chip. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17084. [PMID: 34429486 PMCID: PMC8385055 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96609-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxicity is a vital effector mechanism used by immune cells to combat pathogens and cancer cells. While conventional cytotoxicity assays rely on averaged end-point measures, crucial insights on the dynamics and heterogeneity of effector and target cell interactions cannot be extracted, emphasizing the need for dynamic single-cell analysis. Here, we present a fully automated droplet-based microfluidic platform that allowed the real-time monitoring of effector-target cell interactions and killing, allowing the screening of over 60,000 droplets identifying 2000 individual cellular interactions monitored over 10 h. During the course of incubation, we observed that the dynamics of cytotoxicity within the Natural Killer (NK) cell population varies significantly over the time. Around 20% of the total NK cells in droplets showed positive cytotoxicity against paired K562 cells, most of which was exhibited within first 4 h of cellular interaction. Using our single cell analysis platform, we demonstrated that the population of NK cells is composed of individual cells with different strength in their effector functions, a behavior masked in conventional studies. Moreover, the versatility of our platform will allow the dynamic and resolved study of interactions between immune cell types and the finding and characterization of functional sub-populations, opening novel ways towards both fundamental and translational research.
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Zhang K, Feng Q, Fang Z, Gu L, Bian L. Structurally Dynamic Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications: Pursuing a Fine Balance between Macroscopic Stability and Microscopic Dynamics. Chem Rev 2021; 121:11149-11193. [PMID: 34189903 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Owing to their unique chemical and physical properties, hydrogels are attracting increasing attention in both basic and translational biomedical studies. Although the classical hydrogels with static networks have been widely reported for decades, a growing number of recent studies have shown that structurally dynamic hydrogels can better mimic the dynamics and functions of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) in soft tissues. These synthetic materials with defined compositions can recapitulate key chemical and biophysical properties of living tissues, providing an important means to understanding the mechanisms by which cells sense and remodel their surrounding microenvironments. This review begins with the overall expectation and design principles of dynamic hydrogels. We then highlight recent progress in the fabrication strategies of dynamic hydrogels including both degradation-dependent and degradation-independent approaches, followed by their unique properties and use in biomedical applications such as regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and 3D culture. Finally, challenges and emerging trends in the development and application of dynamic hydrogels are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunyu Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.,Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Qian Feng
- Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwei Fang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.,Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Luo Gu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.,Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Liming Bian
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou 511442, People's Republic of China.,National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China.,Innovation Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China
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Sadjadi Z, Zhao R, Hoth M, Qu B, Rieger H. Migration of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in 3D Collagen Matrices. Biophys J 2020; 119:2141-2152. [PMID: 33264597 PMCID: PMC7732778 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer cells are the main cytotoxic killer cells of the human body to eliminate pathogen-infected or tumorigenic cells (also known as target cells). To find their targets, they have to navigate and migrate through complex biological microenvironments, a key component of which is the extracellular matrix (ECM). The mechanisms underlying killer cell's navigation are not well understood. To mimic an ECM, we use a matrix formed by different collagen concentrations and analyze migration trajectories of primary human CTLs. Different migration patterns are observed and can be grouped into three motility types: slow, fast, and mixed. The dynamics are well described by a two-state persistent random walk model, which allows cells to switch between slow motion with low persistence and fast motion with high persistence. We hypothesize that the slow motility mode describes CTLs creating channels through the collagen matrix by deforming and tearing apart collagen fibers and that the fast motility mode describes CTLs moving within these channels. Experimental evidence supporting this scenario is presented by visualizing migrating T cells following each other on exactly the same track and showing cells moving quickly in channel-like cavities within the surrounding collagen matrix. Consequently, the efficiency of the stochastic search process of CTLs in the ECM should strongly be influenced by a dynamically changing channel network produced by the killer cells themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Sadjadi
- Department of Theoretical Physics and Center for Biophysics, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany.
| | - Renping Zhao
- Department of Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Saarland, Germany
| | - Markus Hoth
- Department of Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Saarland, Germany
| | - Bin Qu
- Department of Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Saarland, Germany; Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Heiko Rieger
- Department of Theoretical Physics and Center for Biophysics, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany
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Chen SC, Wu PC, Wang CY, Kuo PL. Evaluation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated anticancer response against tumor interstitium-simulating physical barriers. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13662. [PMID: 32788651 PMCID: PMC7423901 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70694-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) is a promising agent for cancer therapy. Most solid tumors are characterized by increased interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and dense collagen capsule, which form physical barriers to impede cancer treatment. However, it remains unclear how CTL-mediated anticancer response is affected at the presence of these obstacles. Using a microfluidic-based platform mimicking these obstacles, we investigated the migration characteristics and performance of anticancer response of CTLs targeting hepatic cancer cells via antigen-specific and allogeneic recognition. The device consisted of slit channels mimicking the narrow interstitial paths constrained by the fibrous capsule and increased IFP was simulated by applying hydrostatic pressure to the tumor center. We found that antigen-specificity of CTLs against the targeted cancer cells determined the cytotoxic efficacy of the CTLs but did not significantly affect the success rate in CTLs that attempted to infiltrate into the tumor center. When increased IFP was present in the tumor center, CTL recruitment to tumor peripheries was promoted but success of infiltration was hindered. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating the physical characteristics of tumor interstitum into the development of CTL-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Ching Chen
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan
| | - Po-Cheng Wu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Yi Wang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ling Kuo
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan. .,Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan. .,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan.
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