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Yousafzai MS, Hammer JA. Using Biosensors to Study Organoids, Spheroids and Organs-on-a-Chip: A Mechanobiology Perspective. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:905. [PMID: 37887098 PMCID: PMC10605946 DOI: 10.3390/bios13100905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The increasing popularity of 3D cell culture models is being driven by the demand for more in vivo-like conditions with which to study the biochemistry and biomechanics of numerous biological processes in health and disease. Spheroids and organoids are 3D culture platforms that self-assemble and regenerate from stem cells, tissue progenitor cells or cell lines, and that show great potential for studying tissue development and regeneration. Organ-on-a-chip approaches can be used to achieve spatiotemporal control over the biochemical and biomechanical signals that promote tissue growth and differentiation. These 3D model systems can be engineered to serve as disease models and used for drug screens. While culture methods have been developed to support these 3D structures, challenges remain to completely recapitulate the cell-cell and cell-matrix biomechanical interactions occurring in vivo. Understanding how forces influence the functions of cells in these 3D systems will require precise tools to measure such forces, as well as a better understanding of the mechanobiology of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Biosensors will prove powerful for measuring forces in both of these contexts, thereby leading to a better understanding of how mechanical forces influence biological systems at the cellular and tissue levels. Here, we discussed how biosensors and mechanobiological research can be coupled to develop accurate, physiologically relevant 3D tissue models to study tissue development, function, malfunction in disease, and avenues for disease intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sulaiman Yousafzai
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - John A. Hammer
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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2
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Nikovics K, Favier AL, Rocher M, Mayinga C, Gomez J, Dufour-Gaume F, Riccobono D. In Situ Identification of Both IL-4 and IL-10 Cytokine-Receptor Interactions during Tissue Regeneration. Cells 2023; 12:1522. [PMID: 37296643 PMCID: PMC10253026 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111522] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokines secreted by individual immune cells regulate tissue regeneration and allow communication between various cell types. Cytokines bind to cognate receptors and trigger the healing process. Determining the orchestration of cytokine interactions with their receptors on their cellular targets is essential to fully understanding the process of inflammation and tissue regeneration. To this end, we have investigated the interactions of Interleukin-4 cytokine (IL-4)/Interleukin-4 cytokine receptor (IL-4R) and Interleukin-10 cytokine (IL-10)/Interleukin-10 cytokine receptor (IL-10R) using in situ Proximity Ligation Assays in a regenerative model of skin, muscle and lung tissues in the mini-pig. The pattern of protein-protein interactions was distinct for the two cytokines. IL-4 bound predominantly to receptors on macrophages and endothelial cells around the blood vessels while the target cells of IL-10 were mainly receptors on muscle cells. Our results show that in situ studies of cytokine-receptor interactions can unravel the fine details of the mechanism of action of cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Nikovics
- Imagery Unit, Department of Platforms and Technology Research, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France; (A.-L.F.); (M.R.); (C.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Anne-Laure Favier
- Imagery Unit, Department of Platforms and Technology Research, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France; (A.-L.F.); (M.R.); (C.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Mathilde Rocher
- Imagery Unit, Department of Platforms and Technology Research, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France; (A.-L.F.); (M.R.); (C.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Céline Mayinga
- Imagery Unit, Department of Platforms and Technology Research, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France; (A.-L.F.); (M.R.); (C.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Johanna Gomez
- Imagery Unit, Department of Platforms and Technology Research, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France; (A.-L.F.); (M.R.); (C.M.); (J.G.)
| | - Frédérique Dufour-Gaume
- War Traumatology Unit, Department of NRBC Defense, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France;
| | - Diane Riccobono
- Department of Radiation Bioeffects, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, 1, Place du Général Valérie André, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France;
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Hu T, Lai Q, Fan W, Zhang Y, Liu Z. Advances in Portable Heavy Metal Ion Sensors. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:4125. [PMID: 37112466 PMCID: PMC10143460 DOI: 10.3390/s23084125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal ions, one of the major pollutants in the environment, exhibit non-degradable and bio-chain accumulation characteristics, seriously damage the environment, and threaten human health. Traditional heavy metal ion detection methods often require complex and expensive instruments, professional operation, tedious sample preparation, high requirements for laboratory conditions, and operator professionalism, and they cannot be widely used in the field for real-time and rapid detection. Therefore, developing portable, highly sensitive, selective, and economical sensors is necessary for the detection of toxic metal ions in the field. This paper presents portable sensing based on optical and electrochemical methods for the in situ detection of trace heavy metal ions. Progress in research on portable sensor devices based on fluorescence, colorimetric, portable surface Raman enhancement, plasmon resonance, and various electrical parameter analysis principles is highlighted, and the characteristics of the detection limits, linear detection ranges, and stability of the various sensing methods are analyzed. Accordingly, this review provides a reference for the design of portable heavy metal ion sensing.
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Abstract
Plasma membrane tension functions as a global physical organizer of cellular activities. Technical limitations of current membrane tension measurement techniques have hampered in-depth investigation of cellular membrane biophysics and the role of plasma membrane tension in regulating cellular processes. Here, we develop an optical membrane tension reporter by repurposing an E. coli mechanosensitive channel via insertion of circularly permuted GFP (cpGFP), which undergoes a large conformational rearrangement associated with channel activation and thus fluorescence intensity changes under increased membrane tension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Yu Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Agnes M Resto Irizarry
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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5
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Liu S, Kanchanawong P. Emerging interplay of cytoskeletal architecture, cytomechanics and pluripotency. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:275761. [PMID: 35726598 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259379] [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] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are capable of differentiating into all three germ layers and trophoblasts, whereas tissue-specific adult stem cells have a more limited lineage potency. Although the importance of the cytoskeletal architecture and cytomechanical properties in adult stem cell differentiation have been widely appreciated, how they contribute to mechanotransduction in PSCs is less well understood. Here, we discuss recent insights into the interplay of cellular architecture, cell mechanics and the pluripotent states of PSCs. Notably, the distinctive cytomechanical and morphodynamic profiles of PSCs are accompanied by a number of unique molecular mechanisms. The extent to which such mechanobiological signatures are intertwined with pluripotency regulation remains an open question that may have important implications in developmental morphogenesis and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiying Liu
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Republic of Singapore
| | - Pakorn Kanchanawong
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Republic of Singapore.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Republic of Singapore
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Wang TY, Chang MM, Li YSJ, Huang TC, Chien S, Wu CC. Maintenance of HDACs and H3K9me3 Prevents Arterial Flow-Induced Venous Endothelial Damage. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:642150. [PMID: 33898431 PMCID: PMC8063156 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.642150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The transition of flow microenvironments from veins to arteries in vein graft surgery induces “peel-off” of venous endothelial cells (vECs) and results in restenosis. Recently, arterial laminar shear stress (ALS) and oscillatory shear stress (OS) have been shown to affect the cell cycle and inflammation through epigenetic controls such as histone deacetylation by histone deacetylases (HDACs) and trimethylation on lysine 9 of histone 3 (H3K9me3) in arterial ECs. However, the roles of H3K9me3 and HDAC in vEC damage under ALS are not known. We hypothesized that the different responses of HDACs and H3K9me3 might cause vEC damage under the transition of venous flow to arterial flow. We found that arterial ECs showed high expression of H3K9me3 protein and were retained in the G0 phase of the cell cycle after being subjected to ALS. vECs became round under ALS with a decrease in the expression of H3K9me3, HDAC3, and HDAC5, and an increase in the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). Inhibition of HDACs activity by a specific inhibitor, phenylbutyrate, in arterial ECs caused similar ALS-induced inflammation and cell loss as observed in vECs. Activation of HDACs and H3K9me3 by ITSA-1, an HDAC activator, could prevent ALS-induced peel-off and reduced VCAM-1 expression in vECs. Moreover, shear stress modulates EC morphology by the regulation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression. ITSA-1 or EGF could increase phosphorylated (p)-FAK expression in vECs under ALS. We found that perturbation of the activity of p-FAK and increase in p-FAK expression restored ALS-induced H3K9me3 expression in vECs. Hence, the abnormal mechanoresponses of H3K9me3 and HDAC in vECs after being subjected to ALS could be reversed by ITSA-1 or EGF treatment: this offers a strategy to prevent vein graft failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Yun Wang
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Min Chang
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Shuan Julie Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Tzu-Chieh Huang
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Shu Chien
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Chia-Ching Wu
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Peng Q, Weng K, Li S, Xu R, Wang Y, Wu Y. A Perspective of Epigenetic Regulation in Radiotherapy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:624312. [PMID: 33681204 PMCID: PMC7930394 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.624312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation therapy (RT) has been employed as a tumoricidal modality for more than 100 years and on 470,000 patients each year in the United States. The ionizing radiation causes genetic changes and results in cell death. However, since the biological mechanism of radiation remains unclear, there is a pressing need to understand this mechanism to improve the killing effect on tumors and reduce the side effects on normal cells. DNA break and epigenetic remodeling can be induced by radiotherapy. Hence the modulation of histone modification enzymes may tune the radiosensitivity of cancer cells. For instance, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors sensitize irradiated cancer cells by amplifying the DNA damage signaling and inhibiting double-strand DNA break repair to influence the irradiated cells’ survival. However, the combination of epigenetic drugs and radiotherapy has only been evaluated in several ongoing clinical trials for limited cancer types, partly due to a lack of knowledge on the potential mechanisms on how radiation induces epigenetic regulation and chromatin remodeling. Here, we review recent advances of radiotherapy and radiotherapy-induced epigenetic remodeling and introduce related technologies for epigenetic monitoring. Particularly, we exploit the application of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensors to visualize dynamic epigenetic regulations in single living cells and tissue upon radiotherapy and drug treatment. We aim to bridge FRET biosensor, epigenetics, and radiotherapy, providing a perspective of using FRET to assess epigenetics and provide guidance for radiotherapy to improve cancer treatment. In the end, we discuss the feasibility of a combination of epigenetic drugs and radiotherapy as new approaches for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Peng
- Institute of Systems and Physical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Kegui Weng
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Shitian Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Richard Xu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yongzhong Wu
- Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
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8
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Liu L, He F, Yu Y, Wang Y. Application of FRET Biosensors in Mechanobiology and Mechanopharmacological Screening. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:595497. [PMID: 33240867 PMCID: PMC7680962 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.595497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive studies have shown that cells can sense and modulate the biomechanical properties of the ECM within their resident microenvironment. Thus, targeting the mechanotransduction signaling pathways provides a promising way for disease intervention. However, how cells perceive these mechanical cues of the microenvironment and transduce them into biochemical signals remains to be answered. Förster or fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based biosensors are a powerful tool that can be used in live-cell mechanotransduction imaging and mechanopharmacological drug screening. In this review, we will first introduce FRET principle and FRET biosensors, and then, recent advances on the integration of FRET biosensors and mechanobiology in normal and pathophysiological conditions will be discussed. Furthermore, we will summarize the current applications and limitations of FRET biosensors in high-throughput drug screening and the future improvement of FRET biosensors. In summary, FRET biosensors have provided a powerful tool for mechanobiology studies to advance our understanding of how cells and matrices interact, and the mechanopharmacological screening for disease intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yingxiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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9
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Qian W, Chen W. Probing Single-Cell Mechanical Allostasis Using Ultrasound Tweezers. Cell Mol Bioeng 2019; 12:415-427. [PMID: 31719924 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-019-00578-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In response to external stress, cells alter their morphology, metabolic activity, and functions to mechanically adapt to the dynamic, local environment through cell allostasis. To explore mechanotransduction in cellular allostasis, we applied an integrated micromechanical system that combines an 'ultrasound tweezers'-based mechanical stressor and a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based molecular force biosensor, termed "actinin-sstFRET," to monitor in situ single-cell allostasis in response to transient stimulation in real time. Methods The ultrasound tweezers utilize 1 Hz, 10-s transient ultrasound pulses to acoustically excite a lipid-encapsulated microbubble, which is bound to the cell membrane, and apply a pico- to nano-Newton range of forces to cells through an RGD-integrin linkage. The actinin-sstFRET molecular sensor, which engages the actin stress fibers in live cells, is used to map real-time actomyosin force dynamics over time. Then, the mechanosensitive behaviors were examined by profiling the dynamics in Ca2+ influx, actomyosin cytoskeleton (CSK) activity, and GTPase RhoA signaling to define a single-cell mechanical allostasis. Results By subjecting a 1 Hz, 10-s physical stress, single vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were observed to remodeled themselves in a biphasic mechanical allostatic manner within 30 min that caused them to adjust their contractility and actomyosin activities. The cellular machinery that underscores the vital role of CSK equilibrium in cellular mechanical allostasis, includes Ca2+ influx, remodeling of actomyosin CSK and contraction, and GTPase RhoA signaling. Mechanical allostasis was observed to be compromised in VSMCs from patients with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which could potentiate an allostatic maladaptation. Conclusions By integrating tools that simultaneously permit localized mechanical perturbation and map actomyosin forces, we revealed distinct cellular mechanical allostasis profiles in our micromechanical system. Our findings of cell mechanical allostasis and maladaptation provide the potential for mechanophenotyping cells to reveal their pathogenic contexts and their biophysical mediators that underlie multi-etiological diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyi Qian
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
| | - Weiqiang Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
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Barnes LA, Marshall CD, Leavitt T, Hu MS, Moore AL, Gonzalez JG, Longaker MT, Gurtner GC. Mechanical Forces in Cutaneous Wound Healing: Emerging Therapies to Minimize Scar Formation. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2018; 7:47-56. [PMID: 29392093 DOI: 10.1089/wound.2016.0709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Significance: Excessive scarring is major clinical and financial burden in the United States. Improved therapies are necessary to reduce scarring, especially in patients affected by hypertrophic and keloid scars. Recent Advances: Advances in our understanding of mechanical forces in the wound environment enable us to target mechanical forces to minimize scar formation. Fetal wounds experience much lower resting stress when compared with adult wounds, and they heal without scars. Therapies that modulate mechanical forces in the wound environment are able to reduce scar size. Critical Issues: Increased mechanical stresses in the wound environment induce hypertrophic scarring via activation of mechanotransduction pathways. Mechanical stimulation modulates integrin, Wingless-type, protein kinase B, and focal adhesion kinase, resulting in cell proliferation and, ultimately, fibrosis. Therefore, the development of therapies that reduce mechanical forces in the wound environment would decrease the risk of developing excessive scars. Future Directions: The development of novel mechanotherapies is necessary to minimize scar formation and advance adult wound healing toward the scarless ideal. Mechanotransduction pathways are potential targets to reduce excessive scar formation, and thus, continued studies on therapies that utilize mechanical offloading and mechanomodulation are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandra A. Barnes
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Clement D. Marshall
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Tripp Leavitt
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Michael S. Hu
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
- Department of Surgery, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
| | | | - Jennifer G. Gonzalez
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Michael T. Longaker
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Geoffrey C. Gurtner
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
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Selvaraj C, Sakkiah S, Tong W, Hong H. Molecular dynamics simulations and applications in computational toxicology and nanotoxicology. Food Chem Toxicol 2017; 112:495-506. [PMID: 28843597 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nanotoxicology studies toxicity of nanomaterials and has been widely applied in biomedical researches to explore toxicity of various biological systems. Investigating biological systems through in vivo and in vitro methods is expensive and time taking. Therefore, computational toxicology, a multi-discipline field that utilizes computational power and algorithms to examine toxicology of biological systems, has gained attractions to scientists. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of biomolecules such as proteins and DNA are popular for understanding of interactions between biological systems and chemicals in computational toxicology. In this paper, we review MD simulation methods, protocol for running MD simulations and their applications in studies of toxicity and nanotechnology. We also briefly summarize some popular software tools for execution of MD simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrabose Selvaraj
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Sugunadevi Sakkiah
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Weida Tong
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Huixiao Hong
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA.
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12
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Siedlik MJ, Varner VD, Nelson CM. Pushing, pulling, and squeezing our way to understanding mechanotransduction. Methods 2016; 94:4-12. [PMID: 26318086 PMCID: PMC4761538 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanotransduction is often described in the context of force-induced changes in molecular conformation, but molecular-scale mechanical stimuli arise in vivo in the context of complex, multicellular tissue structures. For this reason, we highlight and review experimental methods for investigating mechanotransduction across multiple length scales. We begin by discussing techniques that probe the response of individual molecules to applied force. We then move up in length scale to highlight techniques aimed at uncovering how cells transduce mechanical stimuli into biochemical activity. Finally, we discuss approaches for determining how these stimuli arise in multicellular structures. We expect that future work will combine techniques across these length scales to provide a more comprehensive understanding of mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Siedlik
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Victor D Varner
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Celeste M Nelson
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States.
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Klotzsch E, Stiegler J, Ben-Ishay E, Gaus K. Do mechanical forces contribute to nanoscale membrane organisation in T cells? BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2014; 1853:822-9. [PMID: 25447546 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2014.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Mechanotransduction describes how a cell senses and interacts with its environment. The concept originated in adhesion biology where adhesion receptors, integrins, facilitate force transmission between the extracellular matrix and the intracellular actin cytoskeleton. Indeed, during any adhesive contacts, cells do exert mechanical force. Hence, the probing of the local environment by cells results in mechanical cues that contribute to cellular functions and cell fate decisions such as migration, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. On the molecular level, mechanical forces can rearrange proteins laterally within the membrane, regulate their activity by inducing conformational changes and probe the mechanical properties and bond strength of receptor-ligands. From this point of view, it appears surprising that molecular forces have been largely overlooked in membrane organisation and ligand discrimination processes in lymphocytes. During T cell activation, the T cell receptor recognises and distinguishes antigenic from benign endogenous peptides to initiate the reorganisation of membrane proteins into signalling clusters within the immunological synapse. In this review, we asked whether characteristics of fibroblast force sensing could be applied to immune cell antigen recognition and signalling, and outline state-of-the-art experimental strategies for studying forces in the context of membrane organisation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nanoscale membrane orgainisation and signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Klotzsch
- Centre for Vascular Research, ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Johannes Stiegler
- Centre for Vascular Research, ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Eldad Ben-Ishay
- Centre for Vascular Research, ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Katharina Gaus
- Centre for Vascular Research, ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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Documentation and localization of force-mediated filamin A domain perturbations in moving cells. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4656. [PMID: 25120197 PMCID: PMC4139033 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenously and externally generated mechanical forces influence diverse cellular activities, a phenomenon defined as mechanotransduction. Deformation of protein domains by application of stress, previously documented to alter macromolecular interactions in vitro, could mediate these effects. We engineered a photon-emitting system responsive to unfolding of two repeat domains of the actin filament (F-actin) crosslinker protein filamin A (FLNA) that binds multiple partners involved in cell signalling reactions and validated the system using F-actin networks subjected to myosin-based contraction. Expressed in cultured cells, the sensor-containing FLNA construct reproducibly reported FLNA domain unfolding strikingly localized to dynamic, actively protruding, leading cell edges. The unfolding signal depends upon coherence of F-actin-FLNA networks and is enhanced by stimulating cell contractility. The results establish protein domain distortion as a bona fide mechanism for mechanotransduction in vivo.
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Duscher D, Maan ZN, Wong VW, Rennert RC, Januszyk M, Rodrigues M, Hu M, Whitmore AJ, Whittam AJ, Longaker MT, Gurtner GC. Mechanotransduction and fibrosis. J Biomech 2014; 47:1997-2005. [PMID: 24709567 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2014.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Revised: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Scarring and tissue fibrosis represent a significant source of morbidity in the United States. Despite considerable research focused on elucidating the mechanisms underlying cutaneous scar formation, effective clinical therapies are still in the early stages of development. A thorough understanding of the various signaling pathways involved is essential to formulate strategies to combat fibrosis and scarring. While initial efforts focused primarily on the biochemical mechanisms involved in scar formation, more recent research has revealed a central role for mechanical forces in modulating these pathways. Mechanotransduction, which refers to the mechanisms by which mechanical forces are converted to biochemical stimuli, has been closely linked to inflammation and fibrosis and is believed to play a critical role in scarring. This review provides an overview of our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying scar formation, with an emphasis on the relationship between mechanotransduction pathways and their therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Duscher
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zeshaan N Maan
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Victor W Wong
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert C Rennert
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael Januszyk
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Melanie Rodrigues
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael Hu
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Arnetha J Whitmore
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alexander J Whittam
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael T Longaker
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Geoffrey C Gurtner
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Shao Y, Fu J. Integrated micro/nanoengineered functional biomaterials for cell mechanics and mechanobiology: a materials perspective. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2014; 26:1494-533. [PMID: 24339188 PMCID: PMC4076293 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201304431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
The rapid development of micro/nanoengineered functional biomaterials in the last two decades has empowered materials scientists and bioengineers to precisely control different aspects of the in vitro cell microenvironment. Following a philosophy of reductionism, many studies using synthetic functional biomaterials have revealed instructive roles of individual extracellular biophysical and biochemical cues in regulating cellular behaviors. Development of integrated micro/nanoengineered functional biomaterials to study complex and emergent biological phenomena has also thrived rapidly in recent years, revealing adaptive and integrated cellular behaviors closely relevant to human physiological and pathological conditions. Working at the interface between materials science and engineering, biology, and medicine, we are now at the beginning of a great exploration using micro/nanoengineered functional biomaterials for both fundamental biology study and clinical and biomedical applications such as regenerative medicine and drug screening. In this review, an overview of state of the art micro/nanoengineered functional biomaterials that can control precisely individual aspects of cell-microenvironment interactions is presented and they are highlighted them as well-controlled platforms for mechanistic studies of mechano-sensitive and -responsive cellular behaviors and integrative biology research. The recent exciting trend where micro/nanoengineered biomaterials are integrated into miniaturized biological and biomimetic systems for dynamic multiparametric microenvironmental control of emergent and integrated cellular behaviors is also discussed. The impact of integrated micro/nanoengineered functional biomaterials for future in vitro studies of regenerative medicine, cell biology, as well as human development and disease models are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Shao
- Integrated Biosystems and Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109 (USA)
| | - Jianping Fu
- Integrated Biosystems and Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109 (USA). Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109 (USA)
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Abstract
All cells are influenced by mechanical forces. In the brain, force-generating and load-bearing proteins twist, turn, ratchet, flex, compress, expand and bend to mediate neuronal signalling and plasticity. Although the functions of mechanosensitive proteins have been thoroughly described in classical sensory systems, the effects of endogenous mechanical energy on cellular function in the brain have received less attention, and many working models in neuroscience do not currently integrate principles of cellular mechanics. An understanding of cellular-mechanical concepts is essential to allow the integration of mechanobiology into ongoing studies of brain structure and function.
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O'Neil A, Prevelige PE, Basu G, Douglas T. Coconfinement of fluorescent proteins: spatially enforced communication of GFP and mCherry encapsulated within the P22 capsid. Biomacromolecules 2012; 13:3902-7. [PMID: 23121071 DOI: 10.1021/bm301347x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The precise architectures of viruses and virus-like particles are proving to be highly advantageous in synthetic materials applications. Not only can these nanocontainers be harnessed as active materials, but they can be exploited for examining the effects of in vivo "cell-like" crowding and confinement on the properties of the encapsulated cargo. Here we report the first example of intermolecular communication between two proteins coencapsulated within the capsid architecture of the bacteriophage P22. Using a genetically engineered three-protein fusion between the P22 scaffold protein, and the FRET pair, GFP, and a red fluorescent protein (mCherry), we were able to direct the encapsulation of the genetic fusion when coexpressed with P22 coat protein. These self-assembled P22 capsids are densely packaged, occupying more than 24% of the available volume, and the molecular design assures a 1:1 ratio of the interacting proteins. To probe the effect of crowding and confinement on the FRET communication in this nanoenvironment, we spaced the donor-acceptor pair with variable length flexible linkers and examined the effect on FRET inside the capsid compared to the same tethered FRET pairs free in solution. The P22 system is unique in that the capsid morphology can be altered, without losing the encapsulated cargo, resulting in a doubling of the capsid volume. Thus, we have additionally examined the encapsulated fusions at two different internal concentrations. Our results indicate that FRET is sensitive to the expansion of the capsid and encapsulation enforces significant intermolecular communication, increasing FRET by 5-fold. This P22 coencapsulation system is a promising platform for studying crowding, enforced proximity, and confinement effects on communication between active proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison O'Neil
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for BioInspired Nanomaterials, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, United States
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Wong VW, Longaker MT, Gurtner GC. Soft tissue mechanotransduction in wound healing and fibrosis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2012; 23:981-6. [PMID: 23036529 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2012.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that mechanical forces can significantly impact the biologic response to injury. Integrated mechanical and chemical signaling networks have been discovered that enable physical cues to regulate disease processes such as pathologic scar formation. Distinct molecular mechanisms control how tensional forces influence wound healing and fibrosis. Conceptual frameworks to understand cutaneous repair have expanded beyond traditional cell-cytokine models to include dynamic interactions driven by mechanical force and the extracellular matrix. Strategies to manipulate these biomechanical signaling networks have tremendous therapeutic potential to reduce scar formation and promote skin regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor W Wong
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Wang ZQ, Zhao J, Zeng J, Wu KJ, Chen YL, Wang XY, Chang LS, He DL. Specific survivin dual fluorescence resonance energy transfer molecular beacons for detection of human bladder cancer cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2011; 32:1522-8. [PMID: 22019956 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2011.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Survivin molecular beacons can be used to detect bladder cancer cells in urine samples non-invasively. The aim of this study is to improve the specificity of detection of bladder cancer cells using survivin dual fluorescence resonance energy transfer molecular beacons (FRET MBs) that have fluorophores forming one donor-acceptor pair. METHODS Survivin-targeting dual fluorescence resonance energy transfer molecular beacons with unique target sequences were designed, which had no overlap with the other genes in the apoptosis inhibitor protein family. Human bladder cancer cell lines 5637, 253J and T24, as well as the exfoliated cells in the urine of healthy adults and patients with bladder cancer were examined. Images of cells were taken using a laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope. For assays using dual FRET MBs, the excitation wavelength was 488 nm, and the emission detection wavelengths were 520±20 nm and 560±20 nm, respectively. RESULTS The human bladder cancer cell lines and exfoliated cells in the urine of patients with bladder cancer incubated with the survivin dual FRET MBs exhibited strong fluorescence signals. In contrast, no fluorescence was detected in the survivin-negative human dermal fibroblasts-adult (HDF-a) cells or exfoliated cells in the urine of healthy adults incubated with the survivin dual FRET MBs. CONCLUSION The results suggest that the survivin dual FRET MBs may be used as a specific and non-invasive method for early detection and follow-up of patients with bladder cancer.
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Wong VW, Akaishi S, Longaker MT, Gurtner GC. Pushing Back: Wound Mechanotransduction in Repair and Regeneration. J Invest Dermatol 2011; 131:2186-96. [DOI: 10.1038/jid.2011.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Skinbjerg M, Sibley DR, Javitch JA, Abi-Dargham A. Imaging the high-affinity state of the dopamine D2 receptor in vivo: fact or fiction? Biochem Pharmacol 2011; 83:193-8. [PMID: 21945484 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2011.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Revised: 09/07/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has been used for more than three decades to image and quantify dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) in vivo with antagonist radioligands but in the recent years agonist radioligands have also been employed. In vitro competition studies have demonstrated that agonists bind to both a high and a low-affinity state of the D2Rs, of which the high affinity state reflects receptors that are coupled to G-proteins and the low-affinity state reflects receptors uncoupled from G-proteins. In contrast, antagonists bind with uniform affinity to the total pool of receptors. Results of these studies led to the proposal that D2Rs exist in high and low-affinity states for agonists in vivo and sparked the development and use of agonist radioligands for PET imaging with the primary purpose of measuring the proportion of receptors in the high-affinity (activating) state. Although several lines of research support the presence of high and low-affinity states of D2Rs and their detection by in vivo imaging paradigms, a growing body of controversial data has now called this into question. These include both in vivo and ex vivo studies of anesthesia effects, rodent models with increased proportions of high-affinity state D2Rs as well as the molecular evidence for stable receptor-G-protein complexes. In this commentary we review these data and discuss the evidence for the in vivo existence of D2Rs configured in high and low-affinity states and whether or not the high-affinity state of the D2R can, in fact, be imaged in vivo with agonist radioligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Skinbjerg
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Khan SH, Ahmad F, Ahmad N, Flynn DC, Kumar R. Protein-protein interactions: principles, techniques, and their potential role in new drug development. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2011; 28:929-38. [PMID: 21469753 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2011.10508619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
A vast network of genes is inter-linked through protein-protein interactions and is critical component of almost every biological process under physiological conditions. Any disruption of the biologically essential network leads to pathological conditions resulting into related diseases. Therefore, proper understanding of biological functions warrants a comprehensive knowledge of protein-protein interactions and the molecular mechanisms that govern such processes. The importance of protein-protein interaction process is highlighted by the fact that a number of powerful techniques/methods have been developed to understand how such interactions take place under various physiological and pathological conditions. Many of the key protein-protein interactions are known to participate in disease-associated signaling pathways, and represent novel targets for therapeutic intervention. Thus, controlling protein-protein interactions offers a rich dividend for the discovery of new drug targets. Availability of various tools to study and the knowledge of human genome have put us in a unique position to understand highly complex biological network, and the mechanisms involved therein. In this review article, we have summarized protein-protein interaction networks, techniques/methods of their binding/kinetic parameters, and the role of these interactions in the development of potential tools for drug designing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shagufta H Khan
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Commonwealth Medical College, 501 Madison Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510, USA
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Sahoo H. Förster resonance energy transfer – A spectroscopic nanoruler: Principle and applications. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY C-PHOTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2011.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Qian T, Wang Y. Micro/nano-fabrication technologies for cell biology. Med Biol Eng Comput 2010; 48:1023-32. [PMID: 20490938 PMCID: PMC3373892 DOI: 10.1007/s11517-010-0632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2009] [Accepted: 04/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Micro/nano-fabrication techniques, such as soft lithography and electrospinning, have been well-developed and widely applied in many research fields in the past decade. Due to the low costs and simple procedures, these techniques have become important and popular for biological studies. In this review, we focus on the studies integrating micro/nano-fabrication work to elucidate the molecular mechanism of signaling transduction in cell biology. We first describe different micro/nano-fabrication technologies, including techniques generating three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering. We then introduce the application of these technologies in manipulating the physical or chemical micro/nano-environment to regulate the cellular behavior and response, such as cell life and death, differentiation, proliferation, and cell migration. Recent advancement in integrating the micro/nano-technologies and live cell imaging are also discussed. Finally, potential schemes in cell biology involving micro/nano-fabrication technologies are proposed to provide perspectives on the future research activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongcheng Qian
- Department of Bioengineering and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA, Department of Integrative and Molecular Physiology, Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, Institute for Genomic, Biology, Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Poh YC, Na S, Chowdhury F, Ouyang M, Wang Y, Wang N. Rapid activation of Rac GTPase in living cells by force is independent of Src. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7886. [PMID: 19924282 PMCID: PMC2773925 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2009] [Accepted: 10/27/2009] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that mechanical forces are crucial in regulating functions of every tissue and organ in a human body. However, it remains unclear how mechanical forces are transduced into biochemical activities and biological responses at the cellular and molecular level. Using the magnetic twisting cytometry technique, we applied local mechanical stresses to living human airway smooth muscle cells with a magnetic bead bound to the cell surface via transmembrane adhesion molecule integrins. The temporal and spatial activation of Rac, a small guanosine triphosphatase, was quantified using a fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) method that measures changes in Rac activity in response to mechanical stresses by quantifying intensity ratios of ECFP (enhanced cyan fluorescent protein as a donor) and YPet (a variant yellow fluorescent protein as an acceptor) of the Rac biosensor. The applied stress induced rapid activation (less than 300 ms) of Rac at the cell periphery. In contrast, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) induced Rac activation at a much later time (>30 sec). There was no stress-induced Rac activation when a mutant form of the Rac biosensor (RacN17) was transfected or when the magnetic bead was coated with transferrin or with poly-L-lysine. It is known that PDGF-induced Rac activation depends on Src activity. Surprisingly, pre-treatment of the cells with specific Src inhibitor PP1 or knocking-out Src gene had no effects on stress-induced Rac activation. In addition, eliminating lipid rafts through extraction of cholesterol from the plasma membrane did not prevent stress-induced Rac activation, suggesting a raft-independent mechanism in governing the Rac activation upon mechanical stimulation. Further evidence indicates that Rac activation by stress depends on the magnitudes of the applied stress and cytoskeletal integrity. Our results suggest that Rac activation by mechanical forces is rapid, direct and does not depend on Src activation. These findings suggest that signaling pathways of mechanical forces via integrins might be fundamentally different from those of growth factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeh-Chuin Poh
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Sungsoo Na
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Farhan Chowdhury
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mingxing Ouyang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (YW); (NW)
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (YW); (NW)
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