1
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Okorafor CC, Shastri S, Wen K, Ebong EE. Mechanisms of triple-negative breast cancer extravasation: Impact of the physical environment and endothelial glycocalyx. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23785. [PMID: 38949120 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400380r] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of death for those afflicted with cancer. In cancer metastasis, the cancer cells break off from the primary tumor, penetrate nearby blood vessels, and attach and extravasate out of the vessels to form secondary tumors at distant organs. This makes extravasation a critical step of the metastatic cascade. Herein, with a focus on triple-negative breast cancer, the role that the prospective secondary tumor microenvironment's mechanical properties play in circulating tumor cells' extravasation is reviewed. Specifically, the effects of the physically regulated vascular endothelial glycocalyx barrier element, vascular flow factors, and subendothelial extracellular matrix mechanical properties on cancer cell extravasation are examined. The ultimate goal of this review is to clarify the physical mechanisms that drive triple-negative breast cancer extravasation, as these mechanisms may be potential new targets for anti-metastasis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinedu C Okorafor
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sanjana Shastri
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ke Wen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eno E Ebong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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2
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Hirose S, Osaki T, Kamm RD. Polyploidy of MDA-MB-231 cells drives increased extravasation with enhanced cell-matrix adhesion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.28.601261. [PMID: 39005381 PMCID: PMC11244921 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.28.601261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, involves a complex cascade of events, including extravasation. Despite extensive research into metastasis, the mechanisms underlying extravasation remain unclear. Molecular targeted therapies have advanced cancer treatment, yet their efficacy is limited, prompting exploration into novel therapeutic targets. Here, we showed the association of polyploidy in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and their extravasation, using microfluidic systems to reproduce the in vivo microvascular environment. We observed enhanced extravasation in polyploid cells alongside upregulated expression of genes involved in cell-substrate adhesion and cell mechanical dynamics. These findings offer insights into the relationship between polyploidy and extravasation, highlighting potential targets for cancer therapy.
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3
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Ugodnikov A, Persson H, Simmons CA. Bridging barriers: advances and challenges in modeling biological barriers and measuring barrier integrity in organ-on-chip systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:3199-3225. [PMID: 38689569 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01027a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier, skin, and intestinal mucosal barrier play key roles in homeostasis, disease physiology, and drug delivery - as such, it is important to create representative in vitro models to improve understanding of barrier biology and serve as tools for therapeutic development. Microfluidic cell culture and organ-on-a-chip (OOC) systems enable barrier modelling with greater physiological fidelity than conventional platforms by mimicking key environmental aspects such as fluid shear, accurate microscale dimensions, mechanical cues, extracellular matrix, and geometrically defined co-culture. As the prevalence of barrier-on-chip models increases, so does the importance of tools that can accurately assess barrier integrity and function without disturbing the carefully engineered microenvironment. In this review, we first provide a background on biological barriers and the physiological features that are emulated through in vitro barrier models. Then, we outline molecular permeability and electrical sensing barrier integrity assessment methods, and the related challenges specific to barrier-on-chip implementation. Finally, we discuss future directions in the field, as well important priorities to consider such as fabrication costs, standardization, and bridging gaps between disciplines and stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa Ugodnikov
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Henrik Persson
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
| | - Craig A Simmons
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
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4
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Yadav R, Mahajan S, Singh H, Mehra NK, Madan J, Doijad N, Singh PK, Guru SK. Emerging In Vitro and In Vivo Models: Hope for the Better Understanding of Cancer Progression and Treatment. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300487. [PMID: 38581078 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300487] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Various cancer models have been developed to aid the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of tumor development and evaluate the effectiveness of various anticancer drugs in preclinical studies. These models accurately reproduce the critical stages of tumor initiation and development to mimic the tumor microenvironment better. Using these models for target validation, tumor response evaluation, resistance modeling, and toxicity comprehension can significantly enhance the drug development process. Herein, various in vivo or animal models are presented, typically consisting of several mice and in vitro models ranging in complexity from transwell models to spheroids and CRISPR-Cas9 technologies. While in vitro models have been used for decades and dominate the early stages of drug development, they are still limited primary to simplistic tests based on testing on a single cell type cultivated in Petri dishes. Recent advancements in developing new cancer therapies necessitate the generation of complicated animal models that accurately mimic the tumor's complexity and microenvironment. Mice make effective tumor models as they are affordable, have a short reproductive cycle, exhibit rapid tumor growth, and are simple to manipulate genetically. Human cancer mouse models are crucial to understanding the neoplastic process and basic and clinical research improvements. The following review summarizes different in vitro and in vivo metastasis models, their advantages and disadvantages, and their ability to serve as a model for cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachana Yadav
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500037, India
| | - Srushti Mahajan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, 500037, India
| | - Hoshiyar Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500037, India
| | - Neelesh Kumar Mehra
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, 500037, India
| | - Jitender Madan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, 500037, India
| | - Nandkumar Doijad
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500037, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, 500037, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Guru
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500037, India
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5
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Goto A, Moriya Y, Nakayama M, Iwasaki S, Yamamoto S. DMPK perspective on quantitative model analysis for chimeric antigen receptor cell therapy: Advances and challenges. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2024; 56:101003. [PMID: 38843652 DOI: 10.1016/j.dmpk.2024.101003] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cells are genetically engineered immune cells that specifically target tumor-associated antigens and have revolutionized cancer treatment, particularly in hematological malignancies, with ongoing investigations into their potential applications in solid tumors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and challenges in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) for CAR cell therapy, specifically emphasizing on quantitative modeling and simulation (M&S). Furthermore, the recent advances in quantitative model analysis have been reviewed, ranging from clinical data characterization to mechanism-based modeling that connects in vitro and in vivo nonclinical and clinical study data. Additionally, the future perspectives and areas for improvement in CAR cell therapy translation have been reviewed. This includes using formulation quality considerations, characterization of appropriate animal models, refinement of in vitro models for bottom-up approaches, and enhancement of quantitative bioanalytical methodology. Addressing these challenges within a DMPK framework is pivotal in facilitating the translation of CAR cell therapy, ultimately enhancing the patients' lives through efficient CAR cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Goto
- Center of Excellence for Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Modeling, Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yuu Moriya
- Center of Excellence for Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Modeling, Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Miyu Nakayama
- Center of Excellence for Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Modeling, Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shinji Iwasaki
- Center of Excellence for Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Modeling, Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Syunsuke Yamamoto
- Center of Excellence for Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Modeling, Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Kanagawa, Japan.
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6
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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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7
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Jouybar M, de Winde CM, Wolf K, Friedl P, Mebius RE, den Toonder JMJ. Cancer-on-chip models for metastasis: importance of the tumor microenvironment. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:431-448. [PMID: 37914546 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-on-chip (CoC) models, based on microfluidic chips harboring chambers for 3D tumor-cell culture, enable us to create a controlled tumor microenvironment (TME). CoC models are therefore increasingly used to systematically study effects of the TME on the various steps in cancer metastasis. Moreover, CoC models have great potential for developing novel cancer therapies and for predicting patient-specific response to cancer treatments. We review recent developments in CoC models, focusing on three main TME components: (i) the anisotropic extracellular matrix (ECM) architectures, (ii) the vasculature, and (iii) the immune system. We aim to provide guidance to biologists to choose the best CoC approach for addressing questions about the role of the TME in metastasis, and to inspire engineers to develop novel CoC technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Jouybar
- Microsystems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte M de Winde
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology & Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katarina Wolf
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Friedl
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cancer Genomics Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Reina E Mebius
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology & Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap M J den Toonder
- Microsystems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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8
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Henry WS, Müller S, Yang JS, Innes-Gold S, Das S, Reinhardt F, Sigmund K, Phadnis VV, Wan Z, Eaton E, Sampaio JL, Bell GW, Viravalli A, Hammond PT, Kamm RD, Cohen AE, Boehnke N, Hsu VW, Levental KR, Rodriguez R, Weinberg RA. Ether lipids influence cancer cell fate by modulating iron uptake. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.20.585922. [PMID: 38562716 PMCID: PMC10983928 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.20.585922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cell fate has been widely ascribed to mutational changes within protein-coding genes associated with tumor suppressors and oncogenes. In contrast, the mechanisms through which the biophysical properties of membrane lipids influence cancer cell survival, dedifferentiation and metastasis have received little scrutiny. Here, we report that cancer cells endowed with a high metastatic ability and cancer stem cell-like traits employ ether lipids to maintain low membrane tension and high membrane fluidity. Using genetic approaches and lipid reconstitution assays, we show that these ether lipid-regulated biophysical properties permit non-clathrin-mediated iron endocytosis via CD44, leading directly to significant increases in intracellular redox-active iron and enhanced ferroptosis susceptibility. Using a combination of in vitro three-dimensional microvascular network systems and in vivo animal models, we show that loss of ether lipids also strongly attenuates extravasation, metastatic burden and cancer stemness. These findings illuminate a mechanism whereby ether lipids in carcinoma cells serve as key regulators of malignant progression while conferring a unique vulnerability that can be exploited for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney S Henry
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sebastian Müller
- Institut Curie, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris 75005, France
| | - Jia-Shu Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Dept. of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sarah Innes-Gold
- Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sunny Das
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ferenc Reinhardt
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kim Sigmund
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Vaishnavi V Phadnis
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Dept. of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Zhengpeng Wan
- Dept. of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Elinor Eaton
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Julio L Sampaio
- Institut Curie, INSERM, Mines ParisTech, Paris 75005, France
| | - George W Bell
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Amartya Viravalli
- Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Paula T Hammond
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Dept. of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Senior author
| | - Roger D Kamm
- Dept. of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Dept. of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Senior author
| | - Adam E Cohen
- Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Dept. of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Senior author
| | - Natalie Boehnke
- Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Senior author
| | - Victor W Hsu
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Dept. of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Senior author
| | - Kandice R Levental
- Dept. of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Senior author
| | - Raphaël Rodriguez
- Institut Curie, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris 75005, France
- Senior author
| | - Robert A Weinberg
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Dept. of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Ludwig Center for Molecular Oncology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Senior author
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9
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Coursier D, Calvo F. CAFs vs. TECs: when blood feuds fuel cancer progression, dissemination and therapeutic resistance. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2024:10.1007/s13402-024-00931-z. [PMID: 38453816 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-024-00931-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Neoplastic progression involves complex interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding stromal milieu, fostering microenvironments that crucially drive tumor progression and dissemination. Of these stromal constituents, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) emerge as predominant inhabitants within the tumor microenvironment (TME), actively shaping multiple facets of tumorigenesis, including cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, and immune evasion. Notably, CAFs also orchestrate the production of pro-angiogenic factors, fueling neovascularization to sustain the metabolic demands of proliferating cancer cells. Moreover, CAFs may also directly or indirectly affect endothelial cell behavior and vascular architecture, which may impact in tumor progression and responses to anti-cancer interventions. Conversely, tumor endothelial cells (TECs) exhibit a corrupted state that has been shown to affect cancer cell growth and inflammation. Both CAFs and TECs are emerging as pivotal regulators of the TME, engaging in multifaceted biological processes that significantly impact cancer progression, dissemination, and therapeutic responses. Yet, the intricate interplay between these stromal components and the orchestrated functions of each cell type remains incompletely elucidated. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the dynamic interrelationships between CAFs and TECs, discussing the challenges and prospects for leveraging their interactions towards therapeutic advancements in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Coursier
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Cantabria), Santander, Spain
| | - Fernando Calvo
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Cantabria), Santander, Spain.
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10
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Natesh NR, Mogha P, Chen A, Antonia SJ, Varghese S. Differential roles of normal and lung cancer-associated fibroblasts in microvascular network formation. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:016120. [PMID: 38524671 PMCID: PMC10959556 DOI: 10.1063/5.0188238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Perfusable microvascular networks offer promising three-dimensional in vitro models to study normal and compromised vascular tissues as well as phenomena such as cancer cell metastasis. Engineering of these microvascular networks generally involves the use of endothelial cells stabilized by fibroblasts to generate robust and stable vasculature. However, fibroblasts are highly heterogenous and may contribute variably to the microvascular structure. Here, we study the effect of normal and cancer-associated lung fibroblasts on the formation and function of perfusable microvascular networks. We examine the influence of cancer-associated fibroblasts on microvascular networks when cultured in direct (juxtacrine) and indirect (paracrine) contacts with endothelial cells, discovering a generative inhibition of microvasculature in juxtacrine co-cultures and a functional inhibition in paracrine co-cultures. Furthermore, we probed the secreted factors differential between cancer-associated fibroblasts and normal human lung fibroblasts, identifying several cytokines putatively influencing the resulting microvasculature morphology and functionality. These findings suggest the potential contribution of cancer-associated fibroblasts in aberrant microvasculature associated with tumors and the plausible application of such in vitro platforms in identifying new therapeutic targets and/or agents that can prevent formation of aberrant vascular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen R. Natesh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 203 Research Drive, MSRB1 Room No. 381, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Pankaj Mogha
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University, 200 Trent Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Alan Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Scott J. Antonia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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11
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Bayona C, Alza L, Ranđelović T, Sallán MC, Visa A, Cantí C, Ochoa I, Oliván S, Herreros J. Tetralol derivative NNC-55-0396 targets hypoxic cells in the glioblastoma microenvironment: an organ-on-chip approach. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:127. [PMID: 38341408 PMCID: PMC10858941 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06492-1] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly malignant brain tumour characterised by limited treatment options and poor prognosis. The tumour microenvironment, particularly the central hypoxic region of the tumour, is known to play a pivotal role in GBM progression. Cells within this region adapt to hypoxia by stabilising transcription factor HIF1-α, which promotes cell proliferation, dedifferentiation and chemoresistance. In this study we sought to examine the effects of NNC-55-0396, a tetralol compound which overactivates the unfolded protein response inducing apoptosis, using the organ-on-chip technology. We identified an increased sensitivity of the hypoxic core of the chip to NNC, which correlates with decreasing levels of HIF1-α in vitro. Moreover, NNC blocks the macroautophagic process that is unleashed by hypoxia as revealed by increased levels of autophagosomal constituent LC3-II and autophagy chaperone p62/SQSTM1. The specific effects of NNC in the hypoxic microenvironment unveil additional anti-cancer abilities of this compound and further support investigations on its use in combined therapies against GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bayona
- Tissue Microenvironment (TME) Lab, Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Lía Alza
- Calcium Cell Signaling, IRBLleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Teodora Ranđelović
- Tissue Microenvironment (TME) Lab, Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marta C Sallán
- Calcium Cell Signaling, IRBLleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Anna Visa
- Calcium Cell Signaling, IRBLleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Carles Cantí
- Calcium Cell Signaling, IRBLleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Ignacio Ochoa
- Tissue Microenvironment (TME) Lab, Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sara Oliván
- Tissue Microenvironment (TME) Lab, Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Judit Herreros
- Calcium Cell Signaling, IRBLleida, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain.
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12
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Li Y, Shteyman DB, Hachem Z, Ulay AA, Fan J, Fu BM. Heparan Sulfate Modulation Affects Breast Cancer Cell Adhesion and Transmigration across In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier. Cells 2024; 13:190. [PMID: 38275815 PMCID: PMC10813861 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020190] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The disruption of endothelial heparan sulfate (HS) is an early event in tumor cell metastasis across vascular barriers, and the reinforcement of endothelial HS reduces tumor cell adhesion to endothelium. Our recent study showed that while vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) greatly reduces HS at an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) formed by human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMECs), it significantly enhances HS on a breast cancer cell, MDA-MB-231 (MB231). Here, we tested that this differential effect of VEGF on the HS favors MB231 adhesion and transmigration. We also tested if agents that enhance endothelial HS may affect the HS of MB231 and reduce its adhesion and transmigration. To test these hypotheses, we generated an in vitro BBB by culturing hCMECs on either a glass-bottom dish or a Transwell filter. We first quantified the HS of the BBB and MB231 after treatment with VEGF and endothelial HS-enhancing agents and then quantified the adhesion and transmigration of MB231 across the BBB after pretreatment with these agents. Our results demonstrated that the reduced/enhanced BBB HS and enhanced/reduced MB231 HS increase/decrease MB231 adhesion to and transmigration across the BBB. Our findings suggest a therapeutic intervention by targeting the HS-mediated breast cancer brain metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA; (Y.L.); (D.B.S.); (A.A.U.)
| | - David B. Shteyman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA; (Y.L.); (D.B.S.); (A.A.U.)
| | - Zeina Hachem
- Department of Natural Sciences, CASL, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128, USA; (Z.H.); (J.F.)
| | - Afaf A. Ulay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA; (Y.L.); (D.B.S.); (A.A.U.)
| | - Jie Fan
- Department of Natural Sciences, CASL, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128, USA; (Z.H.); (J.F.)
| | - Bingmei M. Fu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA; (Y.L.); (D.B.S.); (A.A.U.)
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13
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Sleeboom JJF, van Tienderen GS, Schenke-Layland K, van der Laan LJW, Khalil AA, Verstegen MMA. The extracellular matrix as hallmark of cancer and metastasis: From biomechanics to therapeutic targets. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadg3840. [PMID: 38170791 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg3840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential for cell support during homeostasis and plays a critical role in cancer. Although research often concentrates on the tumor's cellular aspect, attention is growing for the importance of the cancer-associated ECM. Biochemical and physical ECM signals affect tumor formation, invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Examining the tumor microenvironment uncovers intricate ECM dysregulation and interactions with cancer and stromal cells. Anticancer therapies targeting ECM sensors and remodelers, including integrins and matrix metalloproteinases, and ECM-remodeling cells, have seen limited success. This review explores the ECM's role in cancer and discusses potential therapeutic strategies for cell-ECM interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle J F Sleeboom
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Postbox 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628CD Delft, Netherlands
| | - Gilles S van Tienderen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Postbox 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Katja Schenke-Layland
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University Tübingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies," Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Luc J W van der Laan
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Postbox 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Antoine A Khalil
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Monique M A Verstegen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Postbox 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, Netherlands
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14
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Wu Z, Huang D, Wang J, Zhao Y, Sun W, Shen X. Engineering Heterogeneous Tumor Models for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304160. [PMID: 37946674 PMCID: PMC10767453 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumor tissue engineering holds great promise for replicating the physiological and behavioral characteristics of tumors in vitro. Advances in this field have led to new opportunities for studying the tumor microenvironment and exploring potential anti-cancer therapeutics. However, the main obstacle to the widespread adoption of tumor models is the poor understanding and insufficient reconstruction of tumor heterogeneity. In this review, the current progress of engineering heterogeneous tumor models is discussed. First, the major components of tumor heterogeneity are summarized, which encompasses various signaling pathways, cell proliferations, and spatial configurations. Then, contemporary approaches are elucidated in tumor engineering that are guided by fundamental principles of tumor biology, and the potential of a bottom-up approach in tumor engineering is highlighted. Additionally, the characterization approaches and biomedical applications of tumor models are discussed, emphasizing the significant role of engineered tumor models in scientific research and clinical trials. Lastly, the challenges of heterogeneous tumor models in promoting oncology research and tumor therapy are described and key directions for future research are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuhao Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Danqing Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
| | - Weijian Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325027China
| | - Xian Shen
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
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15
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So WY, Wong CS, Azubuike UF, Paul CD, Sangsari PR, Gordon PB, Gong H, Maity TK, Lim P, Yang Z, Haryanto CA, Batchelor E, Jenkins LM, Morgan NY, Tanner K. YAP localization mediates mechanical adaptation of human cancer cells during extravasation in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.567015. [PMID: 38076880 PMCID: PMC10705547 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.567015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Biophysical profiling of primary tumors has revealed that individual tumor cells fall along a highly heterogeneous continuum of mechanical phenotypes. One idea is that a subset of tumor cells is "softer" to facilitate detachment and escape from the primary site, a step required to initiate metastasis. However, it has also been postulated that cells must be able to deform and generate sufficient force to exit into distant sites. Here, we aimed to dissect the mechanical changes that occur during extravasation and organ colonization. Using multiplexed methods of intravital microscopy and optical tweezer based active microrheology, we obtained longitudinal images and mechanical profiles of cells during organ colonization in vivo. We determined that cells were softer, more liquid like upon exit of the vasculature but stiffened and became more solid like once in the new organ microenvironment. We also determined that a YAP mediated mechanogenotype influenced the global dissemination in our in vivo and in vitro models and that reducing mechanical heterogeneity could reduce extravasation. Moreover, our high throughput analysis of mechanical phenotypes of patient samples revealed that this mechanics was in part regulated by the external hydrodynamic forces that the cancer cells experienced within capillary mimetics. Our findings indicate that disseminated cancer cells can keep mutating with a continuum landscape of mechano-phenotypes, governed by the YAP-mediated mechanosensing of hydrodynamic flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woong Young So
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), MD, USA
| | - Claudia S. Wong
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), MD, USA
| | | | - Colin D. Paul
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), MD, USA
| | - Paniz Rezvan Sangsari
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health
| | | | - Hyeyeon Gong
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), MD, USA
| | - Tapan K. Maity
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), MD, USA
| | - Perry Lim
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), MD, USA
| | - Zhilin Yang
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), MD, USA
| | | | | | - Lisa M. Jenkins
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), MD, USA
| | - Nicole Y. Morgan
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health
| | - Kandice Tanner
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), MD, USA
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16
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van der Linden J, Trap L, Scherer CV, Roks AJM, Danser AHJ, van der Pluijm I, Cheng C. Model Systems to Study the Mechanism of Vascular Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15379. [PMID: 37895059 PMCID: PMC10607365 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015379] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. Within cardiovascular aging, arterial aging holds significant importance, as it involves structural and functional alterations in arteries that contribute substantially to the overall decline in cardiovascular health during the aging process. As arteries age, their ability to respond to stress and injury diminishes, while their luminal diameter increases. Moreover, they experience intimal and medial thickening, endothelial dysfunction, loss of vascular smooth muscle cells, cellular senescence, extracellular matrix remodeling, and deposition of collagen and calcium. This aging process also leads to overall arterial stiffening and cellular remodeling. The process of genomic instability plays a vital role in accelerating vascular aging. Progeria syndromes, rare genetic disorders causing premature aging, exemplify the impact of genomic instability. Throughout life, our DNA faces constant challenges from environmental radiation, chemicals, and endogenous metabolic products, leading to DNA damage and genome instability as we age. The accumulation of unrepaired damages over time manifests as an aging phenotype. To study vascular aging, various models are available, ranging from in vivo mouse studies to cell culture options, and there are also microfluidic in vitro model systems known as vessels-on-a-chip. Together, these models offer valuable insights into the aging process of blood vessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janette van der Linden
- Division of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Center Netherlands, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lianne Trap
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline V. Scherer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Center Netherlands, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anton J. M. Roks
- Division of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A. H. Jan Danser
- Division of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid van der Pluijm
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Center Netherlands, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Cardiovascular Institute, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline Cheng
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Division of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
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17
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Sigdel I, Ofori-Kwafo A, Heizelman RJ, Nestor-Kalinoski A, Prabhakarpandian B, Tiwari AK, Tang Y. Biomimetic on-chip assay reveals the anti-metastatic potential of a novel thienopyrimidine compound in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1227119. [PMID: 37840664 PMCID: PMC10569307 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1227119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: This study presents a microfluidic tumor microenvironment (TME) model for evaluating the anti-metastatic efficacy of a novel thienopyrimidines analog with anti-cancer properties utilizing an existing commercial platform. The microfluidic device consists of a tissue compartment flanked by vascular channels, allowing for the co-culture of multiple cell types and providing a wide range of culturing conditions in one device. Methods: Human metastatic, drug-resistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells (SUM159PTX) and primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used to model the TME. A dynamic perfusion scheme was employed to facilitate EC physiological function and lumen formation. Results: The measured permeability of the EC barrier was comparable to observed microvessels permeability in vivo. The TNBC cells formed a 3D tumor, and co-culture with HUVEC negatively impacted EC barrier integrity. The microfluidic TME was then used to model the intravenous route of drug delivery. Paclitaxel (PTX) and a novel non-apoptotic agent TPH104c were introduced via the vascular channels and successfully reached the TNBC tumor, resulting in both time and concentration-dependent tumor growth inhibition. PTX treatment significantly reduced EC barrier integrity, highlighting the adverse effects of PTX on vascular ECs. TPH104c preserved EC barrier integrity and prevented TNBC intravasation. Discussion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of microfluidics for studying complex biological processes in a controlled environment and evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents in more physiologically relevant conditions. This model can be a valuable tool for screening potential anticancer drugs and developing personalized cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indira Sigdel
- Biofluidics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Awurama Ofori-Kwafo
- Biofluidics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Robert J. Heizelman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Andrea Nestor-Kalinoski
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | | | - Amit K. Tiwari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Yuan Tang
- Biofluidics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
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18
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Hanin L. The circulation stage of the metastatic cascade: A mathematical description and its clinical implications. J Theor Biol 2023; 572:111582. [PMID: 37481233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2023.111582] [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: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic cascade is a multi-stage process that starts with separation of a cancer cell from the primary tumor and ends with the emergence of a detectable metastasis. In the process the initiator cancer cell enters the circulatory system (intravasates), flows with the blood, and exits the circulation (extravasates) into an organ or tissue. The time period between intravasation and extravasation constitutes the circulation stage of the metastatic cascade. This stage is unique in that it lends itself naturally to various non-invasive observations and measurements in an individual cancer patient. This creates an opportunity for gaining insight into metastasis, its mathematical modeling, and designing diagnostic/prognostic tools and new cancer therapies. Although mechanisms of intravasation, survival and extravasation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are very complex and largely unknown, mathematical modeling of the circulation stage of the metastatic cascade is facilitated by two inter-related factors: a relative simplicity of the circulatory network and the cyclic nature of blood flow. The article presents a single-subject stochastic model of CTC dynamics that leads to simple formulas, applicable to any homogeneous CTC population, for organ-specific extravasation probabilities, the distribution and expected value of the number, X, of circulation cycles completed by a CTC prior to extravasation, and the average circulation time. In particular, we found that the distribution of random variable X is geometric G(x), where parameter x is measurable, at least in principle, in an individual subject. We also discuss implications of our results for cancer research and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid Hanin
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Avenue, Stop 8085, Pocatello, ID 83209-8085, USA.
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19
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Gil JF, Moura CS, Silverio V, Gonçalves G, Santos HA. Cancer Models on Chip: Paving the Way to Large-Scale Trial Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2300692. [PMID: 37103886 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Cancer kills millions of individuals every year all over the world (Global Cancer Observatory). The physiological and biomechanical processes underlying the tumor are still poorly understood, hindering researchers from creating new, effective therapies. Inconsistent results of preclinical research, in vivo testing, and clinical trials decrease drug approval rates. 3D tumor-on-a-chip (ToC) models integrate biomaterials, tissue engineering, fabrication of microarchitectures, and sensory and actuation systems in a single device, enabling reliable studies in fundamental oncology and pharmacology. This review includes a critical discussion about their ability to reproduce the tumor microenvironment (TME), the advantages and drawbacks of existing tumor models and architectures, major components and fabrication techniques. The focus is on current materials and micro/nanofabrication techniques used to manufacture reliable and reproducible microfluidic ToC models for large-scale trial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Ferreira Gil
- Centre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development, Polytechnic of Leiria, Marinha Grande, 2430-028, Portugal
- INESC Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC MN), Rua Alves Redol 9, Lisbon, 1000-029, Portugal
- TEMA, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Carla Sofia Moura
- Centre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development, Polytechnic of Leiria, Marinha Grande, 2430-028, Portugal
- Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Applied Research Institute, Coimbra, 3045-093, Portugal
| | - Vania Silverio
- INESC Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC MN), Rua Alves Redol 9, Lisbon, 1000-029, Portugal
- Department of Physics, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, 1049-001, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy - i4HB, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gil Gonçalves
- TEMA, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
- Intelligent Systems Associate Laboratory (LASI), Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Hélder A Santos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9713 AV, The Netherlands
- W.J. Korf Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9713 AV, The Netherlands
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
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20
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Mieville V, Griffioen AW, Benamran D, Nowak-Sliwinska P. Advanced in vitro models for renal cell carcinoma therapy design. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188942. [PMID: 37343729 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and its principal subtype, clear cell RCC, are the most diagnosed kidney cancer. Despite substantial improvement over the last decades, current pharmacological intervention still fails to achieve long-term therapeutic success. RCC is characterized by a high intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity and is heavily influenced by the crosstalk of the cells composing the tumor microenvironment, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells and immune cells. Moreover, multiple physicochemical properties such as pH, interstitial pressure or oxygenation may also play an important role. These elements are often poorly recapitulated in in vitro models used for drug development. This inadequate recapitulation of the tumor is partially responsible for the current lack of an effective and curative treatment. Therefore, there are needs for more complex in vitro or ex vivo drug screening models. In this review, we discuss the current state-of-the-art of RCC models and suggest strategies for their further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Mieville
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Arjan W Griffioen
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Benamran
- Division of Urology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patrycja Nowak-Sliwinska
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, Geneva, Switzerland.
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21
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Araldi RP, Delvalle DA, da Costa VR, Alievi AL, Teixeira MR, Dias Pinto JR, Kerkis I. Exosomes as a Nano-Carrier for Chemotherapeutics: A New Era of Oncology. Cells 2023; 12:2144. [PMID: 37681875 PMCID: PMC10486723 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172144] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the considerable advancements in oncology, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Drug resistance mechanisms acquired by cancer cells and inefficient drug delivery limit the therapeutic efficacy of available chemotherapeutics drugs. However, studies have demonstrated that nano-drug carriers (NDCs) can overcome these limitations. In this sense, exosomes emerge as potential candidates for NDCs. This is because exosomes have better organotropism, homing capacity, cellular uptake, and cargo release ability than synthetic NDCs. In addition, exosomes can serve as NDCs for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus, this review aimed to summarize the latest advances in cell-free therapy, describing how the exosomes can contribute to each step of the carcinogenesis process and discussing how these nanosized vesicles could be explored as nano-drug carriers for chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Pinheiro Araldi
- Genetics Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (D.A.D.); (V.R.d.C.); (A.L.A.); (M.R.T.)
- Structural and Functional Biology Post-Graduation Program, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo Federal University (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
- BioDecision Analytics Ltd.a., São Paulo 13271-650, SP, Brazil;
| | - Denis Adrián Delvalle
- Genetics Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (D.A.D.); (V.R.d.C.); (A.L.A.); (M.R.T.)
- Structural and Functional Biology Post-Graduation Program, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo Federal University (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
| | - Vitor Rodrigues da Costa
- Genetics Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (D.A.D.); (V.R.d.C.); (A.L.A.); (M.R.T.)
- Structural and Functional Biology Post-Graduation Program, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo Federal University (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
| | - Anderson Lucas Alievi
- Genetics Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (D.A.D.); (V.R.d.C.); (A.L.A.); (M.R.T.)
- Endocrinology and Metabology Post-Graduation Program, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo Federal University (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
| | - Michelli Ramires Teixeira
- Genetics Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (D.A.D.); (V.R.d.C.); (A.L.A.); (M.R.T.)
- Endocrinology and Metabology Post-Graduation Program, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo Federal University (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Irina Kerkis
- Genetics Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (D.A.D.); (V.R.d.C.); (A.L.A.); (M.R.T.)
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22
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Angelidakis E, Chen S, Zhang S, Wan Z, Kamm RD, Shelton SE. Impact of Fibrinogen, Fibrin Thrombi, and Thrombin on Cancer Cell Extravasation Using In Vitro Microvascular Networks. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202984. [PMID: 37119127 PMCID: PMC10524192 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
A bidirectional association exists between metastatic dissemination and the hypercoagulable state associated with many types of cancer. As such, clinical studies have provided evidence that markers associated with elevated levels of coagulation and fibrinolysis correlate with decreased patient survival. However, elucidating the mechanisms underpinning the effects of different components of the coagulation system on metastasis formation is challenging both in animal models and 2D models lacking the complex cellular interactions necessary to model both thrombosis and metastasis. Here, an in vitro, 3D, microvascular model for observing the formation of fibrin thrombi is described, which is in turn used to study how different aspects of the hypercoagulable state associated with cancer affect the endothelium. Using this platform, cancer cells expressing ICAM-1 are shown to form a fibrinogen-dependent bridge and transmigrate through the endothelium more effectively. Cancer cells are also demonstrated to interact with fibrin thrombi, using them to adhere, spread, and enhance their extravasation efficiency. Finally, thrombin is also shown to enhance cancer cell extravasation. This system presents a physiologically relevant model of fibrin clot formation in the human microvasculature, enabling in-depth investigation of the cellular interactions between cancer cells and the coagulation system affecting cancer cell extravasation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Angelidakis
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sophia Chen
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Shun Zhang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Zhengpeng Wan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Roger D Kamm
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sarah E Shelton
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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23
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Javanmardi Y, Agrawal A, Malandrino A, Lasli S, Chen M, Shahreza S, Serwinski B, Cammoun L, Li R, Jorfi M, Djordjevic B, Szita N, Spill F, Bertazzo S, Sheridan GK, Shenoy V, Calvo F, Kamm R, Moeendarbary E. Endothelium and Subendothelial Matrix Mechanics Modulate Cancer Cell Transendothelial Migration. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206554. [PMID: 37051804 PMCID: PMC10238207 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cell extravasation, a key step in the metastatic cascade, involves cancer cell arrest on the endothelium, transendothelial migration (TEM), followed by the invasion into the subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM) of distant tissues. While cancer research has mostly focused on the biomechanical interactions between tumor cells (TCs) and ECM, particularly at the primary tumor site, very little is known about the mechanical properties of endothelial cells and the subendothelial ECM and how they contribute to the extravasation process. Here, an integrated experimental and theoretical framework is developed to investigate the mechanical crosstalk between TCs, endothelium and subendothelial ECM during in vitro cancer cell extravasation. It is found that cancer cell actin-rich protrusions generate complex push-pull forces to initiate and drive TEM, while transmigration success also relies on the forces generated by the endothelium. Consequently, mechanical properties of the subendothelial ECM and endothelial actomyosin contractility that mediate the endothelial forces also impact the endothelium's resistance to cancer cell transmigration. These results indicate that mechanical features of distant tissues, including force interactions between the endothelium and the subendothelial ECM, are key determinants of metastatic organotropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef Javanmardi
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity College LondonTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E 7JEUK
| | - Ayushi Agrawal
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity College LondonTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E 7JEUK
| | - Andrea Malandrino
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
- Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering GroupDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering and Research Center for Biomedical EngineeringUniversitat Politécnica de Catalunya (UPC)08019BarcelonaSpain
| | - Soufian Lasli
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity College LondonTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E 7JEUK
| | - Michelle Chen
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Somayeh Shahreza
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity College LondonTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E 7JEUK
| | - Bianca Serwinski
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity College LondonTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E 7JEUK
- 199 Biotechnologies LtdGloucester RoadLondonW2 6LDUK
| | - Leila Cammoun
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Ran Li
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Mehdi Jorfi
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Boris Djordjevic
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity College LondonTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E 7JEUK
- 199 Biotechnologies LtdGloucester RoadLondonW2 6LDUK
| | - Nicolas Szita
- Department of Biochemical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Fabian Spill
- School of MathematicsUniversity of BirminghamEdgbastonBirminghamB152TSUK
| | - Sergio Bertazzo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Graham K Sheridan
- School of Life SciencesQueen's Medical CentreUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamNG7 2UHUK
| | - Vivek Shenoy
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Fernando Calvo
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Cantabria)Santander39011Spain
| | - Roger Kamm
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Emad Moeendarbary
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity College LondonTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E 7JEUK
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
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24
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Bogseth A, Ramirez A, Vaughan E, Maisel K. In Vitro Models of Blood and Lymphatic Vessels-Connecting Tissues and Immunity. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200041. [PMID: 35751460 PMCID: PMC9790046 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200041] [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: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Blood and lymphatic vessels are regulators of physiological processes, including oxygenation and fluid transport. Both vessels are ubiquitous throughout the body and are critical for sustaining tissue homeostasis. The complexity of each vessel's processes has limited the understanding of exactly how the vessels maintain their functions. Both vessels have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer metastasis, and it is crucial to probe further specific mechanisms involved. In vitro models are developed to better understand blood and lymphatic physiological functions and their mechanisms. In this review, blood and lymphatic in vitro model systems, including 2D and 3D designs made using Transwells, microfluidic devices, organoid cultures, and various other methods, are described. Models studying endothelial cell-extracellular matrix interactions, endothelial barrier properties, transendothelial transport and cell migration, lymph/angiogenesis, vascular inflammation, and endothelial-cancer cell interactions are particularly focused. While the field has made significant progress in modeling and understanding lymphatic and blood vasculature, more models that include coculture of multiple cell types, complex extracellular matrix, and 3D morphologies, particularly for models mimicking disease states, will help further the understanding of the role of blood and lymphatic vasculature in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Bogseth
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Ann Ramirez
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Erik Vaughan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Katharina Maisel
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
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25
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Wan HY, Chen JCH, Xiao Q, Wong CW, Yang B, Cao B, Tuan RS, Nilsson SK, Ho YP, Raghunath M, Kamm RD, Blocki A. Stabilization and improved functionality of three-dimensional perfusable microvascular networks in microfluidic devices under macromolecular crowding. Biomater Res 2023; 27:32. [PMID: 37076899 PMCID: PMC10116810 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-023-00375-w] [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: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is great interest to engineer in vitro models that allow the study of complex biological processes of the microvasculature with high spatiotemporal resolution. Microfluidic systems are currently used to engineer microvasculature in vitro, which consists of perfusable microvascular networks (MVNs). These are formed through spontaneous vasculogenesis and exhibit the closest resemblance to physiological microvasculature. Unfortunately, under standard culture conditions and in the absence of co-culture with auxiliary cells as well as protease inhibitors, pure MVNs suffer from a short-lived stability. METHODS Herein, we introduce a strategy for stabilization of MVNs through macromolecular crowding (MMC) based on a previously established mixture of Ficoll macromolecules. The biophysical principle of MMC is based on macromolecules occupying space, thus increasing the effective concentration of other components and thereby accelerating various biological processes, such as extracellular matrix deposition. We thus hypothesized that MMC will promote the accumulation of vascular ECM (basement membrane) components and lead to a stabilization of MVN with improved functionality. RESULTS MMC promoted the enrichment of cellular junctions and basement membrane components, while reducing cellular contractility. The resulting advantageous balance of adhesive forces over cellular tension resulted in a significant stabilization of MVNs over time, as well as improved vascular barrier function, closely resembling that of in vivo microvasculature. CONCLUSION Application of MMC to MVNs in microfluidic devices provides a reliable, flexible and versatile approach to stabilize engineered microvessels under simulated physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Ying Wan
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jack Chun Hin Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qinru Xiao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Christy Wingtung Wong
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Boguang Yang
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Benjamin Cao
- Biomedical Manufacturing Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Melbourne, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rocky S Tuan
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine (CNRM), Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Susan K Nilsson
- Biomedical Manufacturing Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Melbourne, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yi-Ping Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael Raghunath
- Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Roger D Kamm
- Department of Biology and Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anna Blocki
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine (CNRM), Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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26
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Dibble M, Di Cio' S, Luo P, Balkwill F, Gautrot JE. The impact of pericytes on the stability of microvascular networks in response to nanoparticles. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5729. [PMID: 37029151 PMCID: PMC10082022 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31352-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recapitulating the normal physiology of the microvasculature is pivotal in the development of more complex in-vitro models and organ-on-chip designs. Pericytes are an important component of the vasculature, promoting vessel stability, inhibiting vascular permeability and maintaining the vascular hierarchical architecture. The use of such co-culture for the testing of therapeutics and nanoparticle safety is increasingly considered for the validation of therapeutic strategies. This report presents the use of a microfluidic model for such applications. Interactions between endothelial cells and pericytes are first explored. We identify basal conditions required to form stable and reproducible endothelial networks. We then investigate interactions between endothelial cells and pericytes via direct co-culture. In our system, pericytes prevented vessel hyperplasia and maintained vessel length in prolonged culture (> 10 days). In addition, these vessels displayed barrier function and expression of junction markers associated with vessel maturation, including VE-cadherin, β-catenin and ZO-1. Furthermore, pericytes maintained vessel integrity following stress (nutrient starvation) and prevented vessel regression, in contrast to the striking dissociation of networks in endothelial monocultures. This response was also observed when endothelial/pericyte co-cultures were exposed to high concentrations of moderately toxic cationic nanoparticles used for gene delivery. This study highlights the importance of pericytes in protecting vascular networks from stress and external agents and their importance to the design of advanced in-vitro models, including for the testing of nanotoxicity, to better recapitulate physiological response and avoid false positives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Dibble
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Stefania Di Cio'
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Piaopiao Luo
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Frances Balkwill
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Julien E Gautrot
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
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27
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Mu X, Gerhard-Herman MD, Zhang YS. Building Blood Vessel Chips with Enhanced Physiological Relevance. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2023; 8:2201778. [PMID: 37693798 PMCID: PMC10489284 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202201778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Blood vessel chips are bioengineered microdevices, consisting of biomaterials, human cells, and microstructures, which recapitulate essential vascular structure and physiology and allow a well-controlled microenvironment and spatial-temporal readouts. Blood vessel chips afford promising opportunities to understand molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying a range of vascular diseases. The physiological relevance is key to these blood vessel chips that rely on bioinspired strategies and bioengineering approaches to translate vascular physiology into artificial units. Here, we discuss several critical aspects of vascular physiology, including morphology, material composition, mechanical properties, flow dynamics, and mass transport, which provide essential guidelines and a valuable source of bioinspiration for the rational design of blood vessel chips. We also review state-of-art blood vessel chips that exhibit important physiological features of the vessel and reveal crucial insights into the biological processes and disease pathogenesis, including rare diseases, with notable implications for drug screening and clinical trials. We envision that the advances in biomaterials, biofabrication, and stem cells improve the physiological relevance of blood vessel chips, which, along with the close collaborations between clinicians and bioengineers, enable their widespread utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Mu
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Marie Denise Gerhard-Herman
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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28
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Zhou L, Liu L, Chang MA, Ma C, Chen W, Chen P. Spatiotemporal dissection of tumor microenvironment via in situ sensing and monitoring in tumor-on-a-chip. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 225:115064. [PMID: 36680970 PMCID: PMC9918721 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115064] [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: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Real-time monitoring in the tumor microenvironment provides critical insights of cancer progression and mechanistic understanding of responses to cancer treatments. However, clinical challenges and significant questions remain regarding assessment of limited clinical tissue samples, establishment of validated, controllable pre-clinical cancer models, monitoring of static versus dynamic markers, and the translation of insights gained from in vitro tumor microenvironments to systematic investigation and understanding in clinical practice. State-of-art tumor-on-a-chip strategies will be reviewed herein, and emerging real-time sensing and monitoring platforms for on-chip analysis of tumor microenvironment will also be examined. The integration of the sensors with tumor-on-a-chip platforms to provide spatiotemporal information of the tumor microenvironment and the associated challenges will be further evaluated. Though optimal integrated systems for in situ monitoring are still in evolution, great promises lie ahead that will open new paradigm for rapid, comprehensive analysis of cancer development and assist clinicians with powerful tools to guide the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment course in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Zhou
- Materials Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Lunan Liu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
| | - Muammar Ali Chang
- Materials Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA; Department of Biomedical 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
| | - Pengyu Chen
- Materials Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
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29
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Watson SA, Javanmardi Y, Zanieri L, Shahreza S, Ragazzini R, Bonfanti P, Moeendarbary E. Integrated role of human thymic stromal cells in hematopoietic stem cell extravasation. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10454. [PMID: 36925684 PMCID: PMC10013751 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10454] [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: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The human thymus is the site of T-cell maturation and induction of central tolerance. Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-derived progenitors are recruited to the thymus from the fetal liver during early prenatal development and from bone marrow at later stages and postnatal life. The mechanism by which HSCs are recruited to the thymus is poorly understood in humans, though mouse models have indicated the critical role of thymic stromal cells (TSC). Here, we developed a 3D microfluidic assay based on human cells to model HSC extravasation across the endothelium into the extracellular matrix. We found that the presence of human TSC consisting of cultured thymic epithelial cells (TEC) and interstitial cells (TIC) increases the HSC extravasation rates by 3-fold. Strikingly, incorporating TEC or TIC alone is insufficient to perturb HSC extravasation rates. Furthermore, we identified complex gene expressions from interactions between endothelial cells, TEC and TIC modulates the HSCs extravasation. Our results suggest that comprehensive signaling from the complex thymic microenvironment is crucial for thymus seeding and that our system will allow manipulation of these signals with the potential to increase thymocyte migration in a therapeutic setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A. Watson
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUCLLondonUK
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine LabThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | | | - Luca Zanieri
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine LabThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
- Institute of Immunity and TransplantationDivision of Infection & Immunity, UCLLondonUK
| | | | - Roberta Ragazzini
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine LabThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
- Institute of Immunity and TransplantationDivision of Infection & Immunity, UCLLondonUK
| | - Paola Bonfanti
- Epithelial Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine LabThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
- Institute of Immunity and TransplantationDivision of Infection & Immunity, UCLLondonUK
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30
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Abstract
Despite enormous advances, cardiovascular disorders are still a major threat to global health and are responsible for one-third of deaths worldwide. Research for new therapeutics and the investigation of their effects on vascular parameters is often limited by species-specific pathways and a lack of high-throughput methods. The complex 3-dimensional environment of blood vessels, intricate cellular crosstalks, and organ-specific architectures further complicate the quest for a faithful human in vitro model. The development of novel organoid models of various tissues such as brain, gut, and kidney signified a leap for the field of personalized medicine and disease research. By utilizing either embryonic- or patient-derived stem cells, different developmental and pathological mechanisms can be modeled and investigated in a controlled in vitro environment. We have recently developed self-organizing human capillary blood vessel organoids that recapitulate key processes of vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and diabetic vasculopathy. Since then, this organoid system has been utilized as a model for other disease processes, refined, and adapted for organ specificity. In this review, we will discuss novel and alternative approaches to blood vessel engineering and explore the cellular identity of engineered blood vessels in comparison to in vivo vasculature. Future perspectives and the therapeutic potential of blood vessel organoids will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Salewskij
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna (K.S., J.M.P.).,Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Austria (K.S.)
| | - Josef M Penninger
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna (K.S., J.M.P.).,Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (J.M.P.)
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31
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Vascularized Tissue Organoids. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10020124. [PMID: 36829618 PMCID: PMC9951914 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10020124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue organoids hold enormous potential as tools for a variety of applications, including disease modeling and drug screening. To effectively mimic the native tissue environment, it is critical to integrate a microvasculature with the parenchyma and stroma. In addition to providing a means to physiologically perfuse the organoids, the microvasculature also contributes to the cellular dynamics of the tissue model via the cells of the perivascular niche, thereby further modulating tissue function. In this review, we discuss current and developing strategies for vascularizing organoids, consider tissue-specific vascularization approaches, discuss the importance of perfusion, and provide perspectives on the state of the field.
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32
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Sonam S, Balasubramaniam L, Lin SZ, Ivan YMY, Jaumà IP, Jebane C, Karnat M, Toyama Y, Marcq P, Prost J, Mège RM, Rupprecht JF, Ladoux B. Mechanical stress driven by rigidity sensing governs epithelial stability. NATURE PHYSICS 2023; 19:132-141. [PMID: 36686215 PMCID: PMC7614076 DOI: 10.1038/s41567-022-01826-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Epithelia act as a barrier against environmental stress and abrasion and in vivo they are continuously exposed to environments of various mechanical properties. The impact of this environment on epithelial integrity remains elusive. By culturing epithelial cells on 2D hydrogels, we observe a loss of epithelial monolayer integrity through spontaneous hole formation when grown on soft substrates. Substrate stiffness triggers an unanticipated mechanical switch of epithelial monolayers from tensile on soft to compressive on stiff substrates. Through active nematic modelling, we find that spontaneous half-integer defect formation underpinning large isotropic stress fluctuations initiate hole opening events. Our data show that monolayer rupture due to high tensile stress is promoted by the weakening of cell-cell junctions that could be induced by cell division events or local cellular stretching. Our results show that substrate stiffness provides feedback on monolayer mechanical state and that topological defects can trigger stochastic mechanical failure, with potential application towards a mechanistic understanding of compromised epithelial integrity during immune response and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Sonam
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
| | | | - Shao-Zhen Lin
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | | | - Irina Pi Jaumà
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Cecile Jebane
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Marc Karnat
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Yusuke Toyama
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Philippe Marcq
- Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Jacques Prost
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Physico-Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, CNRS UMR 168, Paris, France
| | - René-Marc Mège
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Jean-François Rupprecht
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
- Corresponding authors Dr. Benoit Ladoux, , Dr. Jean-François Rupprecht,
| | - Benoît Ladoux
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
- Corresponding authors Dr. Benoit Ladoux, , Dr. Jean-François Rupprecht,
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33
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Taïeb HM, Herment G, Robinson T, Cipitria A. Effect of capillary fluid flow on single cancer cell cycle dynamics, motility, volume and morphology. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 23:92-105. [PMID: 36448429 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00322h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
From primary tumours and disseminating to secondary organs, cancer cells experience a wide variety of fluid flow profiles when passing through blood vessels or the lymphatic system before extravasation. Sinusoidal capillaries are a common site for extravasation. Therefore, we aim to investigate how metastatic cancer cells react to a biophysical cue such as capillary fluid flow by quantifying its effect on metastatic cell cycle progression, motility, cell and nuclear volume, and morphology. We use MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells genetically modified with fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator 2 (FUCCI2) as a model system. Single cells are trapped using a microfluidic device and exposed to different laminar flows. Quantitative time-lapse imaging in both 2D epifluorescence and 3D confocal microscopy is performed using in-house software FUCCItrack. In addition, 3D time-lapse with cell and nuclear segmentation is performed with a deep learning approach to streamline the image processing of big datasets. We show that at a single cell level, faster fluid flow leads to a shorter S/G2/M phase and an overall shorter cell cycle, as well as increase in cell motility irrespective of the flow direction. 3D time-lapse confocal imaging of MDA-FUCCI2 single cells reveals the evolution of cell and nuclear volume and morphology as a function of a specific cell cycle phase. Both cell and nuclear volume increase linearly over time. Cell morphology elongates more strongly during the S/G2/M phase, whereas the nuclear shape remains constant. Under the highest flow conditions, only during the S/G2/M phase can we observe a more elongated nucleus, while the cell sphericity remains similar to the control. Collectively, this data, together with the deep learning approach, provides new insights into the potential impact of fluid flow at a single cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubert M Taïeb
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Guillaume Herment
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Tom Robinson
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Amaia Cipitria
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
- Group of Bioengineering in Regeneration and Cancer, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
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34
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Abstract
Oral and maxillofacial organoids, as three-dimensional study models of organs, have attracted increasing attention in tissue regeneration and disease modeling. However, traditional strategies for organoid construction still fail to precisely recapitulate the key characteristics of real organs, due to the difficulty in controlling the self-organization of cells in vitro. This review aims to summarize the recent progress of novel approaches to engineering oral and maxillofacial organoids. First, we introduced the necessary components and their roles in forming oral and maxillofacial organoids. Besides, we discussed cutting-edge technology in advancing the architecture and function of organoids, especially focusing on oral and maxillofacial tissue regeneration via novel strategy with designed cell-signal scaffold compounds. Finally, current limitations and future prospects of oral and maxillofacial organoids were represented to provide guidance for further disciplinary progression and clinical application to achieve organ regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Implantology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yao Sun
- Department of Implantology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration, Shanghai 200040, China,Corresponding author
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35
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Kim S, Wan Z, Jeon JS, Kamm RD. Microfluidic vascular models of tumor cell extravasation. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1052192. [PMID: 36439519 PMCID: PMC9698448 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1052192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging microfluidic disease models have amply demonstrated their value in many fields of cancer research. These in vitro technologies recapitulate key aspects of metastatic cancer, including the process of tumor cell arrest and extravasation at the site of the metastatic tumor. To date, extensive efforts have been made to capture key features of the microvasculature to reconstitute the pre-metastatic niche and investigate dynamic extravasation behaviors using microfluidic systems. In this mini-review, we highlight recent microfluidic vascular models of tumor cell extravasation and explore how this approach contributes to development of in vitro disease models to enhance understanding of metastasis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunggyu Kim
- Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Biomicrofluidics Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Zhengpeng Wan
- Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Jessie S. Jeon
- Biomicrofluidics Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
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36
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Nguyen LTS, Jacob MAC, Parajón E, Robinson DN. Cancer as a biophysical disease: Targeting the mechanical-adaptability program. Biophys J 2022; 121:3573-3585. [PMID: 35505610 PMCID: PMC9617128 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
With the number of cancer cases projected to significantly increase over time, researchers are currently exploring "nontraditional" research fields in the pursuit of novel therapeutics. One emerging area that is steadily gathering interest revolves around cellular mechanical machinery. When looking broadly at the physical properties of cancer, it has been debated whether a cancer could be defined as either stiffer or softer across cancer types. With numerous articles supporting both sides, the evidence instead suggests that cancer is not particularly regimented. Instead, cancer is highly adaptable, allowing it to endure the constantly changing microenvironments cancer cells encounter, such as tumor compression and the shear forces in the vascular system and body. What allows cancer cells to achieve this adaptability are the particular proteins that make up the mechanical network, leading to a particular mechanical program of the cancer cell. Coincidentally, some of these proteins, such as myosin II, α-actinins, filamins, and actin, have either altered expression in cancer and/or some type of direct involvement in cancer progression. For this reason, targeting the mechanical system as a therapeutic strategy may lead to more efficacious treatments in the future. However, targeting the mechanical program is far from trivial. As involved as the mechanical program is in cancer development and metastasis, it also helps drive many other key cellular processes, such as cell division, cell adhesion, metabolism, and motility. Therefore, anti-cancer treatments targeting the mechanical program must take great care to avoid potential side effects. Here, we introduce the potential of targeting the mechanical program while also providing its challenges and shortcomings as a strategy for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly T S Nguyen
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mark Allan C Jacob
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Eleana Parajón
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Douglas N Robinson
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
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37
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A Live Cell Imaging Microfluidic Model for Studying Extravasation of Bloodborne Bacterial Pathogens. Cell Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/3130361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria that migrate (extravasate) out of the bloodstream during vascular dissemination can cause secondary infections in many tissues and organs, including the brain, heart, liver, joints, and bone with clinically serious and sometimes fatal outcomes. The mechanisms by which bacteria extravasate through endothelial barriers in the face of blood flow-induced shear stress are poorly understood, in part because individual bacteria are rarely observed traversing endothelia in vivo, and in vitro model systems inadequately mimic the vascular environment. To enable the study of bacterial extravasation mechanisms, we developed a transmembrane microfluidics device mimicking human blood vessels. Fast, quantitative, three-dimensional live cell imaging in this system permitted single-cell resolution measurement of the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmigrating through monolayers of primary human endothelial cells under physiological shear stress. This cost-effective, flexible method was 10,000 times more sensitive than conventional plate reader-based methods for measuring transendothelial migration. Validation studies confirmed that B. burgdorferi transmigrate actively and strikingly do so at similar rates under static and physiological flow conditions. This method has significant potential for future studies of B. burgdorferi extravasation mechanisms, as well as the transendothelial migration mechanisms of other disseminating bloodborne pathogens.
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38
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Macaraniag C, Luan Q, Zhou J, Papautsky I. Microfluidic techniques for isolation, formation, and characterization of circulating tumor cells and clusters. APL Bioeng 2022; 6:031501. [PMID: 35856010 PMCID: PMC9288269 DOI: 10.1063/5.0093806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters that are shed from the primary tumor into the bloodstream are associated with a poor prognosis, elevated metastatic potential, higher proliferation rate, and distinct molecular features compared to single CTCs. Studying CTC clusters may give us information on the differences in the genetic profiles, somatic mutations, and epigenetic changes in circulating cells compared to the primary tumor and metastatic sites. Microfluidic systems offer the means of studying CTC clusters through the ability to efficiently isolate these rare cells from the whole blood of patients in a liquid biopsy. Microfluidics can also be used to develop in vitro models of CTC clusters and make possible their characterization and analysis. Ultimately, microfluidic systems can offer the means to gather insight on the complexities of the metastatic process, the biology of cancer, and the potential for developing novel or personalized therapies. In this review, we aim to discuss the advantages and challenges of the existing microfluidic systems for working with CTC clusters. We hope that an improved understanding of the role microfluidics can play in isolation, formation, and characterization of CTC clusters, which can lead to increased sophistication of microfluidic platforms in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Macaraniag
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Qiyue Luan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Ian Papautsky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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39
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Zhang S, Kan EL, Kamm RD. Integrating functional vasculature into organoid culture: A biomechanical perspective. APL Bioeng 2022; 6:030401. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0097967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shun Zhang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Ellen L. Kan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
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40
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Morris K, Schnoor B, Papa AL. Platelet cancer cell interplay as a new therapeutic target. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188770. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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41
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Campisi M, Shelton SE, Chen M, Kamm RD, Barbie DA, Knelson EH. Engineered Microphysiological Systems for Testing Effectiveness of Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapies. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:3561. [PMID: 35892819 PMCID: PMC9330888 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell therapies, including adoptive immune cell therapies and genetically engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T or NK cells, have shown promise in treating hematologic malignancies. Yet, immune cell infiltration and expansion has proven challenging in solid tumors due to immune cell exclusion and exhaustion and the presence of vascular barriers. Testing next-generation immune therapies remains challenging in animals, motivating sophisticated ex vivo models of human tumor biology and prognostic assays to predict treatment response in real-time while comprehensively recapitulating the human tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). This review examines current strategies for testing cell-based cancer immunotherapies using ex vivo microphysiological systems and microfluidic technologies. Insights into the multicellular interactions of the TIME will identify novel therapeutic strategies to help patients whose tumors are refractory or resistant to current immunotherapies. Altogether, these microphysiological systems (MPS) have the capability to predict therapeutic vulnerabilities and biological barriers while studying immune cell infiltration and killing in a more physiologically relevant context, thereby providing important insights into fundamental biologic mechanisms to expand our understanding of and treatments for currently incurable malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Campisi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
| | - Sarah E. Shelton
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
| | - Minyue Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - David A. Barbie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
| | - Erik H. Knelson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
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42
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Wan Z, Zhong AX, Zhang S, Pavlou G, Coughlin MF, Shelton SE, Nguyen HT, Lorch JH, Barbie DA, Kamm RD. A Robust Method for Perfusable Microvascular Network Formation In Vitro. SMALL METHODS 2022; 6:e2200143. [PMID: 35373502 PMCID: PMC9844969 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202200143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Micropost-based microfluidic devices are widely used for microvascular network (MVN) formation in diverse research fields. However, consistently generating perfusable MVNs of physiological morphology and dimension has proven to be challenging. Here, how initial seeding parameters determine key characteristics of MVN formation is investigated and a robust two-step seeding strategy to generate perfusable physiological MVNs in microfluidic devices is established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengpeng Wan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Amy X Zhong
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Shun Zhang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Georgios Pavlou
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Mark F Coughlin
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sarah E Shelton
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Huu Tuan Nguyen
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jochen H Lorch
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - David A Barbie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Roger D Kamm
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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43
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Unraveling Cancer Metastatic Cascade Using Microfluidics-based Technologies. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:517-543. [PMID: 35528034 PMCID: PMC9043145 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-00944-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has long been a leading cause of death. The primary tumor, however, is not the main cause of death in more than 90% of cases. It is the complex process of metastasis that makes cancer deadly. The invasion metastasis cascade is the multi-step biological process of cancer cell dissemination to distant organ sites and adaptation to the new microenvironment site. Unraveling the metastasis process can provide great insight into cancer death prevention or even treatment. Microfluidics is a promising platform, that provides a wide range of applications in metastasis-related investigations. Cell culture microfluidic technologies for in vitro modeling of cancer tissues with fluid flow and the presence of mechanical factors have led to the organ-on-a-chip platforms. Moreover, microfluidic systems have also been exploited for capturing and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that provide crucial information on the metastatic behavior of a tumor. We present a comprehensive review of the recent developments in the application of microfluidics-based systems for analysis and understanding of the metastasis cascade from a wider perspective.
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44
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45
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Multi-Layered Human Blood Vessels-on-Chip Design Using Double Viscous Finger Patterning. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040797. [PMID: 35453546 PMCID: PMC9027030 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood vessel-on-a-chip models aim at reproducing vascular functions. However, very few efficient methods have been designed to address the need for biological replicates in medium- to high-throughput screenings. Here, vessels-on-chip were designed in polydimethylsiloxane-glass chips using the viscous finger patterning technique which was adapted to create channels with various internal diameters inside a collagen solution and to simultaneously seed cells. This method was refined to create blood vessels composed of two concentric, distinct, and closely appositioned layers of human endothelial and perivascular cells arranged around a hollow lumen. These approaches allowed the formation of structurally correct blood vessels-on-chips which were constituted of either only endothelial cells or of both cell types in order to distinguish the vascular barrier reactivity to drugs in the presence or not of perivascular cells. The established vessels showed a tight vascular barrier, as assessed by immunostaining of the adherens junctions, and were reactive to the natural vasopermeant thrombin and to inflammatory cytokines. The presence of perivascular cells markedly increased the tightness of the vascular barrier and lowered its response to thrombin. The design allowed us to simultaneously challenge in real-time several tens of 3D-reconstituted, multicellular blood vessels in a standard multiwell plate format suitable for high-throughput drug screening.
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46
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Methods for vascularization and perfusion of tissue organoids. Mamm Genome 2022; 33:437-450. [PMID: 35333952 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-022-09951-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tissue organoids or "mini organs" can be invaluable tools for understanding health and disease biology, modeling tissue dynamics, or screening potential drug candidates. Effective vascularization of these models is critical for truly representing the in vivo tissue environment. Not only is the formation of a vascular network, and ultimately a microcirculation, essential for proper distribution and exchange of oxygen and nutrients throughout larger organoids, but vascular cells dynamically communicate with other cells to modulate overall tissue behavior. Additionally, interstitial fluid flow, mediated by a perfused microvasculature, can have profound influences on tissue biology. Thus, a truly functionally and biologically relevant organoid requires a vasculature. Here, we review existing strategies for fabricating and incorporating vascular elements and perfusion within tissue organoids.
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47
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Abstract
During cancer progression, metastatic dissemination accounts for ∼90% of death in patients. Metastasis occurs upon dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTC) through body fluids, in particular the bloodstream, and several key steps remain elusive. Although the majority of CTCs travel as single cells, they can form clusters either with themselves (homoclusters) or with other circulating cells (heteroclusters) and thereby increase their metastatic potential. In addition, cancer cell mechanics and mechanical cues from the microenvironment are important factors during metastatic progression. Recent progress in intravital imaging technologies, biophysical methods, and microfluidic-based isolation of CTCs allow now to probe mechanics at single cell resolution while shedding light on key steps of the hematogenous metastatic cascade. In this review, we discuss the importance of CTC mechanics and their correlation with metastatic success and how such development could lead to the identification of therapeutically relevant targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Peralta
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg 67000, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67000, France.,Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg 67000, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer
| | - Naël Osmani
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg 67000, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67000, France.,Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg 67000, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer
| | - Jacky G Goetz
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg 67000, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67000, France.,Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg 67000, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer
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48
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Mykuliak A, Yrjänäinen A, Mäki AJ, Gebraad A, Lampela E, Kääriäinen M, Pakarinen TK, Kallio P, Miettinen S, Vuorenpää H. Vasculogenic Potency of Bone Marrow- and Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Results in Differing Vascular Network Phenotypes in a Microfluidic Chip. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:764237. [PMID: 35211462 PMCID: PMC8861308 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.764237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The vasculature is an essential, physiological element in virtually all human tissues. Formation of perfusable vasculature is therefore crucial for reliable tissue modeling. Three-dimensional vascular networks can be formed through the co-culture of endothelial cells (ECs) with stromal cells embedded in hydrogel. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow (BMSCs) and adipose tissue (ASCs) are an attractive choice as stromal cells due to their natural perivascular localization and ability to support formation of mature and stable microvessels in vitro. So far, BMSCs and ASCs have been compared as vasculature-supporting cells in static cultures. In this study, BMSCs and ASCs were co-cultured with endothelial cells in a fibrin hydrogel in a perfusable microfluidic chip. We demonstrated that using MSCs of different origin resulted in vascular networks with distinct phenotypes. Both types of MSCs supported formation of mature and interconnected microvascular networks-on-a-chip. However, BMSCs induced formation of fully perfusable microvasculature with larger vessel area and length whereas ASCs resulted in partially perfusable microvascular networks. Immunostainings revealed that BMSCs outperformed ASCs in pericytic characteristics. Moreover, co-culture with BMSCs resulted in significantly higher expression levels of endothelial and pericyte-specific genes, as well as genes involved in vasculature maturation. Overall, our study provides valuable knowledge on the properties of MSCs as vasculature-supporting cells and highlights the importance of choosing the application-specific stromal cell source for vascularized organotypic models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Mykuliak
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Alma Yrjänäinen
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Antti-Juhana Mäki
- Micro- and Nanosystems Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Arjen Gebraad
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Ella Lampela
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Minna Kääriäinen
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Pasi Kallio
- Micro- and Nanosystems Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Susanna Miettinen
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Hanna Vuorenpää
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
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Ersland E, Ebrahim N, Mwizerwa O, Oba T, Oku K, Nishino M, Hikimoto D, Miyoshi H, Tomotoshi K, Rahmanian O, Ekwueme E, Neville C, Sundback C. Human Vascular Wall Microfluidic Model for Preclinical Evaluation of Drug-Induced Vascular Injury. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2022; 28:83-92. [PMID: 35114818 PMCID: PMC9022170 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2021.0227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced vascular injury (DIVI) in preclinical animal models often leads to candidate compound termination during drug development. DIVI has not been documented in human clinical trials with drugs that cause DIVI in preclinical animals. A robust human preclinical assay for DIVI is needed as an early vascular injury screen. A human vascular wall microfluidic tissue chip was developed with a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)-umbilical artery smooth muscle cell (vascular smooth muscle cell, VSMC) bilayer matured under physiological shear stress. Optimized temporal flow profiles produced HUVEC-VSMC bilayers with quiescent endothelial cell (EC) monolayers, EC tight junctions, and contractile VSMC morphology. Dose-response testing (3-30 μM concentration) was conducted with minoxidil and tadalafil vasodilators. Both drugs have demonstrated preclinical DIVI but lack clinical evidence. The permeability of severely damaged engineered bilayers (30 μM tadalafil) was 4.1 times that of the untreated controls. Immunohistochemical protein assays revealed contrasting perspectives on tadalafil and minoxidil-induced damage. Tadalafil impacted the endothelial monolayer with minor injury to the contractile VSMCs, whereas minoxidil demonstrated minor EC barrier injury but damaged VSMCs and activated ECs in a dose-response manner. This proof-of-concept human vascular wall bilayer model of DIVI is a critical step toward developing a preclinical human screening assay for drug development. Impact statement More than 90% of drug candidates fail during clinical trials due to human efficacy and toxicity concerns. Preclinical studies rely heavily on animal models, although animal toxicity and drug metabolism responses often differ from humans. During the drug development process, perfused in vitro human tissue chips could model the clinical drug response and potential toxicity of candidate compounds. Our long-term objective is to develop a human vascular wall tissue chip to screen for drug-induced vascular injury. Its application could ultimately reduce drug development delays and costs, and improve patient safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Ersland
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Neven Ebrahim
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Olive Mwizerwa
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Takahiro Oba
- Bioscience and Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Keisuke Oku
- Bioscience and Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masafumi Nishino
- Bioscience and Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Daichi Hikimoto
- Bioscience and Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hayato Miyoshi
- Bioscience and Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kimihiko Tomotoshi
- Bioscience and Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Omid Rahmanian
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emmanuel Ekwueme
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Craig Neville
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cathryn Sundback
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Address correspondence to: Cathryn Sundback, ScD, Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 01451, USA
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DePalma TJ, Sivakumar H, Skardal A. Strategies for developing complex multi-component in vitro tumor models: Highlights in glioblastoma. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 180:114067. [PMID: 34822927 PMCID: PMC10560581 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, many research groups have begun to utilize bioengineered in vitro models of cancer to study mechanisms of disease progression, test drug candidates, and develop platforms to advance personalized drug treatment options. Due to advances in cell and tissue engineering over the last few decades, there are now a myriad of tools that can be used to create such in vitro systems. In this review, we describe the considerations one must take when developing model systems that accurately mimic the in vivo tumor microenvironment (TME) and can be used to answer specific scientific questions. We will summarize the importance of cell sourcing in models with one or multiple cell types and outline the importance of choosing biomaterials that accurately mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) of the tumor or tissue that is being modeled. We then provide examples of how these two components can be used in concert in a variety of model form factors and conclude by discussing how biofabrication techniques such as bioprinting and organ-on-a-chip fabrication can be used to create highly reproducible complex in vitro models. Since this topic has a broad range of applications, we use the final section of the review to dive deeper into one type of cancer, glioblastoma, to illustrate how these components come together to further our knowledge of cancer biology and move us closer to developing novel drugs and systems that improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J DePalma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Hemamylammal Sivakumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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