1
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Davidson LA. Gears of life: A primer on the simple machines that shape the embryo. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 160:87-109. [PMID: 38937032 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.05.004] [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] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
A simple machine is a basic of device that takes mechanical advantage to apply force. Animals and plants self-assemble through the operation of a wide variety of simple machines. Embryos of different species actuate these simple machines to drive the geometric transformations that convert a disordered mass of cells into organized structures with discrete identities and function. These transformations are intrinsically coupled to sequential and overlapping steps of self-organization and self-assembly. The processes of self-organization have been explored through the molecular composition of cells and tissues and their information networks. By contrast, efforts to understand the simple machines underlying self-assembly must integrate molecular composition with the physical principles of mechanics. This primer is concerned with effort to elucidate the operation of these machines, focusing on the "problem" of morphogenesis. Advances in understanding self-assembly will ultimately connect molecular-, subcellular-, cellular- and meso-scale functions of plants and animals and their ability to interact with larger ecologies and environmental influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance A Davidson
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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2
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Pan C, Hao X, Deng X, Lu F, Liu J, Hou W, Xu T. The roles of Hippo/YAP signaling pathway in physical therapy. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:197. [PMID: 38670949 PMCID: PMC11053014 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01972-x] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular behavior is regulated by mechanical signals within the cellular microenvironment. Additionally, changes of temperature, blood flow, and muscle contraction also affect cellular state and the development of diseases. In clinical practice, physical therapy techniques such as ultrasound, vibration, exercise, cold therapy, and hyperthermia are commonly employed to alleviate pain and treat diseases. However, the molecular mechanism about how these physiotherapy methods stimulate local tissues and control gene expression remains unknow. Fortunately, the discovery of YAP filled this gap, which has been reported has the ability to sense and convert a wide variety of mechanical signals into cell-specific programs for transcription, thereby offering a fresh perspective on the mechanisms by which physiotherapy treat different diseases. This review examines the involvement of Hippo/YAP signaling pathway in various diseases and its role in different physical therapy approaches on diseases. Furthermore, we explore the potential therapeutic implications of the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway and address the limitations and controversies surrounding its application in physiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunran Pan
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoxia Hao
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofeng Deng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fan Lu
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiawei Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjie Hou
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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3
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Sepaniac LA, Davenport NR, Bement WM. Bring the pain: wounding reveals a transition from cortical excitability to epithelial excitability in Xenopus embryos. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 11:1295569. [PMID: 38456169 PMCID: PMC10918254 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1295569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The cell cortex plays many critical roles, including interpreting and responding to internal and external signals. One behavior which supports a cell's ability to respond to both internal and externally-derived signaling is cortical excitability, wherein coupled positive and negative feedback loops generate waves of actin polymerization and depolymerization at the cortex. Cortical excitability is a highly conserved behavior, having been demonstrated in many cell types and organisms. One system well-suited to studying cortical excitability is Xenopus laevis, in which cortical excitability is easily monitored for many hours after fertilization. Indeed, recent investigations using X. laevis have furthered our understanding of the circuitry underlying cortical excitability and how it contributes to cytokinesis. Here, we describe the impact of wounding, which represents both a chemical and a physical signal, on cortical excitability. In early embryos (zygotes to early blastulae), we find that wounding results in a transient cessation ("freezing") of wave propagation followed by transport of frozen waves toward the wound site. We also find that wounding near cell-cell junctions results in the formation of an F-actin (actin filament)-based structure that pulls the junction toward the wound; at least part of this structure is based on frozen waves. In later embryos (late blastulae to gastrulae), we find that cortical excitability diminishes and is progressively replaced by epithelial excitability, a process in which wounded cells communicate with other cells via wave-like increases of calcium and apical F-actin. While the F-actin waves closely follow the calcium waves in space and time, under some conditions the actin wave can be uncoupled from the calcium wave, suggesting that they may be independently regulated by a common upstream signal. We conclude that as cortical excitability disappears from the level of the individual cell within the embryo, it is replaced by excitability at the level of the embryonic epithelium itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie A. Sepaniac
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Nicholas R. Davenport
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - William M. Bement
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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4
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Tung A, Sperry MM, Clawson W, Pavuluri A, Bulatao S, Yue M, Flores RM, Pai VP, McMillen P, Kuchling F, Levin M. Embryos assist morphogenesis of others through calcium and ATP signaling mechanisms in collective teratogen resistance. Nat Commun 2024; 15:535. [PMID: 38233424 PMCID: PMC10794468 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44522-2] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Information for organismal patterning can come from a variety of sources. We investigate the possibility that instructive influences for normal embryonic development are provided not only at the level of cells within the embryo, but also via interactions between embryos. To explore this, we challenge groups of embryos with disruptors of normal development while varying group size. Here, we show that Xenopus laevis embryos are much more sensitive to a diverse set of chemical and molecular-biological perturbations when allowed to develop alone or in small groups, than in large groups. Keeping per-embryo exposure constant, we find that increasing the number of exposed embryos in a cohort increases the rate of survival while incidence of defects decreases. This inter-embryo assistance effect is mediated by short-range diffusible signals and involves the P2 ATP receptor. Our data and computational model emphasize that morphogenesis is a collective phenomenon not only at the level of cells, but also of whole bodies, and that cohort size is a crucial variable in studies of ecotoxicology, teratogenesis, and developmental plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Tung
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Megan M Sperry
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Wesley Clawson
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Ananya Pavuluri
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Sydney Bulatao
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Michelle Yue
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ramses Martinez Flores
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Vaibhav P Pai
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Patrick McMillen
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Franz Kuchling
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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5
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DeAngelis MA, Ruder WC, LeDuc PR. An embedded microfluidic valve for dynamic control of cellular communication. APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS 2023; 123:244103. [PMID: 38094664 PMCID: PMC10715818 DOI: 10.1063/5.0172538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The communication between different cell populations is an important aspect of many natural phenomena that can be studied with microfluidics. Using microfluidic valves, these complex interactions can be studied with a higher level of control by placing a valve between physically separated populations. However, most current valve designs do not display the properties necessary for this type of system, such as providing variable flow rate when embedded inside a microfluidic device. While some valves have been shown to have such tunable behavior, they have not been used for dynamic, real-time outputs. We present an electric solenoid valve that can be fabricated completely outside of a cleanroom and placed into any microfluidic device to offer control of dynamic fluid flow rates and profiles. After characterizing the behavior of this valve under controlled test conditions, we developed a regression model to determine the required input electrical signal to provide the solenoid the ability to create a desired flow profile. With this model, we demonstrated that the valve could be controlled to replicate a desired, time-varying pattern for the interface position of a co-laminar fluid stream. Our approach can be performed by other investigators with their microfluidic devices to produce predictable, dynamic fluidic behavior. In addition to modulating fluid flows, this work will be impactful for controlling cellular communication between distinct populations or even chemical reactions occurring in microfluidic channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. DeAngelis
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
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6
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Christodoulou N, Skourides PA. Distinct spatiotemporal contribution of morphogenetic events and mechanical tissue coupling during Xenopus neural tube closure. Development 2022; 149:275604. [PMID: 35662330 PMCID: PMC9340557 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube closure (NTC) is a fundamental process during vertebrate development and is indispensable for the formation of the central nervous system. Here, using Xenopus laevis embryos, live imaging, single-cell tracking, optogenetics and loss-of-function experiments, we examine the roles of convergent extension and apical constriction, and define the role of the surface ectoderm during NTC. We show that NTC is a two-stage process with distinct spatiotemporal contributions of convergent extension and apical constriction at each stage. Convergent extension takes place during the first stage and is spatially restricted at the posterior tissue, whereas apical constriction occurs during the second stage throughout the neural plate. We also show that the surface ectoderm is mechanically coupled with the neural plate and its movement during NTC is driven by neural plate morphogenesis. Finally, we show that an increase in surface ectoderm resistive forces is detrimental for neural plate morphogenesis. Summary: Detailed characterization of the contribution of distinct morphogenetic processes and mechanical tissue coupling during neural tube closure, a process indispensable for central nervous system formation in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neophytos Christodoulou
- University of Cyprus Department of Biological Sciences , , P.O. Box 20537, 2109 Nicosia , Cyprus
| | - Paris A. Skourides
- University of Cyprus Department of Biological Sciences , , P.O. Box 20537, 2109 Nicosia , Cyprus
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7
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Frey N, Sönmez UM, Minden J, LeDuc P. Microfluidics for understanding model organisms. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3195. [PMID: 35680898 PMCID: PMC9184607 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30814-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
New microfluidic systems for whole organism analysis and experimentation are catalyzing biological breakthroughs across many fields, from human health to fundamental biology principles. This perspective discusses recent microfluidic tools to study intact model organisms to demonstrate the tremendous potential for these integrated approaches now and into the future. We describe these microsystems' technical features and highlight the unique advantages for precise manipulation in areas including immobilization, automated alignment, sorting, sensory, mechanical and chemical stimulation, and genetic and thermal perturbation. Our aim is to familiarize technologically focused researchers with microfluidics applications in biology research, while providing biologists an entrée to advanced microengineering techniques for model organisms. Building small-scale tools for biology research eliminates the need for time-consuming methods and enables novel experimental paradigms. Here, the authors discuss microfluidics' potential for manipulating or stimulating model organisms and identify barriers to making these tools accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nolan Frey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Utku M Sönmez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan Minden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Philip LeDuc
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Department of Computation Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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8
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Shiwarski DJ, Tashman JW, Tsamis A, Bliley JM, Blundon MA, Aranda-Michel E, Jallerat Q, Szymanski JM, McCartney BM, Feinberg AW. Fibronectin-based nanomechanical biosensors to map 3D surface strains in live cells and tissue. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5883. [PMID: 33208732 PMCID: PMC7675982 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19659-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical forces are integral to cellular migration, differentiation and tissue morphogenesis; however, it has proved challenging to directly measure strain at high spatial resolution with minimal perturbation in living sytems. Here, we fabricate, calibrate, and test a fibronectin (FN)-based nanomechanical biosensor (NMBS) that can be applied to the surface of cells and tissues to measure the magnitude, direction, and strain dynamics from subcellular to tissue length-scales. The NMBS is a fluorescently-labeled, ultra-thin FN lattice-mesh with spatial resolution tailored by adjusting the width and spacing of the lattice from 2-100 µm. Time-lapse 3D confocal imaging of the NMBS demonstrates 2D and 3D surface strain tracking during mechanical deformation of known materials and is validated with finite element modeling. Analysis of the NMBS applied to single cells, cell monolayers, and Drosophila ovarioles highlights the NMBS's ability to dynamically track microscopic tensile and compressive strains across diverse biological systems where forces guide structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Shiwarski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Joshua W Tashman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Alkiviadis Tsamis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Jaci M Bliley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Malachi A Blundon
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Edgar Aranda-Michel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Quentin Jallerat
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - John M Szymanski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Brooke M McCartney
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Adam W Feinberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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9
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Chu CW, Masak G, Yang J, Davidson LA. From biomechanics to mechanobiology: Xenopus provides direct access to the physical principles that shape the embryo. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 63:71-77. [PMID: 32563783 PMCID: PMC9972463 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Features of amphibian embryos that have served so well to elucidate the genetics of vertebrate development also enable detailed analysis of the physics that shape morphogenesis and regulate development. Biophysical tools are revealing how genes control mechanical properties of the embryo. The same tools that describe and control mechanical properties are being turned to reveal how dynamic mechanical information and feedback regulate biological programs of development. In this review we outline efforts to explore the various roles of mechanical cues in guiding cilia biology, axonal pathfinding, goblet cell regeneration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in neural crest, and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transitions in heart progenitors. These case studies reveal the power of Xenopus experimental embryology to expose pathways integrating mechanical cues with programs of development, organogenesis, and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Wen Chu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Geneva Masak
- Integrated Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Lance A Davidson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Integrative Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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10
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Leronni A, Bardella L, Dorfmann L, Pietak A, Levin M. On the coupling of mechanics with bioelectricity and its role in morphogenesis. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200177. [PMID: 32486953 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of endogenous bioelectricity in morphogenesis has recently been explored through the finite volume-based code BioElectric Tissue Simulation Engine. We extend this platform to electrostatic and osmotic forces due to bioelectrical ion fluxes, causing cell cluster deformation. We further account for mechanosensitive ion channels, which, gated by membrane tension, modulate ion fluxes and, ultimately, bioelectrical forces. We illustrate the potentialities of this combined model of actuation and sensing with reference to cancer progression, osmoregulation, symmetry breaking and long-range signalling. This suggests control strategies for the manipulation of cell networks in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Leronni
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - L Bardella
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - L Dorfmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - A Pietak
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - M Levin
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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11
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Chen P, Li S, Guo Y, Zeng X, Liu BF. A review on microfluidics manipulation of the extracellular chemical microenvironment and its emerging application to cell analysis. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1125:94-113. [PMID: 32674786 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.05.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal manipulation of extracellular chemical environments with simultaneous monitoring of cellular responses plays an essential role in exploring fundamental biological processes and expands our understanding of underlying mechanisms. Despite the rapid progress and promising successes in manipulation strategies, many challenges remain due to the small size of cells and the rapid diffusion of chemical molecules. Fortunately, emerging microfluidic technology has become a powerful approach for precisely controlling the extracellular chemical microenvironment, which benefits from its integration capacity, automation, and high-throughput capability, as well as its high resolution down to submicron. Here, we summarize recent advances in microfluidics manipulation of the extracellular chemical microenvironment, including the following aspects: i) Spatial manipulation of chemical microenvironments realized by convection flow-, diffusion-, and droplet-based microfluidics, and surface chemical modification; ii) Temporal manipulation of chemical microenvironments enabled by flow switching/shifting, moving/flowing cells across laminar flows, integrated microvalves/pumps, and droplet manipulation; iii) Spatiotemporal manipulation of chemical microenvironments implemented by a coupling strategy and open-space microfluidics; and iv) High-throughput manipulation of chemical microenvironments. Finally, we briefly present typical applications of the above-mentioned technical advances in cell-based analyses including cell migration, cell signaling, cell differentiation, multicellular analysis, and drug screening. We further discuss the future improvement of microfluidics manipulation of extracellular chemical microenvironments to fulfill the needs of biological and biomedical research and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Shunji Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yiran Guo
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xuemei Zeng
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Bi-Feng Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
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12
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Chemotactic Responses of Jurkat Cells in Microfluidic Flow-Free Gradient Chambers. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11040384. [PMID: 32260431 PMCID: PMC7231302 DOI: 10.3390/mi11040384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Gradients of soluble molecules coordinate cellular communication in a diverse range of multicellular systems. Chemokine-driven chemotaxis is a key orchestrator of cell movement during organ development, immune response and cancer progression. Chemotaxis assays capable of examining cell responses to different chemokines in the context of various extracellular matrices will be crucial to characterize directed cell motion in conditions which mimic whole tissue conditions. Here, a microfluidic device which can generate different chemokine patterns in flow-free gradient chambers while controlling surface extracellular matrix (ECM) to study chemotaxis either at the population level or at the single cell level with high resolution imaging is presented. The device is produced by combining additive manufacturing (AM) and soft lithography. Generation of concentration gradients in the device were simulated and experimentally validated. Then, stable gradients were applied to modulate chemotaxis and chemokinetic response of Jurkat cells as a model for T lymphocyte motility. Live imaging of the gradient chambers allowed to track and quantify Jurkat cell migration patterns. Using this system, it has been found that the strength of the chemotactic response of Jurkat cells to CXCL12 gradient was reduced by increasing surface fibronectin in a dose-dependent manner. The chemotaxis of the Jurkat cells was also found to be governed not only by the CXCL12 gradient but also by the average CXCL12 concentration. Distinct migratory behaviors in response to chemokine gradients in different contexts may be physiologically relevant for shaping the host immune response and may serve to optimize the targeting and accumulation of immune cells to the inflammation site. Our approach demonstrates the feasibility of using a flow-free gradient chamber for evaluating cross-regulation of cell motility by multiple factors in different biologic processes.
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13
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Shorr AZ, Sönmez UM, Minden JS, LeDuc PR. High-throughput mechanotransduction in Drosophila embryos with mesofluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:1141-1152. [PMID: 30778467 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc01055b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Developing embryos create complexity by expressing genes to coordinate movement which generates mechanical force. An emerging theory is that mechanical force can also serve as an input signal to regulate developmental gene expression. Experimental methods to apply mechanical stimulation to whole embryos have been limited, mainly to aspiration, indentation, or moving a coverslip; these approaches stimulate only a few embryos at a time and require manual alignment. A powerful approach for automation is microfluidic devices, which can precisely manipulate hundreds of samples. However, using microfluidics to apply mechanical stimulation has been limited to small cellular systems, with fewer applications for larger scale whole embryos. We developed a mesofluidic device that applies the precision and automation of microfluidics to the Drosophila embryo: high-throughput automatic alignment, immobilization, compression, real-time imaging, and recovery of hundreds of live embryos. We then use twist:eGFP embryos to show that the mechanical induction of twist depends on the dose and duration of compression. This device allows us to quantify responses to compression, map the distribution of ectopic twist, and measure embryo stiffness. For building mesofluidic devices, we describe modifications on ultra-thick photolithography, derive an analytical model that predicts the deflection of sidewalls, and discuss parametric calibration. This "mesomechanics" approach combines the high-throughput automation and precision of microfluidics with the biological relevance of live embryos to examine mechanotransduction. These analytical models facilitate the design of future devices to process multicellular organisms such as larvae, organoids, and mesoscale tissue samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardon Z Shorr
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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14
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Arnold TR, Shawky JH, Stephenson RE, Dinshaw KM, Higashi T, Huq F, Davidson LA, Miller AL. Anillin regulates epithelial cell mechanics by structuring the medial-apical actomyosin network. eLife 2019; 8:39065. [PMID: 30702429 PMCID: PMC6424563 DOI: 10.7554/elife.39065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular forces sculpt organisms during development, while misregulation of cellular mechanics can promote disease. Here, we investigate how the actomyosin scaffold protein anillin contributes to epithelial mechanics in Xenopus laevis embryos. Increased mechanosensitive recruitment of vinculin to cell-cell junctions when anillin is overexpressed suggested that anillin promotes junctional tension. However, junctional laser ablation unexpectedly showed that junctions recoil faster when anillin is depleted and slower when anillin is overexpressed. Unifying these findings, we demonstrate that anillin regulates medial-apical actomyosin. Medial-apical laser ablation supports the conclusion that that tensile forces are stored across the apical surface of epithelial cells, and anillin promotes the tensile forces stored in this network. Finally, we show that anillin's effects on cellular mechanics impact tissue-wide mechanics. These results reveal anillin as a key regulator of epithelial mechanics and lay the groundwork for future studies on how anillin may contribute to mechanical events in development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torey R Arnold
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Joseph H Shawky
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States.,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Rachel E Stephenson
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Kayla M Dinshaw
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Tomohito Higashi
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Farah Huq
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Lance A Davidson
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Ann L Miller
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
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15
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Tang VW. Cell-cell adhesion interface: orthogonal and parallel forces from contraction, protrusion, and retraction. F1000Res 2018; 7. [PMID: 30345009 PMCID: PMC6173117 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15860.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial lateral membrane plays a central role in the integration of intercellular signals and, by doing so, is a principal determinant in the emerging properties of epithelial tissues. Mechanical force, when applied to the lateral cell-cell interface, can modulate the strength of adhesion and influence intercellular dynamics. Yet the relationship between mechanical force and epithelial cell behavior is complex and not completely understood. This commentary aims to provide an investigative look at the usage of cellular forces at the epithelial cell-cell adhesion interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian W Tang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61801, USA
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16
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Shook DR, Kasprowicz EM, Davidson LA, Keller R. Large, long range tensile forces drive convergence during Xenopus blastopore closure and body axis elongation. eLife 2018; 7:e26944. [PMID: 29533180 PMCID: PMC5896886 DOI: 10.7554/elife.26944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Indirect evidence suggests that blastopore closure during gastrulation of anamniotes, including amphibians such as Xenopus laevis, depends on circumblastoporal convergence forces generated by the marginal zone (MZ), but direct evidence is lacking. We show that explanted MZs generate tensile convergence forces up to 1.5 μN during gastrulation and over 4 μN thereafter. These forces are generated by convergent thickening (CT) until the midgastrula and increasingly by convergent extension (CE) thereafter. Explants from ventralized embryos, which lack tissues expressing CE but close their blastopores, produce up to 2 μN of tensile force, showing that CT alone generates forces sufficient to close the blastopore. Uniaxial tensile stress relaxation assays show stiffening of mesodermal and ectodermal tissues around the onset of neurulation, potentially enhancing long-range transmission of convergence forces. These results illuminate the mechanobiology of early vertebrate morphogenic mechanisms, aid interpretation of phenotypes, and give insight into the evolution of blastopore closure mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Shook
- Department of BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | - Eric M Kasprowicz
- Department of Internal MedicineThomas Jefferson University HospitalPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Lance A Davidson
- Department of Computational and Systems BiologyUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghUnited States
| | - Raymond Keller
- Department of BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUnited States
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17
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Stooke-Vaughan GA, Davidson LA, Woolner S. Xenopus as a model for studies in mechanical stress and cell division. Genesis 2017; 55. [PMID: 28095623 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We exist in a physical world, and cells within biological tissues must respond appropriately to both environmental forces and forces generated within the tissue to ensure normal development and homeostasis. Cell division is required for normal tissue growth and maintenance, but both the direction and rate of cell division must be tightly controlled to avoid diseases of over-proliferation such as cancer. Recent studies have shown that mechanical cues can cause mitotic entry and orient the mitotic spindle, suggesting that physical force could play a role in patterning tissue growth. However, to fully understand how mechanics guides cells in vivo, it is necessary to assess the interaction of mechanical strain and cell division in a whole tissue context. In this mini-review we first summarise the body of work linking mechanics and cell division, before looking at the advantages that the Xenopus embryo can offer as a model organism for understanding: (1) the mechanical environment during embryogenesis, and (2) factors important for cell division. Finally, we introduce a novel method for applying a reproducible strain to Xenopus embryonic tissue and assessing subsequent cell divisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina A Stooke-Vaughan
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Lance A Davidson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213.,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213
| | - Sarah Woolner
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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18
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Jackson TR, Kim HY, Balakrishnan UL, Stuckenholz C, Davidson LA. Spatiotemporally Controlled Mechanical Cues Drive Progenitor Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition Enabling Proper Heart Formation and Function. Curr Biol 2017; 27:1326-1335. [PMID: 28434863 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
During early cardiogenesis, bilateral fields of mesenchymal heart progenitor cells (HPCs) move from the anterior lateral plate mesoderm to the ventral midline, undergoing a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) en route to forming a single epithelial sheet. Through tracking of tissue-level deformations in the heart-forming region (HFR) as well as movement trajectories and traction generation of individual HPCs, we find that the onset of MET correlates with a peak in mechanical stress within the HFR and changes in HPC migratory behaviors. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting actomyosin contractility reveal a temporally specific requirement of bulk tissue compliance to regulate heart development and MET. Targeting mutant constructs to modulate contractility and compliance in the underlying endoderm, we find that MET in HPCs can be accelerated in response to microenvironmental stiffening and can be inhibited by softening. To test whether MET in HPCs was responsive to purely physical mechanical cues, we mimicked a high-stress state by injecting an inert oil droplet to generate high strain in the HFR, demonstrating that exogenously applied stress was sufficient to drive MET. MET-induced defects in anatomy result in defined functional lesions in the larval heart, implicating mechanical signaling and MET in the etiology of congenital heart defects. From this integrated analysis of HPC polarity and mechanics, we propose that normal heart development requires bilateral HPCs to undergo a critical behavioral and phenotypic transition on their way to the ventral midline, and that this transition is driven in response to the changing mechanical properties of their endoderm substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Jackson
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Hye Young Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Uma L Balakrishnan
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Carsten Stuckenholz
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Lance A Davidson
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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19
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Suzuki M, Sato M, Koyama H, Hara Y, Hayashi K, Yasue N, Imamura H, Fujimori T, Nagai T, Campbell RE, Ueno N. Distinct intracellular Ca 2+ dynamics regulate apical constriction and differentially contribute to neural tube closure. Development 2017; 144:1307-1316. [PMID: 28219946 DOI: 10.1242/dev.141952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Early in the development of the central nervous system, progenitor cells undergo a shape change, called apical constriction, that triggers the neural plate to form a tubular structure. How apical constriction in the neural plate is controlled and how it contributes to tissue morphogenesis are not fully understood. In this study, we show that intracellular calcium ions (Ca2+) are required for Xenopus neural tube formation and that there are two types of Ca2+-concentration changes, a single-cell and a multicellular wave-like fluctuation, in the developing neural plate. Quantitative imaging analyses revealed that transient increases in Ca2+ concentration induced cortical F-actin remodeling, apical constriction and accelerations of the closing movement of the neural plate. We also show that extracellular ATP and N-cadherin (cdh2) participate in the Ca2+-induced apical constriction. Furthermore, our mathematical model suggests that the effect of Ca2+ fluctuations on tissue morphogenesis is independent of fluctuation frequency and that fluctuations affecting individual cells are more efficient than those at the multicellular level. We propose that distinct Ca2+ signaling patterns differentially modulate apical constriction for efficient epithelial folding and that this mechanism has a broad range of physiological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Suzuki
- Division of Morphogenesis, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan .,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, the Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan
| | - Masanao Sato
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, the Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan.,Division of Developmental Genetics, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan.,Department of Biodesign Research, Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Koyama
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, the Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan.,Division of Embryology, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Yusuke Hara
- Division of Morphogenesis, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, the Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan
| | - Kentaro Hayashi
- Division of Morphogenesis, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, the Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan
| | - Naoko Yasue
- Division of Morphogenesis, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Hiromi Imamura
- Department of Functional Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Fujimori
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, the Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan.,Division of Embryology, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Takeharu Nagai
- Department of Biomolecular Science and Engineering, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - Robert E Campbell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G2
| | - Naoto Ueno
- Division of Morphogenesis, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan .,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, the Graduate University of Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan
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20
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Keijzer F, Arnellos A. The animal sensorimotor organization: a challenge for the environmental complexity thesis. BIOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY 2017; 32:421-441. [PMID: 28713189 PMCID: PMC5491640 DOI: 10.1007/s10539-017-9565-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Godfrey-Smith's environmental complexity thesis (ECT) is most often applied to multicellular animals and the complexity of their macroscopic environments to explain how cognition evolved. We think that the ECT may be less suited to explain the origins of the animal bodily organization, including this organization's potentiality for dealing with complex macroscopic environments. We argue that acquiring the fundamental sensorimotor features of the animal body may be better explained as a consequence of dealing with internal bodily-rather than environmental complexity. To press and elucidate this option, we develop the notion of an animal sensorimotor organization (ASMO) that derives from an internal coordination account for the evolution of early nervous systems. The ASMO notion is a reply to the question how a collection of single cells can become integrated such that the resulting multicellular organization becomes sensitive to and can manipulate macroscopic features of both the animal body and its environment. In this account, epithelial contractile tissues play the central role in the organization behind complex animal bodies. In this paper, we relate the ASMO concept to recent work on epithelia, which provides empirical evidence that supports central assumptions behind the ASMO notion. Second, we discuss to what extent the notion applies to basic animal architectures, exemplified by sponges and jellyfish. We conclude that the features exhibited by the ASMO are plausibly explained by internal constraints acting on and within this multicellular organization, providing a challenge for the role the ECT plays in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Keijzer
- Department of Theoretical Philosophy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Argyris Arnellos
- Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
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21
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Warren KM, Islam MM, LeDuc PR, Steward R. 2D and 3D Mechanobiology in Human and Nonhuman Systems. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:21869-21882. [PMID: 27214883 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b12064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Mechanobiology involves the investigation of mechanical forces and their effect on the development, physiology, and pathology of biological systems. The human body has garnered much attention from many groups in the field, as mechanical forces have been shown to influence almost all aspects of human life ranging from breathing to cancer metastasis. Beyond being influential in human systems, mechanical forces have also been shown to impact nonhuman systems such as algae and zebrafish. Studies of nonhuman and human systems at the cellular level have primarily been done in two-dimensional (2D) environments, but most of these systems reside in three-dimensional (3D) environments. Furthermore, outcomes obtained from 3D studies are often quite different than those from 2D studies. We present here an overview of a select group of human and nonhuman systems in 2D and 3D environments. We also highlight mechanobiological approaches and their respective implications for human and nonhuman physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Warren
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Biology, and Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Md Mydul Islam
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida , Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
| | - Philip R LeDuc
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Biology, and Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Robert Steward
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida , Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
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22
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Maintenance of the Epithelial Barrier and Remodeling of Cell-Cell Junctions during Cytokinesis. Curr Biol 2016; 26:1829-42. [PMID: 27345163 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial integrity and barrier function must be maintained during the complex cell shape changes that occur during cytokinesis in vertebrate epithelial tissue. Here, we investigate how adherens junctions and bicellular and tricellular tight junctions are maintained and remodeled during cell division in the Xenopus laevis embryo. We find that epithelial barrier function is not disrupted during cytokinesis and is mediated by sustained tight junctions. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we demonstrate that adherens junction proteins are stabilized at the cleavage furrow by increased tension. We find that Vinculin is recruited to the adherens junction at the cleavage furrow, and that inhibiting recruitment of Vinculin by expressing a dominant-negative mutant increases the rate of furrow ingression. Furthermore, we show that cells neighboring the cleavage plane are pulled between the daughter cells, making a new interface between neighbors, and two new tricellular tight junctions flank the midbody following cytokinesis. Our data provide new insight into how epithelial integrity and barrier function are maintained throughout cytokinesis in vertebrate epithelial tissue.
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23
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Siedlik MJ, Varner VD, Nelson CM. Pushing, pulling, and squeezing our way to understanding mechanotransduction. Methods 2016; 94:4-12. [PMID: 26318086 PMCID: PMC4761538 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanotransduction is often described in the context of force-induced changes in molecular conformation, but molecular-scale mechanical stimuli arise in vivo in the context of complex, multicellular tissue structures. For this reason, we highlight and review experimental methods for investigating mechanotransduction across multiple length scales. We begin by discussing techniques that probe the response of individual molecules to applied force. We then move up in length scale to highlight techniques aimed at uncovering how cells transduce mechanical stimuli into biochemical activity. Finally, we discuss approaches for determining how these stimuli arise in multicellular structures. We expect that future work will combine techniques across these length scales to provide a more comprehensive understanding of mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Siedlik
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Victor D Varner
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Celeste M Nelson
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States.
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24
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Chung BL, Toth MJ, Kamaly N, Sei YJ, Becraft J, Mulder WJM, Fayad ZA, Farokhzad OC, Kim Y, Langer R. Nanomedicines for Endothelial Disorders. NANO TODAY 2015; 10:759-776. [PMID: 26955397 PMCID: PMC4778260 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2015.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The endothelium lines the internal surfaces of blood and lymphatic vessels and has a critical role in maintaining homeostasis. Endothelial dysfunction is involved in the pathology of many diseases and conditions, including disorders such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Given this common etiology in a range of diseases, medicines targeting an impaired endothelium can strengthen the arsenal of therapeutics. Nanomedicine - the application of nanotechnology to healthcare - presents novel opportunities and potential for the treatment of diseases associated with an impaired endothelium. This review discusses therapies currently available for the treatment of these disorders and highlights the application of nanomedicine for the therapy of these major disease complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bomy Lee Chung
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
| | - Michael J. Toth
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology (IEN), Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB), Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - Nazila Kamaly
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Biomaterials, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Yoshitaka J. Sei
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology (IEN), Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB), Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - Jacob Becraft
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
| | - Willem J. M. Mulder
- Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
| | - Zahi A. Fayad
- Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
| | - Omid C. Farokhzad
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Biomaterials, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
- King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - YongTae Kim
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology (IEN), Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB), Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - Robert Langer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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25
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Hazar M, Kim Y, Song J, LeDuc PR, Davidson LA, Messner WC. 3D bio-etching of a complex composite-like embryonic tissue. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:3293-9. [PMID: 26138309 PMCID: PMC4519418 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00530b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Morphogenesis involves a complex series of cell signaling, migration and differentiation events that are coordinated as tissues self-assemble during embryonic development. Collective cell movements such as those that occur during morphogenesis have typically been studied in 2D with single layers of cultured cells adhering to rigid substrates such as glass or plastic. In vivo, the intricacies of the 3D microenvironment and complex 3D responses are pivotal in the formation of functional tissues. To study such processes as collective cell movements within 3D multilayered tissues, we developed a microfluidic technique capable of producing complex 3D laminar multicellular structures. We call this technique "3D tissue-etching" because it is analogous to techniques used in the microelectromechanics (MEMS) field where complex 3D structures are built by successively removing material from a monolithic solid through subtractive manufacturing. We use a custom-designed microfluidic control system to deliver a range of tissue etching reagents (detergents, chelators, proteases, etc.) to specific regions of multilayered tissues. These tissues were previously isolated by microsurgical excision from embryos of the African claw-toed frog, Xenopus laevis. The ability to shape the 3D form of multicellular tissues and to control 3D stimulation will have a high impact on tissue engineering and regeneration applications in bioengineering and medicine as well as provide significant improvements in the synthesis of highly complex 3D integrated multicellular biosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melis Hazar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - YongTae Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, North avenue NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332 USA
| | - Jiho Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Philip R. LeDuc
- Departments of Bioengineering and Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, 5059-BST3, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA. ; Fax: +1-412-383-5819; Tel: +1-412-383-5820
| | - Lance A. Davidson
- Departments of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, and Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., 420 Scaife Hall, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. ; Fax: +1-412-268-3348; Tel: +1-412-268-2504
| | - William C. Messner
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, 419 Boston avenue, Medford, MA 02155 USA
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26
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Song J, Shawky JH, Kim Y, Hazar M, LeDuc PR, Sitti M, Davidson LA. Controlled surface topography regulates collective 3D migration by epithelial-mesenchymal composite embryonic tissues. Biomaterials 2015; 58:1-9. [PMID: 25933063 PMCID: PMC4437865 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Cells in tissues encounter a range of physical cues as they migrate. Probing single cell and collective migratory responses to physically defined three-dimensional (3D) microenvironments and the factors that modulate those responses are critical to understanding how tissue migration is regulated during development, regeneration, and cancer. One key physical factor that regulates cell migration is topography. Most studies on surface topography and cell mechanics have been carried out with single migratory cells, yet little is known about the spreading and motility response of 3D complex multi-cellular tissues to topographical cues. Here, we examine the response to complex topographical cues of microsurgically isolated tissue explants composed of epithelial and mesenchymal cell layers from naturally 3D organized embryos of the aquatic frog Xenopus laevis. We control topography using fabricated micropost arrays (MPAs) and investigate the collective 3D migration of these multi-cellular systems in these MPAs. We find that the topography regulates both collective and individual cell migration and that dense MPAs reduce but do not eliminate tissue spreading. By modulating cell size through the cell cycle inhibitor Mitomycin C or the spacing of the MPAs we uncover how 3D topographical cues disrupt collective cell migration. We find surface topography can direct both single cell motility and tissue spreading, altering tissue-scale processes that enable efficient conversion of single cell motility into collective movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiho Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Joseph H Shawky
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - YongTae Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Melis Hazar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Philip R LeDuc
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Metin Sitti
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Physical Intelligence, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Lance A Davidson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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