1
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Mierke CT. Extracellular Matrix Cues Regulate Mechanosensing and Mechanotransduction of Cancer Cells. Cells 2024; 13:96. [PMID: 38201302 PMCID: PMC10777970 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010096] [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: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular biophysical properties have particular implications for a wide spectrum of cellular behaviors and functions, including growth, motility, differentiation, apoptosis, gene expression, cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion, and signal transduction including mechanotransduction. Cells not only react to unambiguously mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM), but can occasionally manipulate the mechanical features of the matrix in parallel with biological characteristics, thus interfering with downstream matrix-based cues in both physiological and pathological processes. Bidirectional interactions between cells and (bio)materials in vitro can alter cell phenotype and mechanotransduction, as well as ECM structure, intentionally or unintentionally. Interactions between cell and matrix mechanics in vivo are of particular importance in a variety of diseases, including primarily cancer. Stiffness values between normal and cancerous tissue can range between 500 Pa (soft) and 48 kPa (stiff), respectively. Even the shear flow can increase from 0.1-1 dyn/cm2 (normal tissue) to 1-10 dyn/cm2 (cancerous tissue). There are currently many new areas of activity in tumor research on various biological length scales, which are highlighted in this review. Moreover, the complexity of interactions between ECM and cancer cells is reduced to common features of different tumors and the characteristics are highlighted to identify the main pathways of interaction. This all contributes to the standardization of mechanotransduction models and approaches, which, ultimately, increases the understanding of the complex interaction. Finally, both the in vitro and in vivo effects of this mechanics-biology pairing have key insights and implications for clinical practice in tumor treatment and, consequently, clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Biological Physics Division, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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2
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Barrasa-Ramos S, Dessalles CA, Hautefeuille M, Barakat AI. Mechanical regulation of the early stages of angiogenesis. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220360. [PMID: 36475392 PMCID: PMC9727679 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Favouring or thwarting the development of a vascular network is essential in fields as diverse as oncology, cardiovascular disease or tissue engineering. As a result, understanding and controlling angiogenesis has become a major scientific challenge. Mechanical factors play a fundamental role in angiogenesis and can potentially be exploited for optimizing the architecture of the resulting vascular network. Largely focusing on in vitro systems but also supported by some in vivo evidence, the aim of this Highlight Review is dual. First, we describe the current knowledge with particular focus on the effects of fluid and solid mechanical stimuli on the early stages of the angiogenic process, most notably the destabilization of existing vessels and the initiation and elongation of new vessels. Second, we explore inherent difficulties in the field and propose future perspectives on the use of in vitro and physics-based modelling to overcome these difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Barrasa-Ramos
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Claire A. Dessalles
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Mathieu Hautefeuille
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement (UMR7622), Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France,Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Abdul I. Barakat
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
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3
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Abdalrahman T, Checa S. On the role of mechanical signals on sprouting angiogenesis through computer modeling approaches. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2022; 21:1623-1640. [PMID: 36394779 PMCID: PMC9700567 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-022-01648-4] [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: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sprouting angiogenesis, the formation of new vessels from preexisting vasculature, is an essential process in the regeneration of new tissues as well as in the development of some diseases like cancer. Although early studies identified chemical signaling as the main driver of this process, many recent studies have shown a strong role of mechanical signals in the formation of new capillaries. Different types of mechanical signals (e.g., external forces, cell traction forces, and blood flow-induced shear forces) have been shown to play distinct roles in the process; however, their interplay remains still largely unknown. During the last decades, mathematical and computational modeling approaches have been developed to investigate and better understand the mechanisms behind mechanically driven angiogenesis. In this manuscript, we review computational models of angiogenesis with a focus on models investigating the role of mechanics on the process. Our aim is not to provide a detailed review on model methodology but to describe what we have learnt from these models. We classify models according to the mechanical signals being investigated and describe how models have looked into their role on the angiogenic process. We show that a better understanding of the mechanobiology of the angiogenic process will require the development of computer models that incorporate the interactions between the multiple mechanical signals and their effect on cellular responses, since they all seem to play a key in sprout patterning. In the end, we describe some of the remaining challenges of computational modeling of angiogenesis and discuss potential avenues for future research.
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Dessalles CA, Ramón-Lozano C, Babataheri A, Barakat AI. Luminal flow actuation generates coupled shear and strain in a microvessel-on-chip. Biofabrication 2021; 14. [PMID: 34592728 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac2baa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the microvasculature, blood flow-derived forces are key regulators of vascular structure and function. Consequently, the development of hydrogel-based microvessel-on-chip systems that strive to mimic thein vivocellular organization and mechanical environment has received great attention in recent years. However, despite intensive efforts, current microvessel-on-chip systems suffer from several limitations, most notably failure to produce physiologically relevant wall strain levels. In this study, a novel microvessel-on-chip based on the templating technique and using luminal flow actuation to generate physiologically relevant levels of wall shear stress and circumferential stretch is presented. Normal forces induced by the luminal pressure compress the surrounding soft collagen hydrogel, dilate the channel, and create large circumferential strain. The fluid pressure gradient in the system drives flow forward and generates realistic pulsatile wall shear stresses. Rigorous characterization of the system reveals the crucial role played by the poroelastic behavior of the hydrogel in determining the magnitudes of the wall shear stress and strain. The experimental measurements are combined with an analytical model of flow in both the lumen and the porous hydrogel to provide an exceptionally versatile user manual for an application-based choice of parameters in microvessels-on-chip. This unique strategy of flow actuation adds a dimension to the capabilities of microvessel-on-chip systems and provides a more general framework for improving hydrogel-basedin vitroengineered platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A Dessalles
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Clara Ramón-Lozano
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Avin Babataheri
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Abdul I Barakat
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
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5
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Mechanical Aspects of Angiogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194987. [PMID: 34638470 PMCID: PMC8508205 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The formation of new blood vessels from already existing ones is a process of high clinical relevance, since it is of great importance for both physiological and pathological processes. In regard to tumors, the process is crucial, since it ensures the supply with nutrients and the growth of the tumor. The influence of mechanical factors on this biological process is an emerging field. Until now, the shear force of the blood flow has been considered the main mechanical parameter during angiogenesis. This review article provides an overview of further mechanical cues, with particular focus on the surrounding extracellular matrix impacting the cell behavior and, thus, regulating angiogenesis. This underlines the enormous importance of the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix on cell biological processes and shows how changing the mechanics of the extracellular matrix could be used as a possible therapeutic approach in cancer therapy. Abstract Angiogenesis is of high clinical relevance as it plays a crucial role in physiological (e.g., tissue regeneration) and pathological processes (e.g., tumor growth). Besides chemical signals, such as VEGF, the relationship between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) can influence endothelial cell behavior during angiogenesis. Previously, in terms of the connection between angiogenesis and mechanical factors, researchers have focused on shear forces due to blood flow. However, it is becoming increasingly important to include the direct influence of the ECM on biological processes, such as angiogenesis. In this context, we focus on the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and the adhesion of cells to the ECM. Furthermore, we highlight the mechanical cues during the main stages of angiogenesis: cell migration, tip and stalk cells, and vessel stabilization. It becomes clear that the different stages of angiogenesis require various chemical and mechanical cues to be modulated by/modulate the stiffness of the ECM. Thus, changes of the ECM during tumor growth represent additional potential dysregulations of angiogenesis in addition to erroneous biochemical signals. This awareness could be the basis of therapeutic approaches to counteract specific processes in tumor angiogenesis.
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Dessalles CA, Leclech C, Castagnino A, Barakat AI. Integration of substrate- and flow-derived stresses in endothelial cell mechanobiology. Commun Biol 2021; 4:764. [PMID: 34155305 PMCID: PMC8217569 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02285-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) lining all blood vessels are subjected to large mechanical stresses that regulate their structure and function in health and disease. Here, we review EC responses to substrate-derived biophysical cues, namely topography, curvature, and stiffness, as well as to flow-derived stresses, notably shear stress, pressure, and tensile stresses. Because these mechanical cues in vivo are coupled and are exerted simultaneously on ECs, we also review the effects of multiple cues and describe burgeoning in vitro approaches for elucidating how ECs integrate and interpret various mechanical stimuli. We conclude by highlighting key open questions and upcoming challenges in the field of EC mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A Dessalles
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Claire Leclech
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Alessia Castagnino
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Abdul I Barakat
- LadHyX, CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France.
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7
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Pradhan S, Banda OA, Farino CJ, Sperduto JL, Keller KA, Taitano R, Slater JH. Biofabrication Strategies and Engineered In Vitro Systems for Vascular Mechanobiology. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e1901255. [PMID: 32100473 PMCID: PMC8579513 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201901255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The vascular system is integral for maintaining organ-specific functions and homeostasis. Dysregulation in vascular architecture and function can lead to various chronic or acute disorders. Investigation of the role of the vascular system in health and disease has been accelerated through the development of tissue-engineered constructs and microphysiological on-chip platforms. These in vitro systems permit studies of biochemical regulation of vascular networks and parenchymal tissue and provide mechanistic insights into the biophysical and hemodynamic forces acting in organ-specific niches. Detailed understanding of these forces and the mechanotransductory pathways involved is necessary to develop preventative and therapeutic strategies targeting the vascular system. This review describes vascular structure and function, the role of hemodynamic forces in maintaining vascular homeostasis, and measurement approaches for cell and tissue level mechanical properties influencing vascular phenomena. State-of-the-art techniques for fabricating in vitro microvascular systems, with varying degrees of biological and engineering complexity, are summarized. Finally, the role of vascular mechanobiology in organ-specific niches and pathophysiological states, and efforts to recapitulate these events using in vitro microphysiological systems, are explored. It is hoped that this review will help readers appreciate the important, but understudied, role of vascular-parenchymal mechanotransduction in health and disease toward developing mechanotherapeutics for treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Pradhan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Omar A. Banda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Cindy J. Farino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - John L. Sperduto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Keely A. Keller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Ryan Taitano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - John H. Slater
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, 201 DuPont Hall, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, 15 Innovation Way, Newark, DE 19711, USA
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8
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Daulagala AC, Yost J, Yeganegi A, Richardson WJ, Yost MJ, Kourtidis A. A Simple Method to Test Mechanical Strain on Epithelial Cell Monolayers Using a 3D-Printed Stretcher. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2367:235-247. [PMID: 32789778 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2020_314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
With the realization that mechanical forces mediate many biological processes and contribute to disease progression, researchers are focusing on developing new methods to understand the role of mechanotransduction in biological systems. Despite recent advances in stretching devices that analyze the effects of mechanical strain in vitro, there are still possibilities to develop new equipment. For example, many of these devices tend be expensive, whereas few have been designed to assess the effects of mechanical strain driven by the extracellular matrix (ECM) to epithelial cell monolayers and to cell-cell adhesion. In this chapter, we introduce a cost-efficient, user-friendly, 3D-printed stretching device that can be used to test the effects of mechanical strain on cultured epithelial cells. Evaluation of the device using speckle-tracking shows homogeneous strain distribution along the horizontal plane of membranes at 2.5% and 5% strains, supporting the reliability of the device. Since cell-cell junctions are mechanosensitive protein complexes, we hereby used this device to examine effects on cell-cell adhesion. For this, we used colon epithelial Caco2 cell monolayers that well-differentiate in culture and form mature adherens junctions. Subjecting Caco2 cells to 2.5% and 5% strain using our device resulted in significant reduction in the localization of the core adherens junction component E-cadherin at areas of cell-cell contact and its increased translocation to the cytoplasm, which in agreement with other methodologies showing that increased ECM-driven strain negatively affects cell-cell adhesion. In summary, we here present a new, cost-effective, homemade device that can be reliably used to examine effects of mechanical strain on epithelial cell monolayers and cell-cell adhesion, in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C Daulagala
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - John Yost
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | | | - Michael J Yost
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Antonis Kourtidis
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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9
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Makhija EP, Espinosa-Hoyos D, Jagielska A, Van Vliet KJ. Mechanical regulation of oligodendrocyte biology. Neurosci Lett 2019; 717:134673. [PMID: 31838017 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes (OL) are a subset of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) comprising the brain and spinal cord. The CNS environment is defined by complex biochemical and biophysical cues during development and response to injury or disease. In the last decade, significant progress has been made in understanding some of the key biophysical factors in the CNS that modulate OL biology, including their key role in myelination of neurons. Taken together, those studies offer translational implications for remyelination therapies, pharmacological research, identification of novel drug targets, and improvements in methods to generate human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and OLs from donor stem cells in vitro. This review summarizes current knowledge of how various physical and mechanical cues affect OL biology and its implications for disease, therapeutic approaches, and generation of human OPCs and OLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta P Makhija
- BioSystems & Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore 138602; Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, 138602, Singapore
| | - Daniela Espinosa-Hoyos
- BioSystems & Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore 138602; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
| | - Anna Jagielska
- BioSystems & Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore 138602; Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA.
| | - Krystyn J Van Vliet
- BioSystems & Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, Singapore 138602; Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology (SMART) CREATE, 138602, Singapore; Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA.
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Bernardi L, Giampietro C, Marina V, Genta M, Mazza E, Ferrari A. Adaptive reorientation of endothelial collectives in response to strain. Integr Biol (Camb) 2019; 10:527-538. [PMID: 30112523 DOI: 10.1039/c8ib00092a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Mature epithelial monolayers share the ability to coherently respond to external mechanical stimuli. Tissue remodeling requires cell shape changes and coordinated movements. Human endothelia provide an exquisite example of such emerging collective activities. As part of their function in maintaining body homeostasis under variable hemodynamic loadings, endothelial ensembles must dynamically adapt to wall shear stress and cyclic deformation. While the alignment of several types of cells, including fibroblasts, osteoblasts and epithelial tissues, in response to various flow conditions or wall shear stress levels has been described in detail, less is known about collective endothelial remodeling under pure wall deformation. Here, using a custom-developed bioreactor, we exposed mature human endothelia to two distinct physiological levels of cyclic loading, generating overlapping gradients of strain. Endothelial cells remodeled depending on the level of imposed strain yielding local variations of cell density. In particular, a collective cell orientation orthogonal to the main direction of strain was observed at low levels of wall deformation, while cells reoriented parallel to the main direction of strain at high levels of wall deformation. The tissue adaptation depended on the establishment of mature adherens junctions, which were reinforced by the polarized recruitment of the adaptor protein vinculin. The pivotal role of cell-to-cell junctions was confirmed by the biochemical inhibition of vascular endothelial cadherin homotypic contacts, which impaired the collective remodeling. Together, our data establish wall deformation as an independent determinant of endothelial architecture with direct implications in vascular physiopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bernardi
- ETH Zurich, Institute for Mechanical Systems, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
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11
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Harding IC, Mitra R, Mensah SA, Herman IM, Ebong EE. Pro-atherosclerotic disturbed flow disrupts caveolin-1 expression, localization, and function via glycocalyx degradation. J Transl Med 2018; 16:364. [PMID: 30563532 PMCID: PMC6299559 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-018-1721-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelial-dependent atherosclerosis develops in a non-random pattern in regions of vessel bending and bifurcations, where blood flow exhibits disturbed flow (DF) patterns. In contrast, uniform flow (UF), normal endothelium, and healthy vessel walls co-exist within straight vessels. In clarifying how flow protectively or atherogenically regulates endothelial cell behavior, involvement of the endothelial surface glycocalyx has been suggested due to reduced expression in regions of atherosclerosis development. Here, we hypothesized that pro-atherosclerotic endothelial dysfunction occurs as a result of DF-induced reduction in glycocalyx expression and subsequently impairs endothelial sensitivity to flow. Specifically, we propose that glycocalyx degradation can induce pro-atherosclerotic endothelial dysfunction through decreased caveolin-1 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and localization. METHODS We studied endothelial cells in atherosclerotic-prone DF and atherosclerotic-resistant UF conditions in parallel plate flow culture and in C57Bl/6 mice. The effects of flow conditioning on endothelial cell behavior were quantified using immunocytochemistry. The glycocalyx was fluorescently labeled for wheat germ agglutinin, which serves as a general glycocalyx label, and heparan sulfate, a major glycocalyx component. Additionally, mechanosensitivity was assessed by immunocytochemical fluorescence expression and function of caveolin-1, the protein that forms the mechanosignaling caveolar invaginations on the endothelial surface, total endothelial-type nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which synthesizes nitric oxide, and serine 1177 phosphorylated eNOS (eNOS-pS1177), which is the active form of eNOS. Caveolin function and eNOS expression and activation were correlated to glycocalyx expression. Heparinase III enzyme was used to degrade a major glycocalyx component, HS, to identify the role of the glycocalyx in caveoin-1 and eNOS-pS1177 regulation. RESULTS Results confirmed that DF reduces caveolin-1 expression and abolishes most of its subcellular localization preferences, when compared to the effect of UF. DF down-regulates caveolin-1 mechanosignaling, as indicated by its reduced colocalization with serine 1177 phosphorylated endothelial-type nitric oxide synthase (eNOS-pS1177), a vasoregulatory signaling molecule whose activity is regulated by its residence in caveolae. As expected, DF inhibited glycocalyx expression compared to UF. In the absence of heparan sulfate, a major glycocalyx component, UF-conditioned endothelial cells exhibited near DF-like caveolin-1 expression, localization, and colocalization with eNOS-pS1177. CONCLUSIONS This is the first demonstration of a flow-defined role of the glycocalyx in caveolae expression and function related to vasculoprotective endothelial mechanosensitivity that defends against atherosclerosis. The results suggest that a glycocalyx-based therapeutic targeted to areas of atherosclerosis development could prevent disease initiation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C Harding
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ronodeep Mitra
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Solomon A Mensah
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ira M Herman
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA, USA.,Center for Innovations in Wound Healing Research, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eno E Ebong
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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12
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Harrell CR, Simovic Markovic B, Fellabaum C, Arsenijevic A, Djonov V, Volarevic V. Molecular mechanisms underlying therapeutic potential of pericytes. J Biomed Sci 2018; 25:21. [PMID: 29519245 PMCID: PMC5844098 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-018-0423-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pericytes are multipotent cells present in every vascularized tissue in the body. Despite the fact that they are well-known for more than a century, pericytes are still representing cells with intriguing properties. This is mainly because of their heterogeneity in terms of definition, tissue distribution, origin, phenotype and multi-functional properties. The body of knowledge illustrates importance of pericytes in the regulation of homeostatic and healing processes in the body. MAIN BODY In this review, we summarized current knowledge regarding identification, isolation, ontogeny and functional characteristics of pericytes and described molecular mechanisms involved in the crosstalk between pericytes and endothelial or immune cells. We highlighted the role of pericytes in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, diabetes-related complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and erectile dysfunction), ischemic organ failure, pulmonary hypertension, Alzheimer disease, tumor growth and metastasis with the focus on their therapeutic potential in the regenerative medicine. The functions and capabilities of pericytes are impressive and, as yet, incompletely understood. Molecular mechanisms responsible for pericyte-mediated regulation of vascular stability, angiogenesis and blood flow are well described while their regenerative and immunomodulatory characteristics are still not completely revealed. Strong evidence for pericytes' participation in physiological, as well as in pathological conditions reveals a broad potential for their therapeutic use. Recently published results obtained in animal studies showed that transplantation of pericytes could positively influence the healing of bone, muscle and skin and could support revascularization. However, the differences in their phenotype and function as well as the lack of standardized procedure for their isolation and characterization limit their use in clinical trials. CONCLUSION Critical to further progress in clinical application of pericytes will be identification of tissue specific pericyte phenotype and function, validation and standardization of the procedure for their isolation that will enable establishment of precise clinical settings in which pericyte-based therapy will be efficiently applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Randall Harrell
- Regenerative Processing Plant, LLC, 34176 US Highway 19 N Palm Harbor, Palm Harbor, Florida USA
| | - Bojana Simovic Markovic
- Department of Microbiology and immunology, Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Kragujevac, Serbia, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 69 Svetozar Markovic Street, Kragujevac, 34000 Serbia
| | - Crissy Fellabaum
- Regenerative Processing Plant, LLC, 34176 US Highway 19 N Palm Harbor, Palm Harbor, Florida USA
| | - Aleksandar Arsenijevic
- Department of Microbiology and immunology, Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Kragujevac, Serbia, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 69 Svetozar Markovic Street, Kragujevac, 34000 Serbia
| | - Valentin Djonov
- University of Bern, Institute of Anatomy, Baltzerstrasse 2, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vladislav Volarevic
- Department of Microbiology and immunology, Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Kragujevac, Serbia, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 69 Svetozar Markovic Street, Kragujevac, 34000 Serbia
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13
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Makhija E, Jagielska A, Zhu L, Bost AC, Ong W, Chew SY, Shivashankar GV, Van Vliet KJ. Mechanical Strain Alters Cellular and Nuclear Dynamics at Early Stages of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:59. [PMID: 29559894 PMCID: PMC5845683 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical and physical stimuli including material stiffness and topography or applied mechanical strain have been demonstrated to modulate differentiation of glial progenitor and neural stem cells. Recent studies probing such mechanotransduction in oligodendrocytes have focused chiefly on the biomolecular components. However, the cell-level biophysical changes associated with such responses remain largely unknown. Here, we explored mechanotransduction in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) during the first 48 h of differentiation induction by quantifying the biophysical state in terms of nuclear dynamics, cytoskeleton organization, and cell migration. We compared these mechanophenotypic changes in OPCs exposed to both chemical cues (differentiation factors) and mechanical cues (static tensile strain of 10%) with those exposed to only those chemical cues. We observed that mechanical strain significantly hastened the dampening of nuclear fluctuations and decreased OPC migration, consistent with the progression of differentiation. Those biophysical changes were accompanied by increased production of the intracellular microtubule network. These observations provide insights into mechanisms by which mechanical strain of physiological magnitude could promote differentiation of progenitor cells to oligodendrocytes via inducing intracellular biophysical responses over hours to days post induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Makhija
- BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anna Jagielska
- BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Lena Zhu
- BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Alexander C Bost
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - William Ong
- NTU Institute for Health Technologies (Health Tech NTU), Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sing Y Chew
- BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore, Singapore.,School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - G V Shivashankar
- BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore, Singapore.,Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Krystyn J Van Vliet
- BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
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14
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Holle AW, Young JL, Van Vliet KJ, Kamm RD, Discher D, Janmey P, Spatz JP, Saif T. Cell-Extracellular Matrix Mechanobiology: Forceful Tools and Emerging Needs for Basic and Translational Research. NANO LETTERS 2018; 18:1-8. [PMID: 29178811 PMCID: PMC5842374 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b04982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular biophysical cues have a profound influence on a wide range of cell behaviors, including growth, motility, differentiation, apoptosis, gene expression, adhesion, and signal transduction. Cells not only respond to definitively mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM) but can also sometimes alter the mechanical properties of the matrix and hence influence subsequent matrix-based cues in both physiological and pathological processes. Interactions between cells and materials in vitro can modify cell phenotype and ECM structure, whether intentionally or inadvertently. Interactions between cell and matrix mechanics in vivo are of particular importance in a wide variety of disorders, including cancer, central nervous system injury, fibrotic diseases, and myocardial infarction. Both the in vitro and in vivo effects of this coupling between mechanics and biology hold important implications for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Holle
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research , Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg , 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jennifer L Young
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research , Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg , 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Krystyn J Van Vliet
- BioSystems & Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance in Research and Technology , Singapore
| | - Roger D Kamm
- BioSystems & Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance in Research and Technology , Singapore
| | | | | | - Joachim P Spatz
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research , Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg , 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Taher Saif
- Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 1206 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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15
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Liu FD, Pishesha N, Poon Z, Kaushik T, Van Vliet KJ. Material Viscoelastic Properties Modulate the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome for Applications in Hematopoietic Recovery. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2017; 3:3292-3306. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frances D. Liu
- Department
of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- BioSystems
and Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore−MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore 138602
| | - Novalia Pishesha
- Department
of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Zhiyong Poon
- BioSystems
and Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore−MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore 138602
| | - Tanwi Kaushik
- BioSystems
and Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore−MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore 138602
| | - Krystyn J. Van Vliet
- Department
of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- BioSystems
and Micromechanics (BioSyM) Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore−MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, CREATE, Singapore 138602
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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16
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Abstract
Wound healing is one of the most complex processes that our bodies must perform. While our ability to repair wounds is often taken for granted, conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or simply old age can significantly impair this process. With the incidence of all three predicted to continue growing into the foreseeable future, there is an increasing push to develop strategies that facilitate healing. Biomaterials are an attractive approach for modulating all aspects of repair, and have the potential to steer the healing process towards regeneration. In this review, we will cover recent advances in developing biomaterials that actively modulate the process of wound healing, and will provide insight into how biomaterials can be used to simultaneously rewire multiple phases of the repair process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Stejskalová
- Department of Bioengineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Benjamin D Almquist
- Department of Bioengineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
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17
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Jagielska A, Lowe AL, Makhija E, Wroblewska L, Guck J, Franklin RJM, Shivashankar GV, Van Vliet KJ. Mechanical Strain Promotes Oligodendrocyte Differentiation by Global Changes of Gene Expression. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:93. [PMID: 28473753 PMCID: PMC5397481 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC) to oligodendrocytes and subsequent axon myelination are critical steps in vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) development and regeneration. Growing evidence supports the significance of mechanical factors in oligodendrocyte biology. Here, we explore the effect of mechanical strains within physiological range on OPC proliferation and differentiation, and strain-associated changes in chromatin structure, epigenetics, and gene expression. Sustained tensile strain of 10-15% inhibited OPC proliferation and promoted differentiation into oligodendrocytes. This response to strain required specific interactions of OPCs with extracellular matrix ligands. Applied strain induced changes in nuclear shape, chromatin organization, and resulted in enhanced histone deacetylation, consistent with increased oligodendrocyte differentiation. This response was concurrent with increased mRNA levels of the epigenetic modifier histone deacetylase Hdac11. Inhibition of HDAC proteins eliminated the strain-mediated increase of OPC differentiation, demonstrating a role of HDACs in mechanotransduction of strain to chromatin. RNA sequencing revealed global changes in gene expression associated with strain. Specifically, expression of multiple genes associated with oligodendrocyte differentiation and axon-oligodendrocyte interactions was increased, including cell surface ligands (Ncam, ephrins), cyto- and nucleo-skeleton genes (Fyn, actinins, myosin, nesprin, Sun1), transcription factors (Sox10, Zfp191, Nkx2.2), and myelin genes (Cnp, Plp, Mag). These findings show how mechanical strain can be transmitted to the nucleus to promote oligodendrocyte differentiation, and identify the global landscape of signaling pathways involved in mechanotransduction. These data provide a source of potential new therapeutic avenues to enhance OPC differentiation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jagielska
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alexis L Lowe
- Department of Neuroscience, Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA, USA
| | - Ekta Makhija
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore
| | - Liliana Wroblewska
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jochen Guck
- Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität DresdenDresden, Germany
| | - Robin J M Franklin
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridge, UK
| | - G V Shivashankar
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore
| | - Krystyn J Van Vliet
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA, USA.,BioSystems and Micromechanics Inter-Disciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and TechnologySingapore, Singapore
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