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Campo H, Zha D, Pattarawat P, Colina J, Zhang D, Murphy A, Yoon J, Russo A, Rogers HB, Lee HC, Zhang J, Trotter K, Wagner S, Ingram A, Pavone ME, Dunne SF, Boots CE, Urbanek M, Xiao S, Burdette JE, Woodruff TK, Kim JJ. A new tissue-agnostic microfluidic device to model physiology and disease: the lattice platform. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4821-4833. [PMID: 37846545 PMCID: PMC11181516 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00378g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
To accurately phenocopy human biology in vitro, researchers have been reducing their dependence on standard, static two-dimensional (2D) cultures and instead are moving towards three-dimensional (3D) and/or multicellular culture techniques. While these culture innovations are becoming more commonplace, there is a growing body of research that illustrates the benefits and even necessity of recapitulating the dynamic flow of nutrients, gas, waste exchange and tissue interactions that occur in vivo. However, cost and engineering complexity are two main factors that hinder the adoption of these technologies and incorporation into standard laboratory workflows. We developed LATTICE, a plug-and-play microfluidic platform able to house up to eight large tissue or organ models that can be cultured individually or in an interconnected fashion. The functionality of the platform to model both healthy and diseased tissue states was demonstrated using 3D cultures of reproductive tissues including murine ovarian tissues and human fallopian tube explants (hFTE). When exogenously exposed to pathological doses of gonadotropins and androgens to mimic the endocrinology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), subsequent ovarian follicle development, hormone production and ovulation copied key features of this endocrinopathy. Further, hFTE cilia beating decreased significantly only when experiencing continuous media exchanges. We were then able to endogenously recreate this phenotype on the platform by dynamically co-culturing the PCOS ovary and hFTE. LATTICE was designed to be customizable with flexibility in 3D culture formats and can serve as a powerful automated tool to enable the study of tissue and cellular dynamics in health and disease in all fields of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Campo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Didi Zha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Pawat Pattarawat
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jose Colina
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Delong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Alina Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Julia Yoon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Angela Russo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Hunter B Rogers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Hoi Chang Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Jiyang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Katy Trotter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Sarah Wagner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Asia Ingram
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Mary Ellen Pavone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Sara Fernandez Dunne
- High-throughput Analysis Laboratory, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60628, USA
| | - Christina E Boots
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Margrit Urbanek
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Shuo Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Joanna E Burdette
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Teresa K Woodruff
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - J Julie Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Converse A, Zaniker EJ, Amargant F, Duncan FE. Recapitulating folliculogenesis and oogenesis outside the body: encapsulated in vitro follicle growth†. Biol Reprod 2023; 108:5-22. [PMID: 36136744 PMCID: PMC9843677 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Folliculogenesis is a tightly coordinated process essential for generating a fertilization-competent gamete while also producing gonadal hormones that sustain endocrine function. In vitro follicle growth systems have been critical to our understanding of key events in folliculogenesis, such as gonadotropin-independent and dependent growth, steroid hormone production, and oocyte growth and maturation (cytoplasmic and meiotic). Although there are several successful follicle culture strategies, the following protocol details an encapsulated in vitro follicle growth (eIVFG) system for use with mouse ovarian follicles. Encapsulated IVFG is performed with alginate hydrogels, which are biologically inert, maintains cell-to-cell interactions between granulosa cells and the oocyte, and preserves follicle architecture as found in the ovary. The system supports follicle growth, development, and differentiation from the early primary follicle to the antral follicle stage. Moreover, post-folliculogenesis events including meiotic maturation, ovulation, and luteinization are also supported. Importantly, the culture of secondary follicles has successfully resulted in viable pups after blastocyst transfer. This alginate-based eIVFG system is versatile and has broad applications as a tool for interrogating the fundamental biology of the ovarian follicle in a controlled manner, a screening platform for toxicity and bioactivity, and a potential fertility preservation method for endangered species as well as humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aubrey Converse
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illnois, USA
| | - Emily J Zaniker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illnois, USA
| | - Farners Amargant
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illnois, USA
| | - Francesca E Duncan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illnois, USA
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Babayev E, Xu M, Shea LD, Woodruff TK, Duncan FE. Follicle isolation methods reveal plasticity of granulosa cell steroidogenic capacity during mouse in vitro follicle growth. Mol Hum Reprod 2022; 28:6693628. [PMID: 36069625 PMCID: PMC9802420 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaac033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Follicles are the functional unit of the ovary and several methods have been developed to grow follicles ex vivo, which recapitulate key events of oogenesis and folliculogenesis. Enzymatic digestion protocols are often used to increase the yield of follicles from the ovary. However, the impact of these protocols on the outermost theca and granulosa cells, and thereby follicle function, is not well defined. To investigate the impact of enzymatic digestion on follicle function, we collected preantral follicles from CD1 mice either by enzymatic digestion (Enzy-FL) or mechanical isolation (Mech-FL) and compared follicle growth, steroidogenesis and cell differentiation within an encapsulated in vitro follicle growth system which maintains the 3D architecture of the oocyte and its surrounding somatic cells. Follicles were encapsulated in 0.5% alginate and cultured for 8 days. Compared with Enzy-FL, Mech-FL grew more rapidly and produced significantly higher levels of androstenedione, estradiol and progesterone. The expression of theca-interstitial cell marker genes, Cyp17a1, which encodes 17-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase and catalyzes the hydroxylation of pregnenolone and progesterone to 17-hydroxypregnenolone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and the conversion of these products into dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione, and Star, which encodes a transport protein essential for cholesterol entry into mitochondria, were also higher in Mech-FL than in Enzy-FL. Mech-FL maintained an intact theca-interstitial layer on the outer edge of the follicle that phenocopied in vivo patterns as confirmed by alkaline phosphatase staining, whereas theca-interstitial cells were absent from Enzy-FL from the onset of culture. Therefore, preservation of the theca cell layer at the onset of culture better supports follicle growth and function. Interestingly, granulosa cells in the outermost layers of Enzy-FL expressed CYP17A1 by Day 4 of culture while maintaining inhibin α-subunit expression and a cuboidal nucleus. Thus, in the absence of theca-interstitial cells, granulosa cells have the potential to differentiate into androgen-producing cells. This work may have implications for human follicle culture, where enzymatic isolation is required owing to the density of the ovarian cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lonnie D Shea
- Member of the Oncofertility Consortium, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA,Institute of Bionanotechnology in Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Teresa K Woodruff
- Correspondence address. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Lurie 10-109, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. E-mail: (F.E.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, 965 Wilson Road, Room A626B, East Lansing, MI 48824-1316, USA. E-mail: (T.K.W.)
| | - Francesca E Duncan
- Correspondence address. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Lurie 10-109, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. E-mail: (F.E.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, 965 Wilson Road, Room A626B, East Lansing, MI 48824-1316, USA. E-mail: (T.K.W.)
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Harrill AH, Samedy-Bates LA, Pawlyk AC, Ren Z. Advances in Maternal, Fetal, and Pediatric Safety and Precision Therapeutics Supported by Programs at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 62 Suppl 1:S9-S11. [PMID: 36106787 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alison H Harrill
- Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lesly-Anne Samedy-Bates
- Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Aaron C Pawlyk
- Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhaoxia Ren
- Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Bussies PL, Richards EG, Rotz SJ, Falcone T. Targeted cancer treatment and fertility: effect of immunotherapy and small molecule inhibitors on female reproduction. Reprod Biomed Online 2021; 44:81-92. [PMID: 34674940 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Targeted cancer therapy is rapidly evolving the landscape of personalized health care. Novel approaches to selectively impeding tumour growth carry significant potential to improve survival outcomes, particularly for reproductive-aged patients harbouring treatment refractory disease. Current agents fall within two classes: immunotherapy and small molecule inhibitors. These are collectively divided into the following subclasses: monoclonal antibodies; immunomodulators; adoptive cell therapy; treatment vaccines; kinase inhibitors; proteasome inhibitors; metalloproteinase and heat shock protein inhibitors; and promoters of apoptosis. The short- and long-term effects of these treatments on the female reproductive system are not well understood. As a result, clinicians are rendered unable to appropriately counsel women on downstream effects to their fertility. Data-driven consensus recommendations are desperately needed. This review aims to characterize the effect of targeted cancer therapy on the female hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis, direct ovarian function and conception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parker L Bussies
- Cleveland Clinic FoundNation, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cleveland OH, USA
| | - Elliott G Richards
- Cleveland Clinic FoundNation, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cleveland OH, USA
| | - Seth J Rotz
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Cleveland OH, USA
| | - Tommaso Falcone
- Cleveland Clinic FoundNation, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cleveland OH, USA.
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Jiang K, Zhang J, Huang Y, Wang Y, Xiao S, Hadden MK, Woodruff TK, Sun J. A platform utilizing Drosophila ovulation for nonhormonal contraceptive screening. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2026403118. [PMID: 34260376 PMCID: PMC8285897 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026403118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant unmet need for new contraceptive options for both women and men remains due to side-effect profiles, medical concerns, and the inconvenience of many currently available contraceptive products. Unfortunately, the development of novel nonsteroidal female contraceptive medicine has been stalled in the last couple of decades due to the lack of effective screening platforms. Drosophila utilizes conserved signaling pathways for follicle rupture, a final step in ovulation that is essential for female reproduction. Therefore, we explored the potential to use Drosophila as a model to screen compounds that could inhibit follicle rupture and be nonsteroidal contraceptive candidates. Using our ex vivo follicle rupture assay, we screened 1,172 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs and identified six drugs that could inhibit Drosophila follicle rupture in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, we characterized the molecular actions of these drugs in the inhibition of adrenergic signaling and follicle rupture. Furthermore, we validated that three of the four drugs consistently inhibited mouse follicle rupture in vitro and that two of them did not affect progesterone production. Finally, we showed that chlorpromazine, one of the candidate drugs, can significantly inhibit mouse follicle rupture in vivo. Our work suggests that Drosophila ovulation is a valuable platform for identifying lead compounds for nonsteroidal contraceptive development and highlights the potential of these FDA-approved drugs as novel nonsteroidal contraceptive agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kewa Jiang
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
| | - Jiyang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Yuping Huang
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
| | - Yingzheng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Shuo Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - M Kyle Hadden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
| | - Teresa K Woodruff
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Jianjun Sun
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269;
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
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