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Otte EA, Smith TN, Glass N, Wolvetang EJ, Cooper-White JJ. Exploring the cell interactome: deciphering relative impacts of cell-cell communication in cell co-culture using a novel microfluidic device. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:537-548. [PMID: 38168806 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00670k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The human body is made up of approximately 40 trillion cells in close contact, with the cellular density of individual tissues varying from 1 million to 1 billion cells per cubic centimetre. Interactions between different cell types (termed heterotypic) are thus common in vivo. Communication between cells can take the form of direct cell-cell contact mediated by plasma membrane proteins or through paracrine signalling mediated through the release, diffusion, and receipt of soluble factors. There is currently no systematic method to investigate the relative contributions of these mechanisms to cell behaviour. In this paper, we detail the conception, development and validation of a microfluidic device that allows cell-cell contact and paracrine signalling in defined areas and over a variety of biologically relevant length scales, referred to as the interactome-device or 'I-device'. Importantly, by intrinsic device design features, cells in different regions in the device are exposed to four different interaction types, including a) no heterotypic cell interaction, b) only paracrine signalling, c) only cell-cell direct contact, or d) both forms of interaction (paracrine and cell-cell direct contact) together. The device design was validated by both mathematical modelling and experiments. Perfused stem cell culture over the medium term and the formation of direct contact between cells in the culture chambers was confirmed. The I-device offers significant flexibility, being able to be applied to any combination of adherent cells to determine the relative contributions of different communication mechanisms to cellular outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen A Otte
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TE&M), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Manufacturing, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Taryn N Smith
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Nick Glass
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TE&M), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
- The UQ Centre in Stem Cell Ageing and Regenerative Engineering (StemCARE), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Ernst J Wolvetang
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TE&M), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
- The UQ Centre in Stem Cell Ageing and Regenerative Engineering (StemCARE), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Justin J Cooper-White
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TE&M), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
- The UQ Centre in Stem Cell Ageing and Regenerative Engineering (StemCARE), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Manufacturing, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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Silva DI, Santos BPD, Leng J, Oliveira H, Amédée J. Dorsal root ganglion neurons regulate the transcriptional and translational programs of osteoblast differentiation in a microfluidic platform. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:3209. [PMID: 29238079 PMCID: PMC5870602 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-017-0034-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Innervation by the sensory nervous system plays a key role in skeletal development and in orchestration of bone remodeling and regeneration. However, it is unclear how and in which bone cells can sensory nerves act to control these processes. Here, we show a microfluidic coculture system comprising dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that more faithfully represents the in vivo scenario of bone sensory innervation. We report that DRG neurons promote the osteogenic differentiation capacity of MSCs, by mediating the increase of alkaline phosphatase activity and the upregulation of osteoblast-specific genes. Furthermore, we show that DRG neurons have a positive impact on Cx43 levels in MSCs during osteoblastogenesis, especially at an early stage of this process. Conversely, we described a negative impact of DRG neurons on MSCs N-cadherin expression at a later stage. Finally, we demonstrate a cytoplasmic accumulation of β-catenin translocation into the nucleus, and subsequently Lymphoid Enhancer Binding Factor 1—responsive transcriptional activation of downstream genes in cocultured MSCs. Together, our study provides a robust body of evidence that the direct interaction of DRG neurons with MSCs in a bone-like microenvironment leads to an enhancement of osteoblast differentiation potential of MSCs. The osteogenic effect of DRG neurons on MSCs is mediated through the regulation of Cx43 and N-cadherin expression and activation of the canonical/β-catenin Wnt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Isabel Silva
- Tissue Bioengineering, University of Bordeaux, U1026, 33076, Bordeaux, France. .,Tissue Bioengineering, INSERM, U1026, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Bruno Paiva Dos Santos
- Tissue Bioengineering, University of Bordeaux, U1026, 33076, Bordeaux, France.,Tissue Bioengineering, INSERM, U1026, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jacques Leng
- University of Bordeaux, LOF, UMR5258, 33600, Pessac, France.,CNRS, LOF, UMR5258, 33600, Pessac, France.,Solvay, LOF, UMR5258, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Hugo Oliveira
- Tissue Bioengineering, University of Bordeaux, U1026, 33076, Bordeaux, France.,Tissue Bioengineering, INSERM, U1026, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Joëlle Amédée
- Tissue Bioengineering, University of Bordeaux, U1026, 33076, Bordeaux, France.,Tissue Bioengineering, INSERM, U1026, 33076, Bordeaux, France
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Li R, Xu J, Wong DSH, Li J, Zhao P, Bian L. Self-assembled N-cadherin mimetic peptide hydrogels promote the chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells through inhibition of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Biomaterials 2017; 145:33-43. [PMID: 28843065 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
N-cadherin, a transmembrane protein and major component of adherens junction, mediates cell-cell interactions and intracellular signaling that are important to the regulation of cell behaviors and organ development. Previous studies have identified mimetic peptides that possess similar bioactivity as that of N-cadherin, which promotes chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs); however, the molecular mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we combined the N-cadherin mimetic peptide (HAVDI) with the self-assembling KLD-12 peptide: the resultant peptide is capable of self-assembling into hydrogels functionalized with N-cadherin peptide in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37 °C. Encapsulation of hMSCs in these hydrogels showed enhanced expression of chondrogenic marker genes and deposition of cartilage specific extracellular matrix rich in proteoglycan and Type II Collagen compared to control hydrogels, with a scrambled-sequence peptide after 14 days of chondrogenic culture. Furthermore, western blot showed a significantly higher expression of active glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), which phosphorylates β-catenin and facilitates ubiquitin-mediated degradation, as well as a lower expression of β-catenin and LEF1 in the N-cadherin peptide hydrogels versus controls. Immunofluorescence staining revealed significantly less nuclear localization of β-catenin in N-cadherin mimetic peptide hydrogels. Our findings suggest that N-cadherin peptide hydrogels suppress canonical Wnt signaling in hMSCs by reducing β-catenin nuclear translocation and the associated transcriptional activity of β-catenin/LEF-1/TCF complex, thereby enhancing the chondrogenesis of hMSCs. Our biomimetic self-assembled peptide hydrogels can serve as a tailorable and versatile three-dimensional culture platform to investigate the effect of biofunctionalization on stem cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Jianbin Xu
- Biomedical Research Center and Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Zhejiang Province, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China; Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Dexter Siu Hong Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Jinming Li
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Pengchao Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Liming Bian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong; Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; China Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine Group (CORaMed), Hangzhou, PR China; Centre for Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
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Involvement of N-cadherin/β-catenin interaction in the micro/nanotopography induced indirect mechanotransduction. Biomaterials 2014; 35:6206-18. [PMID: 24818888 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.04.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Topographical modification at micro- and nanoscale is widely applied to enhance the tissue integration properties of biomaterials, but the underlying molecular mechanism is poorly understood. The biomaterial topography modulates cell functions via mechanotransduction of direct and indirect. We propose that N-cadherin may play a role in the topographically induced indirect mechanotransduction by regulating the β-catenin signaling. For confirmation, the cell functions, N-cadherin expression and β-catenin signaling activation of osteoblasts on titanium (Ti) surfaces with micro- or/and nanotopography are systemically compared with naive and N-cadherin down-regulating MC3T3-E1 cells. We find that the N-cadherin expression is reversely related to the intracellular β-catenin signaling and the N-cadherin/β-catenin signaling is modulated differentially by the micro- and nanotopography. The nanotopography significantly up-regulates the N-cadherin expression leading to lower β-catenin signaling activity and consequently depressed differentiation, whereas the microtopography down-regulates the N-cadherin expression resulting in enhanced β-catenin signaling and thus osteoblast differentiation. Artificial down-regulation of the N-cadherin expression can significantly up-regulate the β-catenin signaling and consequently enhance the osteoblast differentiation on all the Ti surfaces. The study for the first time clarifies the involvement of the N-cadherin/β-catenin interaction in the micro/nanotopography induced indirect mechanotransduction and provides a potentially new approach for biomaterial modification and biofunctionalization by down-regulating the cell N-cadherin expression to achieve improved clinical performance.
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