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Donzanti MJ, Mhatre O, Chernokal B, Renteria DC, Gleghorn JP. Stochastic to Deterministic: A straightforward approach to create serially perfusable multiscale capillary beds. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.03.592474. [PMID: 38766003 PMCID: PMC11100595 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.03.592474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Generation of in vitro tissue models with serially perfused hierarchical vasculature would allow greater control of fluid perfusion throughout the network and enable direct mechanistic investigation of vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and vascular remodeling. In this work, we have developed a method to produce a closed, serially perfused, multiscale vessel network embedded within an acellular hydrogel. We confirmed that the acellular and cellular gel-gel interface was functionally annealed without preventing or biasing cell migration and endothelial self-assembly. Multiscale connectivity of the vessel network was validated via high-resolution microscopy techniques to confirm anastomosis between self-assembled and patterned vessels. Lastly, using fluorescently labeled microspheres, the multiscale network was serially perfused to confirm patency and barrier function. Directional flow from inlet to outlet man-dated flow through the capillary bed. This method for producing closed, multiscale vascular networks was developed with the intention of straightforward fabrication and engineering techniques so as to be a low barrier to entry for researchers who wish to investigate mechanistic questions in vascular biology. This ease of use offers a facile extension of these methods for incorporation into organoid culture, organ-on-a-chip (OOC) models, and bioprinted tissues.
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Nelson KM, Ferrick BJ, Karimi H, Hatem CL, Gleghorn JP. A straightforward cell culture insert model to incorporate biochemical and biophysical stromal properties into transplacental transport studies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.19.590317. [PMID: 38712271 PMCID: PMC11071360 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.19.590317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The placental extracellular matrix (ECM) dynamically remodels over pregnancy and in disease. How these changes impact placental barrier function is poorly understood as there are limited in vitro models of the placenta with a modifiable stromal compartment to mechanistically investigate these extracellular factors. We developed a straightforward method to incorporate uniform hydrogels into standard cell culture inserts for transplacental transport studies. Methods Uniform polyacrylamide (PAA) gels were polymerized within cell culture inserts by (re)using the insert packaging to create a closed, controllable environmental chamber. PAA pre-polymer solution was added dropwise via a syringe to the cell culture insert and the atmosphere was purged with an inert gas. Transport and cell culture studies were conducted to validate the model. Results We successfully incorporated and ECM functionalized uniform PAA gels to cell culture inserts enable cell adhesion and monolayer formation. Imaging and analyte transport studies validated gel formation and expected mass transport results and successful cell studies confirmed cell viability, monolayer formation, and that the model could be used transplacental transport studies. Detailed methods and validation protocols are included. Discussion It is well appreciated that ECM biophysical and biochemical properties impact cell phenotype and cell signaling in many tissues including the placenta. The incorporation of a PAA gel within a cell culture insert enables independent study of placental ECM biophysical and biochemical properties in the context of transplacental transport. These straightforward and low-cost methods to build three dimensional cellular models are readily adoptable by the wider scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Nelson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713
| | - Bryan J Ferrick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713
| | - Hassan Karimi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713
| | - Christine L Hatem
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713
| | - Jason P Gleghorn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713
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Lindsey ML, Usselman CW, Ripplinger CM, Carter JR, DeLeon-Pennell KY. Sex as a biological variable for cardiovascular physiology. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H459-H469. [PMID: 38099847 PMCID: PMC11219053 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00727.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
There have been ongoing efforts by federal agencies and scientific communities since the early 1990s to incorporate sex and/or gender in all aspects of cardiovascular research. Scientific journals provide a critical function as change agents to influence transformation by encouraging submissions for topic areas, and by setting standards and expectations for articles submitted to the journal. As part of ongoing efforts to advance sex and gender in cardiovascular physiology research, the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology recently launched a call for papers on Considering Sex as a Biological Variable. This call was an overwhelming success, resulting in 78 articles published in this collection. This review summarizes the major themes of the collection, including Sex as a Biological Variable Within: Endothelial Cell and Vascular Physiology, Cardiovascular Immunity and Inflammation, Metabolism and Mitochondrial Energy, Extracellular Matrix Turnover and Fibrosis, Neurohormonal Signaling, and Cardiovascular Clinical and Epidemiology Assessments. Several articles also focused on establishing rigor and reproducibility of key physiological measurements involved in cardiovascular health and disease, as well as recommendations and considerations for study design. Combined, these articles summarize our current understanding of sex and gender influences on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology and provide insight into future directions needed to further expand our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merry L Lindsey
- School of Graduate Studies, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Research Service, Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Charlotte W Usselman
- Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Crystal M Ripplinger
- Department of Pharmacology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States
| | - Jason R Carter
- Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States
| | - Kristine Y DeLeon-Pennell
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- Research Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
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Kostyunina DS, Pakhomov NV, Jouida A, Dillon E, Baugh JA, McLoughlin P. Transcriptomics and proteomics revealed sex differences in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Physiol Genomics 2024; 56:194-220. [PMID: 38047313 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00051.2023] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Marked sexual dimorphism is displayed in the onset and progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Females more commonly develop pulmonary arterial hypertension, yet females with pulmonary arterial hypertension and other types of PH have better survival than males. Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells play a crucial role in pulmonary vascular remodeling and increased pulmonary vascular resistance in PH. Given this background, we hypothesized that there are sex differences in the pulmonary microvascular endothelium basally and in response to hypoxia that are independent of the sex hormone environment. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) from healthy male and female donors, cultured under physiological shear stress, were analyzed using RNA sequencing and label-free quantitative proteomics. Gene set enrichment analysis identified a number of sex-different pathways in both normoxia and hypoxia, including pathways that regulate cell proliferation. In vitro, the rate of proliferation in female HPMECs was lower than in male HPMECs, a finding that supports the omics results. Interestingly, thrombospondin-1, an inhibitor of proliferation, was more highly expressed in female cells than in male cells. These results demonstrate, for the first time, important differences between female and male HPMECs that persist in the absence of sex hormone differences and identify novel pathways for further investigation that may contribute to sexual dimorphism in pulmonary hypertensive diseases.NEW & NOTEWORTHY There is marked sexual dimorphism in the development and progression of pulmonary hypertension. We show differences in RNA and protein expression between female and male human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells grown under conditions of physiological shear stress, which identify sex-different cellular pathways both in normoxia and hypoxia. Importantly, these differences were detected in the absence of sex hormone differences. The pathways identified may provide novel targets for the development of sex-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria S Kostyunina
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nikolai V Pakhomov
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Amina Jouida
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eugene Dillon
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John A Baugh
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul McLoughlin
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Lingappan K, Olutoye OO, Cantu A, Cantu Gutierrez ME, Cortes-Santiago N, Hammond JD, Gilley J, Quintero JR, Li H, Polverino F, Gleghorn JP, Keswani SG. Molecular insights using spatial transcriptomics of the distal lung in congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2023; 325:L477-L486. [PMID: 37605849 PMCID: PMC10639013 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00154.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal pulmonary vascular development and function in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a significant factor leading to pulmonary hypertension. The lung is a very heterogenous organ and has marked cellular diversity that is differentially responsive to injury and therapeutic agents. Spatial transcriptomics provides the unmatched capability of discerning the differences in the transcriptional signature of these distinct cell subpopulations in the lung with regional specificity. We hypothesized that the distal lung parenchyma (selected as a region of interest) would show a distinct transcriptomic profile in the CDH lung compared with control (normal lung). We subjected lung sections obtained from male and female CDH and control neonates to spatial transcriptomics using the Nanostring GeoMx platform. Spatial transcriptomic analysis of the human CDH and control lung revealed key differences in the gene expression signature. Increased expression of alveolar epithelial-related genes (SFTPA1 and SFTPC) and angiogenesis-related genes (EPAS1 and FHL1) was seen in control lungs compared with CDH lungs. Response to vitamin A was enriched in the control lungs as opposed to abnormality of the coagulation cascade and TNF-alpha signaling via NF-kappa B in the CDH lung parenchyma. In male patients with CDH, higher expression of COL1A1 (ECM remodeling) and CD163 was seen. Increased type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AT-2) and arterial and lung capillary endothelial cells were seen in control lung samples compared with CDH lung samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first use of spatial transcriptomics in patients with CDH that identifies the contribution of different lung cellular subpopulations in CDH pathophysiology and highlights sex-specific differences.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first use of spatial transcriptomics in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) that identifies the contribution of different lung cellular subpopulations in CDH pathophysiology and highlights sex-specific differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krithika Lingappan
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Oluyinka O Olutoye
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Abiud Cantu
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Manuel Eliezer Cantu Gutierrez
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Nahir Cortes-Santiago
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - J D Hammond
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Jamie Gilley
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Joselyn Rojas Quintero
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Francesca Polverino
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Jason P Gleghorn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States
| | - Sundeep G Keswani
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States
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Cookson MW, Sherlock LG. Sex differences in endothelial cell function: an evolving explanation of sex differences in preterm infant pulmonary outcomes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2023; 324:H579-H580. [PMID: 36897750 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00718.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Cookson
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Heart Lung Center, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Laura G Sherlock
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Heart Lung Center, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States
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