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Blazeski A, Floryan MA, Zhang Y, Fajardo Ramírez OR, Meibalan E, Ortiz-Urbina J, Angelidakis E, Shelton SE, Kamm RD, García-Cardeña G. Engineering microvascular networks using a KLF2 reporter to probe flow-dependent endothelial cell function. Biomaterials 2024; 311:122686. [PMID: 38971122 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122686] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Shear stress generated by the flow of blood in the vasculature is a potent regulator of endothelial cell function and vascular structure. While vascular responses to flow are complex and context-dependent, endothelial cell signaling in response to shear stress induced by laminar flows is coordinated by the transcription factor KLF2. The flow-dependent expression of KLF2 in endothelial cells is associated with a quiescent, anti-inflammatory phenotype and has been well characterized in two-dimensional systems but has not been studied in three-dimensional in vitro systems. Here we develop engineered microvascular networks (MVNs) that incorporate a KLF2-based endothelial cell flow sensor within a microfluidic chip, apply continuous flow using an attached microfluidic pump, and study the effects of this flow on vascular structure and function. We found that application of flow to MVNs for 48 h resulted in increased expression of the KLF2 reporter, larger vessel diameters, and decreased vascular branching and resistance. Notably, vessel diameters after the application of flow were independent of initial MVN morphologies. Finally, we found that MVNs exposed to flow have improved vascular barrier function and decreased platelet adhesion. MVNs with KLF2-based flow sensors represent a novel, powerful tool for evaluating the structural and functional effects of flow on engineered three-dimensional vascular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Blazeski
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marie A Floryan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yuzhi Zhang
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Oscar R Fajardo Ramírez
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elamaran Meibalan
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesús Ortiz-Urbina
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emmanouil Angelidakis
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah E Shelton
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roger D Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Guillermo García-Cardeña
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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2
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Zhao Q, Pedroza A, Sharma D, Gu W, Dalal A, Weldy C, Jackson W, Li DY, Ryan Y, Nguyen T, Shad R, Palmisano BT, Monteiro JP, Worssam M, Berezwitz A, Iyer M, Shi H, Kundu R, Limbu L, Kim JB, Kundaje A, Fischbein M, Wirka R, Quertermous T, Cheng P. A cell and transcriptome atlas of the human arterial vasculature. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.10.612293. [PMID: 39314359 PMCID: PMC11419041 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.10.612293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Vascular beds show different propensities for different vascular pathologies, yet mechanisms explaining these fundamental differences remain unknown. We sought to build a transcriptomic, cellular, and spatial atlas of human arterial cells across multiple different arterial segments to understand this phenomenon. We found significant cell type-specific segmental heterogeneity. Determinants of arterial identity are predominantly encoded in fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, and their differentially expressed genes are particularly enriched for vascular disease-associated loci and genes. Adventitial fibroblast-specific heterogeneity in gene expression coincides with numerous vascular disease risk genes, suggesting a previously unrecognized role for this cell type in disease risk. Adult arterial cells from different segments cluster not by anatomical proximity but by embryonic origin, with differentially regulated genes heavily influenced by developmental master regulators. Non-coding transcriptomes across arterial cells contain extensive variation in lnc-RNAs expressed in cell type- and segment-specific patterns, rivaling heterogeneity in protein coding transcriptomes, and show enrichment for non-coding genetic signals for vascular diseases.
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3
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X S, Aitken C, Mehta V, Tardajos-Ayllon B, Serbanovic-Canic J, Zhu J, Miao B, Tzima E, Evans P, Fang Y, Schwartz MA. Controversy in mechanotransduction - the role of endothelial cell-cell junctions in fluid shear stress sensing. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs262348. [PMID: 39143856 PMCID: PMC11423816 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.262348] [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: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Fluid shear stress (FSS) from blood flow, sensed by the vascular endothelial cells (ECs) that line all blood vessels, regulates vascular development during embryogenesis, controls adult vascular physiology and determines the location of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Although a number of papers have reported a crucial role for cell-cell adhesions or adhesion receptors in these processes, a recent publication has challenged this paradigm, presenting evidence that ECs can very rapidly align in fluid flow as single cells without cell-cell contacts. To address this controversy, four independent laboratories assessed EC alignment in fluid flow across a range of EC cell types. These studies demonstrate a strict requirement for cell-cell contact in shear stress sensing over timescales consistent with previous literature and inconsistent with the newly published data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaka X
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Claire Aitken
- Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Vedanta Mehta
- Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Blanca Tardajos-Ayllon
- Centre for Biochemical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | | | - Jiayu Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Biological Sciences Division, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Bernadette Miao
- Department of Medicine, Biological Sciences Division, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ellie Tzima
- Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Paul Evans
- Centre for Biochemical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Yun Fang
- Department of Medicine, Biological Sciences Division, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Martin A Schwartz
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine) and Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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4
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Kang S, Chen EC, Cifuentes H, Co JY, Cole G, Graham J, Hsia R, Kiyota T, Klein JA, Kroll KT, Nieves Lopez LM, Norona LM, Peiris H, Potla R, Romero-Lopez M, Roth JG, Tseng M, Fullerton AM, Homan KA. Complex in vitromodels positioned for impact to drug testing in pharma: a review. Biofabrication 2024; 16:042006. [PMID: 39189069 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad6933] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Recent years have seen the creation and popularization of various complexin vitromodels (CIVMs), such as organoids and organs-on-chip, as a technology with the potential to reduce animal usage in pharma while also enhancing our ability to create safe and efficacious drugs for patients. Public awareness of CIVMs has increased, in part, due to the recent passage of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0. This visibility is expected to spur deeper investment in and adoption of such models. Thus, end-users and model developers alike require a framework to both understand the readiness of current models to enter the drug development process, and to assess upcoming models for the same. This review presents such a framework for model selection based on comparative -omics data (which we term model-omics), and metrics for qualification of specific test assays that a model may support that we term context-of-use (COU) assays. We surveyed existing healthy tissue models and assays for ten drug development-critical organs of the body, and provide evaluations of readiness and suggestions for improving model-omics and COU assays for each. In whole, this review comes from a pharma perspective, and seeks to provide an evaluation of where CIVMs are poised for maximum impact in the drug development process, and a roadmap for realizing that potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serah Kang
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Eugene C Chen
- Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Helen Cifuentes
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Julia Y Co
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Gabrielle Cole
- Investigative Toxicology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Jessica Graham
- Product Quality & Occupational Toxicology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of Americaica
| | - Rebecca Hsia
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Tomomi Kiyota
- Investigative Toxicology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Jessica A Klein
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Katharina T Kroll
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Lenitza M Nieves Lopez
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Leah M Norona
- Investigative Toxicology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Heshan Peiris
- Human Genetics, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Ratnakar Potla
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Monica Romero-Lopez
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Julien G Roth
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Min Tseng
- Investigative Toxicology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Aaron M Fullerton
- Investigative Toxicology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
| | - Kimberly A Homan
- Complex in vitro Systems Group, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States of America
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5
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Ning L, Zanella S, Tomov ML, Amoli MS, Jin L, Hwang B, Saadeh M, Chen H, Neelakantan S, Dasi LP, Avazmohammadi R, Mahmoudi M, Bauser‐Heaton HD, Serpooshan V. Targeted Rapamycin Delivery via Magnetic Nanoparticles to Address Stenosis in a 3D Bioprinted in Vitro Model of Pulmonary Veins. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400476. [PMID: 38696618 PMCID: PMC11234432 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Vascular cell overgrowth and lumen size reduction in pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) can result in elevated PV pressure, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac failure, and death. Administration of chemotherapies such as rapamycin have shown promise by inhibiting the vascular cell proliferation; yet clinical success is limited due to complications such as restenosis and off-target effects. The lack of in vitro models to recapitulate the complex pathophysiology of PVS has hindered the identification of disease mechanisms and therapies. This study integrated 3D bioprinting, functional nanoparticles, and perfusion bioreactors to develop a novel in vitro model of PVS. Bioprinted bifurcated PV constructs are seeded with endothelial cells (ECs) and perfused, demonstrating the formation of a uniform and viable endothelium. Computational modeling identified the bifurcation point at high risk of EC overgrowth. Application of an external magnetic field enabled targeting of the rapamycin-loaded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles at the bifurcation site, leading to a significant reduction in EC proliferation with no adverse side effects. These results establish a 3D bioprinted in vitro model to study PV homeostasis and diseases, offering the potential for increased throughput, tunability, and patient specificity, to test new or more effective therapies for PVS and other vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Ning
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringCleveland State UniversityClevelandOH44115USA
| | - Stefano Zanella
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Martin L. Tomov
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Mehdi Salar Amoli
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Linqi Jin
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Boeun Hwang
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Maher Saadeh
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Huang Chen
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Sunder Neelakantan
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX77843USA
| | - Lakshmi Prasad Dasi
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Reza Avazmohammadi
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX77843USA
- J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical EngineeringTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX77840USA
| | - Morteza Mahmoudi
- Department of Radiology and Precision Health ProgramMichigan State UniversityEast LandingMI48824USA
| | - Holly D. Bauser‐Heaton
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
- Department of PediatricsEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGA30322USA
- Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGA30322USA
- Sibley Heart Center at Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Vahid Serpooshan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30322USA
- Department of PediatricsEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGA30322USA
- Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGA30322USA
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6
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Singh A, Bhatt KS, Nguyen HC, Frisbee JC, Singh KK. Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6180. [PMID: 38892367 PMCID: PMC11173124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116180] [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: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Under different pathophysiological conditions, endothelial cells lose endothelial phenotype and gain mesenchymal cell-like phenotype via a process known as endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). At the molecular level, endothelial cells lose the expression of endothelial cell-specific markers such as CD31/platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule, von Willebrand factor, and vascular-endothelial cadherin and gain the expression of mesenchymal cell markers such as α-smooth muscle actin, N-cadherin, vimentin, fibroblast specific protein-1, and collagens. EndMT is induced by numerous different pathways triggered and modulated by multiple different and often redundant mechanisms in a context-dependent manner depending on the pathophysiological status of the cell. EndMT plays an essential role in embryonic development, particularly in atrioventricular valve development; however, EndMT is also implicated in the pathogenesis of several genetically determined and acquired diseases, including malignant, cardiovascular, inflammatory, and fibrotic disorders. Among cardiovascular diseases, aberrant EndMT is reported in atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, valvular disease, fibroelastosis, and cardiac fibrosis. Accordingly, understanding the mechanisms behind the cause and/or effect of EndMT to eventually target EndMT appears to be a promising strategy for treating aberrant EndMT-associated diseases. However, this approach is limited by a lack of precise functional and molecular pathways, causes and/or effects, and a lack of robust animal models and human data about EndMT in different diseases. Here, we review different mechanisms in EndMT and the role of EndMT in various cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Singh
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
| | - Kriti S. Bhatt
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
| | - Hien C. Nguyen
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Jefferson C. Frisbee
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
| | - Krishna K. Singh
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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7
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Abdelilah-Seyfried S, Ola R. Shear stress and pathophysiological PI3K involvement in vascular malformations. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e172843. [PMID: 38747293 PMCID: PMC11093608 DOI: 10.1172/jci172843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Molecular characterization of vascular anomalies has revealed that affected endothelial cells (ECs) harbor gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in the gene encoding the catalytic α subunit of PI3Kα (PIK3CA). These PIK3CA mutations are known to cause solid cancers when occurring in other tissues. PIK3CA-related vascular anomalies, or "PIKopathies," range from simple, i.e., restricted to a particular form of malformation, to complex, i.e., presenting with a range of hyperplasia phenotypes, including the PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum. Interestingly, development of PIKopathies is affected by fluid shear stress (FSS), a physiological stimulus caused by blood or lymph flow. These findings implicate PI3K in mediating physiological EC responses to FSS conditions characteristic of lymphatic and capillary vessel beds. Consistent with this hypothesis, increased PI3K signaling also contributes to cerebral cavernous malformations, a vascular disorder that affects low-perfused brain venous capillaries. Because the GOF activity of PI3K and its signaling partners are excellent drug targets, understanding PIK3CA's role in the development of vascular anomalies may inform therapeutic strategies to normalize EC responses in the diseased state. This Review focuses on PIK3CA's role in mediating EC responses to FSS and discusses current understanding of PIK3CA dysregulation in a range of vascular anomalies that particularly affect low-perfused regions of the vasculature. We also discuss recent surprising findings linking increased PI3K signaling to fast-flow arteriovenous malformations in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasias.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roxana Ola
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim, European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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8
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Chandurkar MK, Mittal N, Royer-Weeden SP, Lehmann SD, Michels EB, Haarman SE, Severance SA, Rho Y, Han SJ. Transient low shear-stress preconditioning influences long-term endothelial traction and alignment under high shear flow. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H1180-H1192. [PMID: 38457352 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00067.2024] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) within the vascular system encounter fluid shear stress (FSS). High, laminar FSS promotes vasodilation and anti-inflammatory responses, whereas low or disturbed FSS induces dysfunction and inflammation. However, the adaptation of endothelial cells (ECs) to dynamically changing FSS patterns remains underexplored. Here, by combining traction force microscopy with a custom flow chamber, we examined human umbilical vein endothelial cells adapting their traction during transitions from short-term low shear to long-term high shear stress. We discovered that the initial low FSS elevates the traction by only half of the amount in response to direct high FSS even after flow changes to high FSS. However, in the long term under high FSS, the flow started with low FSS triggers a substantial second rise in traction for over 10 h. In contrast, the flow started directly with high FSS results in a quick traction surge followed by a huge reduction below the baseline traction in <30 min. Importantly, we find that the orientation of traction vectors is steered by initial shear exposure. Using Granger causality analysis, we show that the traction that aligns in the flow direction under direct high FSS functionally causes cell alignment toward the flow direction. However, EC traction that orients perpendicular to the flow that starts with temporary low FSS functionally causes cell orientation perpendicular to the flow. Taken together, our findings elucidate the significant influence of initial short-term low FSS on lasting changes in endothelial traction that induces EC alignment.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In our study, we uncover that preconditioning with low shear stress yields enduring impacts on endothelial cell traction and orientation, persisting even after transitioning to high-shear conditions. Using Granger causality analysis, we demonstrate a functional link between the direction of cell traction and subsequent cellular alignment across varying shear environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohanish K Chandurkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Nikhil Mittal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Shaina P Royer-Weeden
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Steven D Lehmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Etienne B Michels
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Samuel E Haarman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Scott A Severance
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Yeonwoo Rho
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Sangyoon J Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
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9
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Duan X, Liu R, Xi Y, Tian Z. The mechanisms of exercise improving cardiovascular function by stimulating Piezo1 and TRP ion channels: a systemic review. Mol Cell Biochem 2024:10.1007/s11010-024-05000-5. [PMID: 38625513 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-024-05000-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Mechanosensitive ion channels are widely distributed in the heart, lung, bladder and other tissues, and plays an important role in exercise-induced cardiovascular function promotion. By reviewing the PubMed databases, the results were summarized using the terms "Exercise/Sport", "Piezo1", "Transient receptor potential (TRP)" and "Cardiovascular" as the keywords, 124-related papers screened were sorted and reviewed. The results showed that: (1) Piezo1 and TRP channels play an important role in regulating blood pressure and the development of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cardiac fibrosis; (2) Exercise promotes cardiac health, inhibits the development of pathological heart to heart failure, regulating the changes in the characterization of Piezo1 and TRP channels; (3) Piezo1 activates downstream signaling pathways with very broad pathways, such as AKT/eNOS, NF-κB, p38MAPK and HIPPO-YAP signaling pathways. Piezo1 and Irisin regulate nuclear localization of YAP and are hypothesized to act synergistically to regulate tissue mechanical properties of the cardiovascular system and (4) The cardioprotective effects of exercise through the TRP family are mostly accomplished through Ca2+ and involve many signaling pathways. TRP channels exert their important cardioprotective effects by reducing the TRPC3-Nox2 complex and mediating Irisin-induced Ca2+ influx through TRPV4. It is proposed that exercise stimulates the mechanosensitive cation channel Piezo1 and TRP channels, which exerts cardioprotective effects. The activation of Piezo1 and TRP channels and their downstream targets to exert cardioprotective function by exercise may provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and the rehabilitation of clinical patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyan Duan
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Renhan Liu
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Yue Xi
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China.
| | - Zhenjun Tian
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
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10
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Gunasekera S, de Silva C, Ng O, Thomas S, Varcoe R, Barber T. Stenosis to stented: decrease in flow disturbances following stent implantation of a diseased arteriovenous fistula. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2024; 23:453-468. [PMID: 38063956 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-023-01784-5] [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: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is commonly faced with stenosis at the juxta-anastomotic (JXA) region of the vein. Implantation of a flexible nitinol stent across the stenosed JXA has led to the retention of functioning AVFs leading to the resulting AVF geometry being distinctly altered, thereby affecting the haemodynamic environment within it. In this study, large eddy simulations of the flow field within a patient-specific AVF geometry before and after stent implantation were conducted to detail the change in flow features. Although the diseased AVF had much lower flow rates, adverse flow features, such as recirculation zones and swirling flow at the anastomosis, and jet flow at the stenosis site were present. Larger velocity fluctuations (leading to higher turbulent kinetic energy) stemming from these flow features were apparent in the diseased AVF compared to the stented AVF. The unsteadiness at the stenosis created large regions of wall shear stress (WSS) fluctuations downstream of the stenosis site that were not as apparent in the stented AVF geometry. The larger pressure drop across the diseased vein, compared to the stented vein, was primarily caused by the constriction at the stenosis, potentially causing the lower flow rate. Furthermore, the WSS fluctuations in the diseased AVF could lead to further disease progression downstream of the stenosis. The change in bulk flow unsteadiness, pressure drop, and WSS behaviour confirms that the haemodynamic environment of the diseased AVF has substantially improved following the flexible stent implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjiv Gunasekera
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Charitha de Silva
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Olivia Ng
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Shannon Thomas
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Ramon Varcoe
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Tracie Barber
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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11
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De Nisco G, Hartman EM, Torta E, Daemen J, Chiastra C, Gallo D, Morbiducci U, Wentzel JJ. Predicting Lipid-Rich Plaque Progression in Coronary Arteries Using Multimodal Imaging and Wall Shear Stress Signatures. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:976-986. [PMID: 38328935 PMCID: PMC10965126 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320337] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plaque composition and wall shear stress (WSS) magnitude act as well-established players in coronary plaque progression. However, WSS magnitude per se does not completely capture the mechanical stimulus to which the endothelium is subjected, since endothelial cells experience changes in the WSS spatiotemporal configuration on the luminal surface. This study explores WSS profile and lipid content signatures of plaque progression to identify novel biomarkers of coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with acute coronary syndrome underwent coronary computed tomography angiography, near-infrared spectroscopy intravascular ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography of at least 1 nonculprit vessel at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Baseline coronary artery geometries were reconstructed from intravascular ultrasound and coronary computed tomography angiography and combined with flow information to perform computational fluid dynamics simulations to assess the time-averaged WSS magnitude (TAWSS) and the variability in the contraction/expansion action exerted by WSS on the endothelium, quantifiable in terms of topological shear variation index (TSVI). Plaque progression was measured as intravascular ultrasound-derived percentage plaque atheroma volume change at 1-year follow-up. Plaque composition information was extracted from near-infrared spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography. RESULTS Exposure to high TSVI and low TAWSS was associated with higher plaque progression (4.00±0.69% and 3.60±0.62%, respectively). Plaque composition acted synergistically with TSVI or TAWSS, resulting in the highest plaque progression (≥5.90%) at locations where lipid-rich plaque is exposed to high TSVI or low TAWSS. CONCLUSIONS Luminal exposure to high TSVI, solely or combined with a lipid-rich plaque phenotype, is associated with enhanced plaque progression at 1-year follow-up. Where plaque progression occurred, low TAWSS was also observed. These findings suggest TSVI, in addition to low TAWSS, as a potential biomechanical predictor for plaque progression, showing promise for clinical translation to improve patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe De Nisco
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Eline M.J. Hartman
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (E.M.J.H., J.D., J.J.W.)
| | - Elena Torta
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Joost Daemen
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (E.M.J.H., J.D., J.J.W.)
| | - Claudio Chiastra
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Diego Gallo
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Umberto Morbiducci
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Jolanda J. Wentzel
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (E.M.J.H., J.D., J.J.W.)
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12
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Kwak D, Im Y, Nam H, Nam U, Kim S, Kim W, Kim HJ, Park J, Jeon JS. Analyzing the effects of helical flow in blood vessels using acoustofluidic-based dynamic flow generator. Acta Biomater 2024; 177:216-227. [PMID: 38253303 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.01.021] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The effects of helical flow in a blood vessel are investigated in a dynamic flow generator using surface acoustic wave (SAW) in the microfluidic device. The SAW, generated by an interdigital transducer (IDT), induces acoustic streaming, resulting in a stable and consistent helical flow pattern in microscale channels. This approach allows rapid development of helical flow within the channel without directly contacting the medium. The precise design of the window enables the creation of distinct unidirectional vortices, which can be controlled by adjusting the amplitude of the SAW. Within this device, optimal operational parameters of the dynamic flow generator to preserve the integrity of endothelial cells are found, and in such settings, the actin filaments within the cells are aligned to the desired state. Our findings reveal that intracellular Ca2+ concentrations vary in response to flow conditions. Specifically, comparable maximum intensity and graphical patterns were observed between low-flow rate helical flow and high-flow rate Hagen-Poiseuille flow. These suggest that the cells respond to the helical flow through mechanosensitive ion channels. Finally, adherence of monocytes is effectively reduced under helical flow conditions in an inflammatory environment, highlighting the atheroprotective role of helical flow. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Helical flow in blood vessels is well known to prevent atherosclerosis. However, despite efforts to replicate helical flow in microscale channels, there is still a lack of in vitro models which can generate helical flow for analyzing its effects on the vascular system. In this study, we developed a method for generating steady and constant helical flow in microfluidic channel using acoustofluidic techniques. By utilizing this dynamic flow generator, we were able to observe the atheroprotective aspects of helical flow in vitro, including the enhancement of calcium ion flux and reduction of monocyte adhesion. This study paves the way for an in vitro model of dynamic cell culture and offers advanced investigation into helical flow in our circulatory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daesik Kwak
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongtaek Im
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeono Nam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ungsig Nam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunggyu Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Woohyuk Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jin Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsoo Park
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Jessie S Jeon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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13
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Wu ZB, Wan XY, Zhou MH, Liu YC, Maalim AA, Miao ZZ, Guo X, Zeng Y, Liao P, Gao LP, Xiang JP, Zhang HQ, Shu K, Lei T, Zhu MX. Classification and hemodynamic characteristics of delayed intracerebral hemorrhage following stent-assisted coil embolism in unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1268433. [PMID: 38440116 PMCID: PMC10910101 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1268433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and objective Stent-assisted coil (SAC) embolization is a commonly used endovascular treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) but can be associated with symptomatic delayed intracerebral hemorrhage (DICH). Our study aimed to investigate the hemodynamic risk factors contributing to DICH following SAC embolization and to establish a classification for DICH predicated on hemodynamic profiles. Methods This retrospective study included patients with UIAs located in the internal carotid artery (ICA) treated with SAC embolization at our institution from January 2021 to January 2022. We focused on eight patients who developed postoperative DICH and matched them with sixteen control patients without DICH. Using computational fluid dynamics, we evaluated the hemodynamic changes in distal arteries [terminal ICA, the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), and middle cerebral artery (MCA)] pre-and post-embolization. We distinguished DICH-related arteries from unrelated ones (ACA or MCA) and compared their hemodynamic alterations. An imbalance index, quantifying the differential in flow velocity changes between ACA and MCA post-embolization, was employed to gauge the flow distribution in distal arteries was used to assess distal arterial flow distribution. Results We identified two types of DICH based on postoperative flow alterations. In type 1, there was a significant lower in the mean velocity increase rate of the DICH-related artery compared to the unrelated artery (-47.25 ± 3.88% vs. 42.85 ± 3.03%; p < 0.001), whereas, in type 2, there was a notable higher (110.58 ± 9.42% vs. 17.60 ± 4.69%; p < 0.001). Both DICH types demonstrated a higher imbalance index than the control group, suggesting an association between altered distal arterial blood flow distribution and DICH occurrence. Conclusion DICH in SAC-treated UIAs can manifest as either a lower (type 1) or higher (type 2) in the rate of velocity in DICH-related arteries. An imbalance in distal arterial blood flow distribution appears to be a significant factor in DICH development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeng-Bao Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xue-Yan Wan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming-Hui Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan-Chao Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ali Abdi Maalim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuang-Zhuang Miao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Zeng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pu Liao
- Department of Pathology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Li-Ping Gao
- ArteryFlow Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Hua-Qiu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Shu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting Lei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming-Xin Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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14
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Cheng YW, Anzell AR, Morosky SA, Schwartze TA, Hinck CS, Hinck AP, Roman BL, Davidson LA. Shear Stress and Sub-Femtomolar Levels of Ligand Synergize to Activate ALK1 Signaling in Endothelial Cells. Cells 2024; 13:285. [PMID: 38334677 PMCID: PMC10854672 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030285] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) respond to concurrent stimulation by biochemical factors and wall shear stress (SS) exerted by blood flow. Disruptions in flow-induced responses can result in remodeling issues and cardiovascular diseases, but the detailed mechanisms linking flow-mechanical cues and biochemical signaling remain unclear. Activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) integrates SS and ALK1-ligand cues in ECs; ALK1 mutations cause hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), marked by arteriovenous malformation (AVM) development. However, the mechanistic underpinnings of ALK1 signaling modulation by fluid flow and the link to AVMs remain uncertain. We recorded EC responses under varying SS magnitudes and ALK1 ligand concentrations by assaying pSMAD1/5/9 nuclear localization using a custom multi-SS microfluidic device and a custom image analysis pipeline. We extended the previously reported synergy between SS and BMP9 to include BMP10 and BMP9/10. Moreover, we demonstrated that this synergy is effective even at extremely low SS magnitudes (0.4 dyn/cm2) and ALK1 ligand range (femtogram/mL). The synergistic response to ALK1 ligands and SS requires the kinase activity of ALK1. Moreover, ALK1's basal activity and response to minimal ligand levels depend on endocytosis, distinct from cell-cell junctions, cytoskeleton-mediated mechanosensing, or cholesterol-enriched microdomains. However, an in-depth analysis of ALK1 receptor trafficking's molecular mechanisms requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Wen Cheng
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
| | - Anthony R. Anzell
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Stefanie A. Morosky
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Tristin A. Schwartze
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Cynthia S. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Beth L. Roman
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Heart, Lung, Blood and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Lance A. Davidson
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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15
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Chandurkar MK, Mittal N, Royer-Weeden SP, Lehmann SD, Rho Y, Han SJ. Low Shear in Short-Term Impacts Endothelial Cell Traction and Alignment in Long-Term. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.20.558732. [PMID: 37790318 PMCID: PMC10542130 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.20.558732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Within the vascular system, endothelial cells (ECs) are exposed to fluid shear stress (FSS), a mechanical force exerted by blood flow that is critical for regulating cellular tension and maintaining vascular homeostasis. The way ECs react to FSS varies significantly; while high, laminar FSS supports vasodilation and suppresses inflammation, low or disturbed FSS can lead to endothelial dysfunction and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Yet, the adaptation of ECs to dynamically varying FSS remains poorly understood. This study focuses on the dynamic responses of ECs to brief periods of low FSS, examining its impact on endothelial traction-a measure of cellular tension that plays a crucial role in how endothelial cells respond to mechanical stimuli. By integrating traction force microscopy (TFM) with a custom-built flow chamber, we analyzed how human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) adjust their traction in response to shifts from low to high shear stress. We discovered that initial exposure to low FSS prompts a marked increase in traction force, which continues to rise over 10 hours before slowly decreasing. In contrast, immediate exposure to high FSS causes a quick spike in traction followed by a swift reduction, revealing distinct patterns of traction behavior under different shear conditions. Importantly, the direction of traction forces and the resulting cellular alignment under these conditions indicate that the initial shear experience dictates long-term endothelial behavior. Our findings shed light on the critical influence of short-lived low-shear stress experiences in shaping endothelial function, indicating that early exposure to low FSS results in enduring changes in endothelial contractility and alignment, with significant consequences for vascular health and the development of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohanish K. Chandurkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
| | - Nikhil Mittal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
| | - Shaina P. Royer-Weeden
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
| | - Steven D. Lehmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
| | - Yeonwoo Rho
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
| | - Sangyoon J. Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
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16
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Honerkamp-Smith AR. Forces and Flows at Cell Surfaces. J Membr Biol 2023; 256:331-340. [PMID: 37773346 PMCID: PMC10947748 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-023-00293-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
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17
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Kouthouridis S, Sotra A, Khan Z, Alvarado J, Raha S, Zhang B. Modeling the Progression of Placental Transport from Early- to Late-Stage Pregnancy by Tuning Trophoblast Differentiation and Vascularization. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301428. [PMID: 37830445 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301428] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The early-stage placental barrier is characterized by a lack of fetal circulation and by a thick trophoblastic barrier, whereas the later-stage placenta consists of vascularized chorionic villi encased in a thin, differentiated trophoblast layer, ideal for nutrient transport. In this work, predictive models of early- and late-stage placental transport are created using blastocyst-derived placental stem cells (PSCs) by modulating PSC differentiation and model vascularization. PSC differentiation results in a thinner, fused trophoblast layer, as well as an increase in human chorionic gonadotropin secretion, barrier permeability, and secretion of certain inflammatory cytokines, which are consistent with in vivo findings. Further, gene expression confirms this shift toward a differentiated trophoblast subtype. Vascularization results in a molecule type- and size-dependent change in dextran and insulin permeability. These results demonstrate that trophoblast differentiation and vascularization have critical effects on placental barrier permeability and that this model can be used as a predictive measure to assess fetal toxicity of xenobiotic substances at different stages of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonya Kouthouridis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Alexander Sotra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Zaim Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Justin Alvarado
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Sandeep Raha
- Department of Pediatrics and the Graduate Programme in Medical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Boyang Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
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18
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Mohseni M, Vahidi B, Azizi H. Computational simulation of applying mechanical vibration to mesenchymal stem cell for mechanical modulation toward bone tissue engineering. Proc Inst Mech Eng H 2023; 237:1377-1389. [PMID: 37982187 DOI: 10.1177/09544119231208223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Evaluation of cell response to mechanical stimuli at in vitro conditions is known as one of the important issues for modulating cell behavior. Mechanical stimuli, including mechanical vibration and oscillatory fluid flow, act as important biophysical signals for the mechanical modulation of stem cells. In the present study, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) consists of cytoplasm, nucleus, actin, and microtubule. Also, integrin and primary cilium were considered as mechanoreceptors. In this study, the combined effect of vibration and oscillatory fluid flow on the cell and its components were investigated using numerical modeling. The results of the FEM and FSI model showed that the cell response (stress and strain values) at the frequency of 30 H z mechanical vibration has the highest value. The achieved results on shear stress caused by the fluid flow on the cell showed that the cell experiences shear stress in the range of 0 . 1 - 10 Pa . Mechanoreceptors that bind separately to the cell surface, can be highly stimulated by hydrodynamic pressure and, therefore, can play a role in the mechanical modulation of MSCs at in vitro conditions. The results of this research can be effective in future studies to optimize the conditions of mechanical stimuli applied to the cell culture medium and to determine the mechanisms involved in mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Mohseni
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahman Vahidi
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Azizi
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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19
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Blazeski A, Floryan MA, Fajardo-Ramírez OR, Meibalan E, Ortiz-Urbina J, Angelidakis E, Shelton SE, Kamm RD, García-Cardeña G. Engineering microvascular networks using a KLF2 reporter to probe flow-dependent endothelial cell function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.31.565021. [PMID: 37961543 PMCID: PMC10635035 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.31.565021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Shear stress generated by the flow of blood in the vasculature is a potent regulator of endothelial cell phenotype and vascular structure. While vascular responses to flow are complex and context-dependent, endothelial cell signaling in response to shear stress induced by laminar flows is coordinated by the transcription factor KLF2. The expression of KLF2 in endothelial cells is associated with a quiescent, anti-inflammatory phenotype and has been well characterized in two-dimensional systems, but has not been studied in three-dimensional in vitro systems. Here we develop engineered microvascular networks (MVNs) with a KLF2-based endothelial cell sensor within a microfluidic chip, apply continuous flow using an attached microfluidic pump, and study the effects of this flow on vascular structure and function. We found that culture of MVNs exposed to flow for 48 hours that resulted in increased expression of the KLF2-GFP-reporter display larger vessel diameters and decreased vascular branching and resistance. Additionally, vessel diameters after the application of flow were independent of initial MVN morphologies. Finally, we found that MVNs exposed to flow have improved vascular barrier function and decreased platelet adhesion. The MVNs with KLF2-based flow sensors represent a powerful tool for evaluating the structural and functional effects of flow on engineered three-dimensional vascular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Blazeski
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marie A. Floryan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Oscar R. Fajardo-Ramírez
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elamaran Meibalan
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesús Ortiz-Urbina
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Emmanouil Angelidakis
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah E. Shelton
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Guillermo García-Cardeña
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
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20
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Zhang F, Lin DSY, Rajasekar S, Sotra A, Zhang B. Pump-Less Platform Enables Long-Term Recirculating Perfusion of 3D Printed Tubular Tissues. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2300423. [PMID: 37543836 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300423] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
The direction and pattern of fluid flow affect vascular structure and function, in which vessel-lining endothelial cells exhibit variable cellular morphologies and vessel remodeling by mechanosensing. To recapitulate this microenvironment, some approaches have been reported to successfully apply unidirectional flow on endothelial cells in organ-on-a-chip systems. However, these platforms encounter drawbacks such as the dependency on pumps or confinement to closed microfluidic channels. These constraints impede their synergy with advanced biofabrication techniques like 3D bioprinting, thereby curtailing the potential to introduce greater complexity into engineered tissues. Herein, a pumpless recirculating platform (UniPlate) that enables unidirectional media recirculation through 3D printed tubular tissues, is demonstrated.The device is made of polystyrene via injection molding in combination with 3D printed sacrifical gelatin templates. Tubular blood vessels with unidirectional perfusion are firstly engineered. Then the design is expanded to incorporate duo-recirculating flow for culturing vascularized renal proximal tubules with glucose reabsorption function. In addition to media recirculation, human monocyte recirculation in engineered blood vessels is also demonstrated for over 24 h, with minimal loss of cells, cell viability, and inflammatory activation. UniPlate can be a valuable tool to more precisely control the cellular microenvironment of organ-on-a-chip systems for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Dawn S Y Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Shravanthi Rajasekar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Alexander Sotra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Boyang Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
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21
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Jackson ML, Bond AR, George SJ. Mechanobiology of the endothelium in vascular health and disease: in vitro shear stress models. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2023; 37:997-1010. [PMID: 36190667 PMCID: PMC10516801 DOI: 10.1007/s10557-022-07385-1] [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] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been growing evidence that vascular pathologies arise in sites experiencing an altered haemodynamic environment. Fluid shear stress (FSS) is an important contributor to vascular homeostasis and regulates endothelial cell (EC) gene expression, morphology, and behaviour through specialised mechanosensitive signalling pathways. The presence of an altered FSS profile is a pathological characteristic of many vascular diseases, with the most established example being the preferential localisation of atherosclerotic plaque development. However, the precise haemodynamic contributions to other vascular pathologies including coronary artery vein graft failure remains poorly defined. To evaluate potential novel therapeutics for the treatment of vascular diseases via targeting EC behaviour, it is important to undertake in vitro experiments using appropriate culture conditions, particularly FSS. There are a wide range of in vitro models used to study the effect of FSS on the cultured endothelium, each with the ability to generate FSS flow profiles through which the investigator can control haemodynamic parameters including flow magnitude and directionality. An important consideration for selection of an appropriate model of FSS exposure is the FSS profile that the model can generate, in comparison to the physiological and pathophysiological haemodynamic environment of the vessel of interest. A resource bringing together the haemodynamic environment characteristic of atherosclerosis pathology and the flow profiles generated by in vitro methods of applying FSS would be beneficial to researchers when selecting the appropriate model for their research. Consequently, here we summarise the widely used methods of exposing cultured endothelium to FSS, the flow profile they generate and their advantages and limitations in investigating the pathological contribution of altered FSS to vascular disease and evaluating novel therapeutic targets for the treatment and prevention of vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly L. Jackson
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS2 8HW UK
| | - Andrew Richard Bond
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS2 8HW UK
| | - Sarah Jane George
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS2 8HW UK
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22
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McQueen A, Warboys CM. Mechanosignalling pathways that regulate endothelial barrier function. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 84:102213. [PMID: 37531894 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Blood vessels are lined by a single layer of endothelial cells that provide a barrier between circulating plasma and the underlying tissue. Permeability of endothelial cells is tightly regulated, and increased permeability is associated with a number of diseases including atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells are continuously exposed to mechanical forces exerted by flowing blood and are particularly sensitive to shear stress, which is a key determinant of endothelial function. Undisturbed flow promotes endothelial resilience and reduces permeability to macromolecules whereas disturbed flow promotes endothelial dysfunction and barrier disruption. This review will outline recent advances in our understanding of how disturbed and undisturbed flow regulate paracellular and transcellular permeability and will highlight potential cellular targets that could form the basis of therapies to limit the development of cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna McQueen
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, NW1 0NN, UK
| | - Christina M Warboys
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, NW1 0NN, UK.
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23
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Banerjee K, Lin Y, Gahn J, Cordero J, Gupta P, Mohamed I, Graupera M, Dobreva G, Schwartz MA, Ola R. SMAD4 maintains the fluid shear stress set point to protect against arterial-venous malformations. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e168352. [PMID: 37490341 PMCID: PMC10503796 DOI: 10.1172/jci168352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular networks form, remodel, and mature under the influence of both fluid shear stress (FSS) and soluble factors. Physiological FSS promotes and maintains vascular stability via synergy with bone morphogenic proteins 9 and 10 (BMP9 and BMP10). Conversely, mutation of the BMP receptors activin-like kinase 1 (ALK1), endoglin (ENG), or the downstream effector, SMAD family member 4 (SMAD4) leads to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), characterized by fragile and leaky arterial-venous malformations (AVMs). How endothelial cells (ECs) integrate FSS and BMP signals in vascular development and homeostasis and how mutations give rise to vascular malformations is not well understood. Here, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of synergy between FSS and SMAD signaling in vascular stability and how disruption of this synergy leads to AVMs. We found that loss of Smad4 increased the sensitivity of ECs to flow by lowering the FSS set point, with resulting AVMs exhibiting features of excessive flow-mediated morphological responses. Mechanistically, loss of SMAD4 disinhibits flow-mediated KLF4-TIE2-PI3K/Akt signaling, leading to cell cycle progression-mediated loss of arterial identity due to KLF4-mediated repression of cyclin dependent Kinase (CDK) inhibitors CDKN2A and CDKN2B. Thus, AVMs caused by Smad4 deletion are characterized by chronic high flow remodeling with excessive EC proliferation and loss of arterial identity as triggering events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yanzhu Lin
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM) and
| | | | - Julio Cordero
- Department of Cardiovascular Genomics and Epigenomics, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Mannheim, Germany
| | | | | | - Mariona Graupera
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Spain
| | - Gergana Dobreva
- Department of Cardiovascular Genomics and Epigenomics, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin A. Schwartz
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Roxana Ola
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM) and
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24
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Rojas-González DM, Babendreyer A, Ludwig A, Mela P. Analysis of flow-induced transcriptional response and cell alignment of different sources of endothelial cells used in vascular tissue engineering. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14384. [PMID: 37658092 PMCID: PMC10474151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41247-6] [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: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelialization of tissue-engineered vascular grafts has proven crucial for implant functionality and thus clinical outcome, however, the choice of endothelial cells (ECs) is often driven by availability rather than by the type of vessel to be replaced. In this work we studied the response to flow of different human ECs with the aim of examining whether their response in vitro is dictated by their original in vivo conditions. Arterial, venous, and microvascular ECs were cultured under shear stress (SS) of 0, 0.3, 3, 1, 10, and 30 dyne/cm2 for 24 h. Regulation of flow-induced marker KLF2 was similar across the different ECs. Upregulation of anti-thrombotic markers, TM and TPA, was mainly seen at higher SS. Cell elongation and alignment was observed for the different ECs at 10 and 30 dyne/cm2 while at lower SS cells maintained a random orientation. Downregulation of pro-inflammatory factors SELE, IL8, and VCAM1 and up-regulation of anti-oxidant markers NQO1 and HO1 was present even at SS for which cell alignment was not observed. Our results evidenced similarities in the response to flow among the different ECs, suggesting that the maintenance of the resting state in vitro is not dictated by the SS typical of the tissue of origin and that absence of flow-induced cell orientation does not necessarily correlate with a pro-inflammatory state of the ECs. These results support the use of ECs from easily accessible sources for in vitro vascular tissue engineering independently from the target vessel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M Rojas-González
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex) at Center of Biohybrid Medical Systems (CBMS), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Chair of Medical Materials and Implants, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Design and Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr 15, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Aaron Babendreyer
- Institute of Molecular Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Andreas Ludwig
- Institute of Molecular Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Petra Mela
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex) at Center of Biohybrid Medical Systems (CBMS), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
- Chair of Medical Materials and Implants, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Design and Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr 15, 85748, Garching, Germany.
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25
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Wang X, Shen Y, Shang M, Liu X, Munn LL. Endothelial mechanobiology in atherosclerosis. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:1656-1675. [PMID: 37163659 PMCID: PMC10325702 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a serious health challenge, causing more deaths worldwide than cancer. The vascular endothelium, which forms the inner lining of blood vessels, plays a central role in maintaining vascular integrity and homeostasis and is in direct contact with the blood flow. Research over the past century has shown that mechanical perturbations of the vascular wall contribute to the formation and progression of atherosclerosis. While the straight part of the artery is exposed to sustained laminar flow and physiological high shear stress, flow near branch points or in curved vessels can exhibit 'disturbed' flow. Clinical studies as well as carefully controlled in vitro analyses have confirmed that these regions of disturbed flow, which can include low shear stress, recirculation, oscillation, or lateral flow, are preferential sites of atherosclerotic lesion formation. Because of their critical role in blood flow homeostasis, vascular endothelial cells (ECs) have mechanosensory mechanisms that allow them to react rapidly to changes in mechanical forces, and to execute context-specific adaptive responses to modulate EC functions. This review summarizes the current understanding of endothelial mechanobiology, which can guide the identification of new therapeutic targets to slow or reverse the progression of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Department of Cardiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China
| | - Yang Shen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Min Shang
- Department of Cardiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China
| | - Xiaoheng Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Lance L Munn
- Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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26
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Aitken C, Mehta V, Schwartz MA, Tzima E. Mechanisms of endothelial flow sensing. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2023; 2:517-529. [PMID: 39195881 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00276-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Fluid shear stress plays a key role in sculpting blood vessels during development, in adult vascular homeostasis and in vascular pathologies. During evolution, endothelial cells evolved several mechanosensors that convert physical forces into biochemical signals, a process termed mechanotransduction. This Review discusses our understanding of endothelial flow sensing and suggests important questions for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Aitken
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vedanta Mehta
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Martin A Schwartz
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and Departments of Cell Biology and Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Ellie Tzima
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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27
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Chen PY, Qin L, Simons M. TGFβ signaling pathways in human health and disease. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1113061. [PMID: 37325472 PMCID: PMC10267471 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1113061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is named for the function it was originally discovered to perform-transformation of normal cells into aggressively growing malignant cells. It became apparent after more than 30 years of research, however, that TGFβ is a multifaceted molecule with a myriad of different activities. TGFβs are widely expressed with almost every cell in the human body producing one or another TGFβ family member and expressing its receptors. Importantly, specific effects of this growth factor family differ in different cell types and under different physiologic and pathologic conditions. One of the more important and critical TGFβ activities is the regulation of cell fate, especially in the vasculature, that will be the focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yu Chen
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Lingfeng Qin
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Michael Simons
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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28
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Hong SG, Ashby JW, Kennelly JP, Wu M, Chattopadhyay E, Foreman R, Tontonoz P, Turowski P, Gallagher-Jones M, Mack JJ. Polarized Mechanosensitive Signaling Domains Protect Arterial Endothelial Cells Against Inflammation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.26.542500. [PMID: 37292837 PMCID: PMC10246006 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.26.542500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) in the descending aorta are exposed to high laminar shear stress, which supports an anti-inflammatory phenotype that protects them from atherosclerosis. High laminar shear stress also supports flow-aligned cell elongation and front-rear polarity, but whether this is required for athero-protective signaling is unclear. Here, we show that Caveolin-1-rich microdomains become polarized at the downstream end of ECs exposed to continuous high laminar flow. These microdomains are characterized by higher membrane rigidity, filamentous actin (F-actin) and lipid accumulation. Transient receptor potential vanilloid-type 4 (Trpv4) ion channels, while ubiquitously expressed, mediate localized Ca 2+ entry at these microdomains where they physically interact with clustered Caveolin-1. The resultant focal bursts in Ca 2+ activate the anti-inflammatory factor endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) within the confines of these domains. Importantly, we find that signaling at these domains requires both cell body elongation and sustained flow. Finally, Trpv4 signaling at these domains is necessary and sufficient to suppress inflammatory gene expression. Our work reveals a novel polarized mechanosensitive signaling hub that induces an anti-inflammatory response in arterial ECs exposed to high laminar shear stress.
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29
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Bosseboeuf E, Chikh A, Chaker AB, Mitchell TP, Vignaraja D, Rajendrakumar R, Khambata RS, Nightingale TD, Mason JC, Randi AM, Ahluwalia A, Raimondi C. Neuropilin-1 interacts with VE-cadherin and TGFBR2 to stabilize adherens junctions and prevent activation of endothelium under flow. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eabo4863. [PMID: 37220183 PMCID: PMC7614756 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abo4863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Linear and disturbed flow differentially regulate gene expression, with disturbed flow priming endothelial cells (ECs) for a proinflammatory, atheroprone expression profile and phenotype. Here, we investigated the role of the transmembrane protein neuropilin-1 (NRP1) in ECs exposed to flow using cultured ECs, mice with an endothelium-specific knockout of NRP1, and a mouse model of atherosclerosis. We demonstrated that NRP1 was a constituent of adherens junctions that interacted with VE-cadherin and promoted its association with p120 catenin, stabilizing adherens junctions and inducing cytoskeletal remodeling in alignment with the direction of flow. We also showed that NRP1 interacted with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor II (TGFBR2) and reduced the plasma membrane localization of TGFBR2 and TGF-β signaling. NRP1 knockdown increased the abundance of proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules, resulting in increased leukocyte rolling and atherosclerotic plaque size. These findings describe a role for NRP1 in promoting endothelial function and reveal a mechanism by which NRP1 reduction in ECs may contribute to vascular disease by modulating adherens junction signaling and promoting TGF-β signaling and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emy Bosseboeuf
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre of Cardiovascular Medicine and Devices, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Anissa Chikh
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Ahmed Bey Chaker
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre of Cardiovascular Medicine and Devices, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Tom P. Mitchell
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre for Microvascular Research, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Dhilakshani Vignaraja
- Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Ridhi Rajendrakumar
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre of Cardiovascular Medicine and Devices, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Rayomand S. Khambata
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre of Cardiovascular Medicine and Devices, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Thomas D. Nightingale
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre for Microvascular Research, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Justin C. Mason
- Vascular Sciences, National Heart & Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Anna M. Randi
- Vascular Sciences, National Heart & Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Amrita Ahluwalia
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre of Cardiovascular Medicine and Devices, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Claudio Raimondi
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre of Cardiovascular Medicine and Devices, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
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30
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Zalud NC, Bulusu KV, Plesniak MW. Shear stress metrics associated with pro-atherogenic high-risk anatomical features in a carotid artery bifurcation model. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2023; 105:105956. [PMID: 37098301 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diseases associated with atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery are a major cause of deaths in the United States. Blood-flow-induced shear-stresses are known to trigger plaque formation. Prior literature suggests that the internal carotid artery sinus is prone to atherosclerosis, but there is limited understanding of why only certain patients are predisposed towards plaque formation. METHODS We computationally investigate the effect of vessel geometry on wall-shear-stress distribution by comparing flowfields and wall-shear-stress-metrics between a low-risk and a novel predisposed high-risk carotid artery bifurcation anatomy. Both models were developed based on clinical risk estimations and patient-averaged anatomical features. The high-risk geometry has a larger internal carotid artery branching angle and a lower internal-to-carotid-artery-diameter-ratio. A patient-averaged physiological carotid artery inflow waveform is used. FINDINGS The high-risk geometry experiences stronger flow separation in the sinus. Furthermore, it experiences a more equal flow split at the bifurcation, thereby reducing internal carotid artery flowrate and increasing atherosclerosis-prone low-velocity areas. Lowest time-averaged-wall-shear-stresses are present at the sinus outer wall, where plaques are often found, for both geometries. The high-risk geometry has significantly high, unfavorable oscillatory-shear-index values not found in the low-risk geometry. High oscillatory-shear-index areas are located at the vessels outside walls distal to the bifurcation and on the sinus wall. INTERPRETATION These results highlight the effectiveness of oscillatory-shear-index, to augment classical time-averaged-wall-shear-stress, in evaluating pro-atherogenic geometry features. Furthermore, the flow split at the bifurcation is a promising clinical indicator for atherosclerosis risk as it can be directly accessed using clinical imaging, whereas shear-stress-metrics cannot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora C Zalud
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Science & Engineering Hall, Suite 3000, Washington, DC 20052, United States
| | - Kartik V Bulusu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Science & Engineering Hall, Suite 3000, Washington, DC 20052, United States
| | - Michael W Plesniak
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Science & Engineering Hall, Suite 3000, Washington, DC 20052, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Science & Engineering Hall, Suite 5000, Washington, DC 20052, United States.
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31
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Davis MJ, Earley S, Li YS, Chien S. Vascular mechanotransduction. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1247-1421. [PMID: 36603156 PMCID: PMC9942936 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00053.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This review aims to survey the current state of mechanotransduction in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs), including their sensing of mechanical stimuli and transduction of mechanical signals that result in the acute functional modulation and longer-term transcriptomic and epigenetic regulation of blood vessels. The mechanosensors discussed include ion channels, plasma membrane-associated structures and receptors, and junction proteins. The mechanosignaling pathways presented include the cytoskeleton, integrins, extracellular matrix, and intracellular signaling molecules. These are followed by discussions on mechanical regulation of transcriptome and epigenetics, relevance of mechanotransduction to health and disease, and interactions between VSMCs and ECs. Throughout this review, we offer suggestions for specific topics that require further understanding. In the closing section on conclusions and perspectives, we summarize what is known and point out the need to treat the vasculature as a system, including not only VSMCs and ECs but also the extracellular matrix and other types of cells such as resident macrophages and pericytes, so that we can fully understand the physiology and pathophysiology of the blood vessel as a whole, thus enhancing the comprehension, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Davis
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Scott Earley
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
| | - Yi-Shuan Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, California
- Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Shu Chien
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, California
- Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California
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32
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Bloom SI, Islam MT, Lesniewski LA, Donato AJ. Mechanisms and consequences of endothelial cell senescence. Nat Rev Cardiol 2023; 20:38-51. [PMID: 35853997 PMCID: PMC10026597 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-022-00739-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 95.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial cells are located at the crucial interface between circulating blood and semi-solid tissues and have many important roles in maintaining systemic physiological function. The vascular endothelium is particularly susceptible to pathogenic stimuli that activate tumour suppressor pathways leading to cellular senescence. We now understand that senescent endothelial cells are highly active, secretory and pro-inflammatory, and have an aberrant morphological phenotype. Moreover, endothelial senescence has been identified as an important contributor to various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In this Review, we discuss the consequences of endothelial cell exposure to damaging stimuli (haemodynamic forces and circulating and endothelial-derived factors) and the cellular and molecular mechanisms that induce endothelial cell senescence. We also discuss how endothelial cell senescence causes arterial dysfunction and contributes to clinical cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Finally, we summarize the latest evidence on the effect of eliminating senescent endothelial cells (senolysis) and identify important remaining questions to be addressed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel I Bloom
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Md Torikul Islam
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Lisa A Lesniewski
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center-Salt Lake City, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Anthony J Donato
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center-Salt Lake City, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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Valensi P, Barber-Chamoux N, Rezki A, Lambert C, Pereira B, Dualé C, Delmas D, Duclos M. Effects of single and multiple sessions of lower body diastole-synchronized compressions using a pulsating pneumatic suit on endothelium function and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes: two controlled cross-over studies. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2022; 21:286. [PMID: 36550568 PMCID: PMC9784294 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-022-01710-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelium function is often impaired in patients with type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that by improving endothelial function using diastole-synchronized compressions/decompressions (DSCD) to the lower body may improve the metabolic profile. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of single and multiple DSCD sessions on microcirculation, endothelium function and metabolic parameters of patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS Two monocentric, controlled, randomized cross-over studies (Study 1 and Study 2) were performed. In Study 1, 16 patients received one 20 min DSCD and one simulated (control) session at 2 week intervals; continuous glucose monitoring and cutaneous blood flow were recorded continuously before, during and after DSCD or Control session; other vascular assessments were performed before and after DSCD and control sessions. In Study 2, 38 patients received 60 min DSCD sessions three times/week for three months followed by a 4-6 week washout and 3 month control period (without simulated sessions); vascular, metabolic, body composition, physical activity and quality of life assessments were performed before and after 3 months. RESULTS Both studies showed significant, multiplex effects of DSCD sessions. In Study 1, cutaneous blood flow and endothelium function increased, and plasma and interstitial glucose levels after a standard breakfast decreased after DSCD sessions. In Study 2, cutaneous endothelium function improved, LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol decreased, extra-cell water decreased and SF-36 Vitality score increased after 3 months of DSCD sessions. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the beneficial effect of DSCD on the endothelium and show concomitant beneficial metabolic and vitality effects. Future clinical trials need to test whether DSCD use translates into a preventive measure against microvascular diabetic complications and its progression. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT02293135 and NCT02359461.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Valensi
- grid.414153.60000 0000 8897 490XPresent Address: Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition Unit, AP-HP, Jean Verdier Hospital, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, CRNH-IdF, CINFO, Bondy, France
| | - Nicolas Barber-Chamoux
- grid.411163.00000 0004 0639 4151Department of Cardiology, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Amel Rezki
- grid.414153.60000 0000 8897 490XPresent Address: Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition Unit, AP-HP, Jean Verdier Hospital, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, CRNH-IdF, CINFO, Bondy, France
| | - Céline Lambert
- grid.411163.00000 0004 0639 4151Biostatistics Unit, DRCI, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Bruno Pereira
- grid.411163.00000 0004 0639 4151Biostatistics Unit, DRCI, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Christian Dualé
- grid.411163.00000 0004 0639 4151Clinical Investigation Center (INSERM CIC1405), CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Martine Duclos
- grid.494717.80000000115480420Department of Sports Medicine and Functional Explorations, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, INRAE, UNH, CRNH Auvergne, Clermont Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Human endothelial cells form an endothelium in freestanding collagen hollow filaments fabricated by direct extrusion printing. BIOMATERIALS AND BIOSYSTEMS 2022; 8:100067. [PMID: 36824376 PMCID: PMC9934428 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbiosy.2022.100067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Fiber-shaped materials have great potential for tissue engineering applications as they provide structural support and spatial patterns within a three-dimensional construct. Here we demonstrate the fabrication of mechanically stable, meter-long collagen hollow filaments by a direct extrusion printing process. The fibres are permeable for oxygen and proteins and allow cultivation of primary human endothelial cells (ECs) at the inner surface under perfused conditions. The cells show typical characteristics of a well-organized EC lining including VE-cadherin expression, cellular response to flow and ECM production. The results demonstrate that the collagen tubes are capable of creating robust soft tissue filaments. The mechanical properties and the biofunctionality of these collagen hollow filaments facilitate the engineering of prevascularised tissue engineering constructs.
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Fernandes A, Miéville A, Grob F, Yamashita T, Mehl J, Hosseini V, Emmert MY, Falk V, Vogel V. Endothelial-Smooth Muscle Cell Interactions in a Shear-Exposed Intimal Hyperplasia on-a-Dish Model to Evaluate Therapeutic Strategies. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202317. [PMID: 35971167 PMCID: PMC9534971 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Intimal hyperplasia (IH) represents a major challenge following cardiovascular interventions. While mechanisms are poorly understood, the inefficient preventive methods incentivize the search for novel therapies. A vessel-on-a-dish platform is presented, consisting of direct-contact cocultures with human primary endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exposed to both laminar pulsatile and disturbed flow on an orbital shaker. With contractile SMCs sitting below a confluent EC layer, a model that successfully replicates the architecture of a quiescent vessel wall is created. In the novel IH model, ECs are seeded on synthetic SMCs at low density, mimicking reendothelization after vascular injury. Over 3 days of coculture, ECs transition from a network conformation to confluent 2D islands, as promoted by pulsatile flow, resulting in a "defected" EC monolayer. In defected regions, SMCs incorporated plasma fibronectin into fibers, increased proliferation, and formed multilayers, similarly to IH in vivo. These phenomena are inhibited under confluent EC layers, supporting therapeutic approaches that focus on endothelial regeneration rather than inhibiting proliferation, as illustrated in a proof-of-concept experiment with Paclitaxel. Thus, this in vitro system offers a new tool to study EC-SMC communication in IH pathophysiology, while providing an easy-to-use translational disease model platform for low-cost and high-content therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Fernandes
- Laboratory of Applied MechanobiologyInstitute of Translational MedicineDepartment of Health Sciences and TechnologyETH Zurich8093ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Arnaud Miéville
- Laboratory of Applied MechanobiologyInstitute of Translational MedicineDepartment of Health Sciences and TechnologyETH Zurich8093ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Franziska Grob
- Laboratory of Applied MechanobiologyInstitute of Translational MedicineDepartment of Health Sciences and TechnologyETH Zurich8093ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Tadahiro Yamashita
- Laboratory of Applied MechanobiologyInstitute of Translational MedicineDepartment of Health Sciences and TechnologyETH Zurich8093ZurichSwitzerland
- Present address:
Department of System Design EngineeringKeio University108‐8345YokohamaJapan
| | - Julia Mehl
- Laboratory of Applied MechanobiologyInstitute of Translational MedicineDepartment of Health Sciences and TechnologyETH Zurich8093ZurichSwitzerland
- Present address:
Julius Wolff InstituteBerlin Institute of HealthCharité Universitätsmedizin Berlin10117BerlinGermany
| | - Vahid Hosseini
- Laboratory of Applied MechanobiologyInstitute of Translational MedicineDepartment of Health Sciences and TechnologyETH Zurich8093ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Maximilian Y. Emmert
- Department of Cardiovascular SurgeryCharité Universitätsmedizin Berlin10117BerlinGermany
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular SurgeryGerman Heart Center Berlin13353BerlinGermany
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM)University of Zurich8006ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Volkmar Falk
- Department of Cardiovascular SurgeryCharité Universitätsmedizin Berlin10117BerlinGermany
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular SurgeryGerman Heart Center Berlin13353BerlinGermany
- Department of Health Sciences and TechnologyETH Zurich8093ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Viola Vogel
- Laboratory of Applied MechanobiologyInstitute of Translational MedicineDepartment of Health Sciences and TechnologyETH Zurich8093ZurichSwitzerland
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Park S, Ma Z, Zarkada G, Papangeli I, Paluri S, Nazo N, Rivera‐Molina F, Toomre D, Rajagopal S, Chun HJ. Endothelial β-arrestins regulate mechanotransduction by the type II bone morphogenetic protein receptor in primary cilia. Pulm Circ 2022; 12:e12167. [PMID: 36532314 PMCID: PMC9751664 DOI: 10.1002/pul2.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulation of endothelial cell behavior and phenotype by hemodynamic forces involves many signaling components, including cell surface receptors, intracellular signaling intermediaries, transcription factors, and epigenetic elements. Many of the signaling mechanisms that underlie mechanotransduction by endothelial cells are inadequately defined. Here we sought to better understand how β-arrestins, intracellular proteins that regulate agonist-mediated desensitization and integration of signaling by transmembrane receptors, may be involved in the endothelial cell response to shear stress. We performed both in vitro studies with primary endothelial cells subjected to β-arrestin knockdown, and in vivo studies using mice with endothelial specific deletion of β-arrestin 1 and β-arrestin 2. We found that β-arrestins are localized to primary cilia in endothelial cells, which are present in subpopulations of endothelial cells in relatively low shear states. Recruitment of β-arrestins to cilia involved its interaction with IFT81, a component of the flagellar transport protein complex in the cilia. β-arrestin knockdown led to marked reduction in shear stress response, including induction of NOS3 expression. Within the cilia, β-arrestins were found to associate with the type II bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR-II), whose disruption similarly led to an impaired endothelial shear response. β-arrestins also regulated Smad transcription factor phosphorylation by BMPR-II. Mice with endothelial specific deletion of β-arrestin 1 and β-arrestin 2 were found to have impaired retinal angiogenesis. In conclusion, we have identified a novel role for endothelial β-arrestins as key transducers of ciliary mechanotransduction that play a central role in shear signaling by BMPR-II and contribute to vascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saejeong Park
- Department of Internal MedicineSection of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Zhiyuan Ma
- Department of MedicineDivision of Cardiology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Georgia Zarkada
- Department of Internal MedicineSection of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Irinna Papangeli
- Department of Internal MedicineSection of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Sarin Paluri
- Chicago College of Osteopathic MedicineMidwestern UniversityDowners GroveIllinoisUSA
| | - Nour Nazo
- Department of MedicineDivision of Cardiology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Felix Rivera‐Molina
- Department of Cell BiologyYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Derek Toomre
- Department of Cell BiologyYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Sudarshan Rajagopal
- Department of MedicineDivision of Cardiology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Hyung J. Chun
- Department of Internal MedicineSection of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
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Batta SPR, Rio M, Lebot C, Baron-menguy C, Le Ruz R, Loirand G, Vion A. ARHGEF18 participates in Endothelial Cell Mechano-sensitivity in Response to Flow.. [DOI: 10.1101/2022.09.10.507283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
AbstractHemodynamic forces play an important role in vascular network development and homeostasis. In physiological condition, shear stress generated by laminar flow promotes endothelial cells (EC) health and induces their alignment in the direction of flow. In contrast, altered hemodynamic forces induce endothelial dysfunction and lead to the development of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and aneurysms. Following mechano-sensor activation, Rho protein-mediated cytoskeletal rearrangement is one of the first steps in transforming flow-induced forces into intracellular signals in EC via guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs) that mediate the spatio-temporal activation of these Rho proteins. Here we identified ARHGEF18 as a flow-sensitive RhoGEF specifically activating RhoA. Both ARHGEF18 expression and activity were controlled by shear stress level. ARHGEF18 promotes EC adhesion, focal adhesion formation and migration. ARHGEF18 localized to the tight junction by interacting with ZO-1 and participated to shear stress-induced EC elongation and alignment via its nucleotide exchange activity and the activation of p38 MAPK. Our study therefore characterized ARHGEF18 as the first flow-sensitive RhoA GEF in ECs, whose activity is essential for the maintenance of intercellular junctions and a properly organized endothelial monolayer under physiological flow conditions.
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38
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de Graaf MNS, Vivas A, van der Meer AD, Mummery CL, Orlova VV. Pressure-Driven Perfusion System to Control, Multiplex and Recirculate Cell Culture Medium for Organs-on-Chips. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13081359. [PMID: 36014281 PMCID: PMC9416133 DOI: 10.3390/mi13081359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-chip (OoC) devices are increasingly used to mimic the tissue microenvironment of cells in intact organs. This includes microchannels to mimic, for example, fluidic flow through blood vessels. Present methods for controlling microfluidic flow in these systems rely on gravity, rocker systems or external pressure pumps. For many purposes, pressure pumps give the most consistent flow profiles, but they are not well-suited for high throughput as might be required for testing drug responses. Here, we describe a method which allows for multiplexing of microfluidic channels in OoC devices plus the accompanying custom software necessary to run the system. Moreover, we show the approach is also suitable for recirculation of culture medium, an essential cost consideration when expensive culture reagents are used and are not "spent" through uptake by the cells during transient unidirectional flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mees N. S. de Graaf
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aisen Vivas
- Applied Stem Cell Technologies, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
- BIOS Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Center for Nanotechnology, Technical Medical Centre, Max Planck Institute for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Andries D. van der Meer
- Applied Stem Cell Technologies, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Christine L. Mummery
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Applied Stem Cell Technologies, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Valeria V. Orlova
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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Kandangwa P, Torii R, Gatehouse PD, Sherwin SJ, Weinberg PD. Influence of right coronary artery motion, flow pulsatility and non-Newtonian rheology on wall shear stress metrics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:962687. [PMID: 36017352 PMCID: PMC9395597 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.962687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The patchy distribution of atherosclerosis within the arterial system is consistent with a controlling influence of hemodynamic wall shear stress (WSS). Patterns of low, oscillatory and transverse WSS have been invoked to explain the distribution of disease in the aorta. Disease of coronary arteries has greater clinical importance but blood flow in these vessels may be complicated by their movement during the cardiac cycle. Previous studies have shown that time average WSS is little affected by the dynamic geometry, and that oscillatory shear is influenced more. Here we additionally investigate effects on transverse WSS. We also investigate the influence of non-Newtonian blood rheology as it can influence vortical structure, on which transverse WSS depends; Carreau-Yasuda models were used. WSS metrics were derived from numerical simulations of blood flow in a model of a moving right coronary artery which, together with a subject-specific inflow waveform, was obtained by MR imaging of a healthy human subject in a previous study. The results confirmed that time average WSS was little affected by dynamic motion and that oscillatory WSS was more affected. They additionally showed that transverse WSS and its non-dimensional analogue, the Cross Flow Index, were affected still further. This appeared to reflect time-varying vortical structures caused by the changes in curvature. The influence of non-Newtonian rheology was significant with some physiologically realistic parameter values, and hence may be important in certain subjects. Dynamic geometry and non-Newtonian rheology should be incorporated into models designed to produce maps of transverse WSS in coronary arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratik Kandangwa
- Department of Bioengineering, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ryo Torii
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Spencer J. Sherwin
- Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter D. Weinberg
- Department of Bioengineering, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Peter D. Weinberg,
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40
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On non-Kolmogorov turbulence in blood flow and its possible role in mechanobiological stimulation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13166. [PMID: 35915207 PMCID: PMC9343407 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16079-5] [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: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of turbulence in physiologic blood flow is important due to its strong relevance to endothelial mechanobiology and vascular disease. Recently, Saqr et al. (Sci Rep 10, 15,492, 2020) discovered non-Kolmogorov turbulence in physiologic blood flow in vivo, traced its origins to the Navier–Stokes equation and demonstrated some of its properties using chaos and hydrodynamic-stability theories. The present work extends these findings and investigates some inherent characteristics of non-Kolmogorov turbulence in monoharmonic and multiharmonic pulsatile flow under ideal physiologic conditions. The purpose of this work is to propose a conjecture for the origins for picoNewton forces that are known to regulate endothelial cells’ functions. The new conjecture relates these forces to physiologic momentum-viscous interactions in the near-wall region of the flow. Here, we used high-resolution large eddy simulation (HRLES) to study pulsatile incompressible flow in a straight pipe of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$L/D=20$$\end{document}L/D=20. The simulations presented Newtonian and Carreau–Yasuda fluid flows, at \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$R{e}_{m}\approx 250$$\end{document}Rem≈250, each represented by one, two and three boundary harmonics. Comparison was established based on maintaining constant time-averaged mass flow rate in all simulations. First, we report the effect of primary harmonics on the global power budget using primitive variables in phase space. Second, we describe the non-Kolmogorov turbulence in frequency domain. Third, we investigate the near-wall coherent structures in time and space domains. Finally, we propose a new conjecture for the role of turbulence in endothelial cells’ mechanobiology. The proposed conjecture correlates near-wall turbulence to a force field of picoNewton scale, suggesting possible relevance to endothelial cells mechanobiology.
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Bazzi MS, Balouchzadeh R, Pavey SN, Quirk JD, Yanagisawa H, Vedula V, Wagenseil JE, Barocas VH. Experimental and Mouse-Specific Computational Models of the Fbln4 SMKO Mouse to Identify Potential Biomarkers for Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm. Cardiovasc Eng Technol 2022; 13:558-572. [PMID: 35064559 PMCID: PMC9304450 DOI: 10.1007/s13239-021-00600-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To use computational methods to explore geometric, mechanical, and fluidic biomarkers that could correlate with mouse lifespan in the Fbln4SMKO mouse. Mouse lifespan was used as a surrogate for risk of a severe cardiovascular event in cases of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm. METHODS Image-based, mouse-specific fluid-structure-interaction models were developed for Fbln4SMKO mice (n = 10) at ages two and six months. The results of the simulations were used to quantify potential biofluidic biomarkers, complementing the geometrical biomarkers obtained directly from the images. RESULTS Comparing the different geometrical and biofluidic biomarkers to the mouse lifespan, it was found that mean oscillatory shear index (OSImin) and minimum time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSSmin) at six months showed the largest correlation with lifespan (r2 = 0.70, 0.56), with both correlations being positive (i.e., mice with high OSImean and high TAWSSmin tended to live longer). When change between two and six months was considered, the change in TAWSSmin showed a much stronger correlation than OSImean (r2 = 0.75 vs. 0.24), and the correlation was negative (i.e., mice with increasing TAWSSmin over this period tended to live less long). CONCLUSION The results highlight potential biomarkers of ATAA outcomes that can be obtained through noninvasive imaging and computational simulations, and they illustrate the potential synergy between small-animal and computational models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa S Bazzi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Ramin Balouchzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Shawn N Pavey
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - James D Quirk
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Hiromi Yanagisawa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Vijay Vedula
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Jessica E Wagenseil
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Victor H Barocas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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Sheldon H, Zhang W, Bridges E, Ang KH, Lin S, Masiero M, Li D, Handford PA, Whiteman P, Fischer R, Buffa F, Vatish M, Banham AH, Harris AL. ELTD1 is present in extracellular vesicles derived from endothelial cells as a cleaved extracellular domain which induces in vivo angiogenesis. JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 1:e52. [PMID: 38939053 PMCID: PMC11080856 DOI: 10.1002/jex2.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
ELTD1/ADGRL4 is an adhesion GPCR with an important role in angiogenesis. We recently identified a role for ELTD1 in wound repair and inflammation. Activation of ELTD1 in endothelial cells results in a type II EMT to myofibroblast-like cells that have enhanced angiogenic ability. Furthermore, expression of Eltd1 in murine breast cancer cells increases tumour growth by increasing blood vessel size and perfusion and by creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment. As extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to be involved in vascular development, growth and maturation we investigated the composition and functional effects of the EVs isolated from ELTD1 expressing cells to elucidate their role in these processes. A highly glycosylated form of the extracellular domain (ECD) of ELTD1 is readily incorporated into EVs. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics we identified proteins that are enriched in ELTD1-EVs and are involved in haemostasis and immune responses. ELTD1 enriched EVs were pro-angiogenic in vivo and in vitro and the presence of the ECD alone induced endothelial sprouting. In endothelial cells experiencing laminar flow, ELTD1 levels were reduced in the EVs when they are quiescent, showing a relationship between ELTD1 and the activation state of the endothelium. Using FACS, we detected a significant increase in vesicular ELTD1 in the plasma of patients with preeclampsia, a condition characterized by endothelial dysfunction. These data confirm a role for ELTD1 in wound repair and inflammation and reveal its potential as a biomarker of vessel dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Sheldon
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology LaboratoriesWeatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Wei Zhang
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, Women's CentreUniversity of OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Esther Bridges
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology LaboratoriesWeatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Koon Hwee Ang
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology LaboratoriesWeatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Salwa Lin
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology LaboratoriesWeatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Massimo Masiero
- Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory SciencesRadcliffe Department of MedicineJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Demin Li
- Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory SciencesRadcliffe Department of MedicineJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | | | - Pat Whiteman
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Roman Fischer
- Nuffield Department of MedicineTarget Discovery InstituteOxford University, NDM Research BuildingOxfordUK
| | - Francesca Buffa
- Department of OncologyUniversity of OxfordChurchill HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Manu Vatish
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, Women's CentreUniversity of OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Alison H. Banham
- Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory SciencesRadcliffe Department of MedicineJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Adrian L. Harris
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology LaboratoriesWeatherall Institute of Molecular MedicineUniversity of OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
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43
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Hadad S, Pradhan A, Kadirvel R, Kallmes D, Cebral JR, Mut F. Flow reversal in distal collaterals as a possible mechanism of delayed intraparenchymal hemorrhage after flow diversion treatment of cerebral aneurysms. Front Physiol 2022; 13:881627. [PMID: 35923225 PMCID: PMC9339966 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.881627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Delayed intraparenchymal hemorrhages (DIPHs) are one of the most serious complications of cerebral aneurysm treatment with flow diverters (FD), yet their causes are largely unknown. This study analyzes distal hemodynamic alterations induced by the treatment of intracranial aneurysms with FDs. Methods: A realistic model of the brain arterial network was constructed from MRA images and extended with a constrained constructive optimization technique down to vessel diameters of approximately 50μm. Different variants of the circle of Willis were created by alternatively occluding communicating arteries. Collateral vessels connecting different arterial trees were then added to the model, and a distributed lumped parameter approach was used to model the pulsatile blood flow in the arterial network. The treatment of an ICA aneurysm was modeled by changing the local resistance, flow inertia, and compliance of the aneurysmal segment. Results: The maximum relative change in distal pressure induced by the aneurysm treatment was below 1%. However, for certain combinations of the circle of Willis and distal collateralization, important flow reversals (with a wall shear stress larger than approximately 1.0 dyne/cm2) were observed in collateral vessels, both ipsilaterally and contralaterally to the treated aneurysm. Conclusion: This study suggests the hypothesis that flow diverters treatment of intracranial aneurysms could cause important flow reversal in distal collaterals. Flow reversal has previously been shown to be pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic and could therefore have a detrimental effect on these collateral vessels, and thus could be a suitable explanation of DIPHs, while the small distal pressure increase is not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Hadad
- Bioengineering Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Sara Hadad, mailto:
| | - Aseem Pradhan
- Bioengineering Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | | | - David Kallmes
- Interventional Neuroradiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Juan R. Cebral
- Bioengineering Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Fernando Mut
- Bioengineering Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
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44
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Wang C, Qu K, Wang J, Qin R, Li B, Qiu J, Wang G. Biomechanical regulation of planar cell polarity in endothelial cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022; 1868:166495. [PMID: 35850177 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Cell polarity refers to the uneven distribution of certain cytoplasmic components in a cell with a spatial order. The planar cell polarity (PCP), the cell aligns perpendicular to the polar plane, in endothelial cells (ECs) has become a research hot spot. The planar polarity of ECs has a positive significance on the regulation of cardiovascular dysfunction, pathological angiogenesis, and ischemic stroke. The endothelial polarity is stimulated and regulated by biomechanical force. Mechanical stimuli promote endothelial polarization and make ECs produce PCP to maintain the normal physiological and biochemical functions. Here, we overview recent advances in understanding the interplay and mechanism between PCP and ECs function involved in mechanical forces, with a focus on PCP signaling pathways and organelles in regulating the polarity of ECs. And then showed the related diseases caused by ECs polarity dysfunction. This study provides new ideas and therapeutic targets for the treatment of endothelial PCP-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caihong Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kai Qu
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Institute of Food and Nutrition Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Qin
- College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingyi Li
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Juhui Qiu
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Guixue Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
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45
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Kraus X, van de Flierdt E, Renzelmann J, Thoms S, Witt M, Scheper T, Blume C. Peripheral blood derived endothelial colony forming cells as suitable cell source for pre-endothelialization of arterial vascular grafts under dynamic flow conditions. Microvasc Res 2022; 143:104402. [PMID: 35753506 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2022.104402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In regenerative medicine, autologous peripheral blood derived endothelial colony forming cells (PB-derived ECFC) represent a promising source of endothelial cells (EC) for pre-endothelialization of arterial tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVG) since they are readily attainable, can easily be isolated and possess a high proliferation potential. The aim of this study was to compare the phenotype of PB-derived ECFC with arterial and venous model cells such as human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) under dynamic cell culture conditions to find a suitable cell source of EC for pre-endothelialization. In this study PB-derived ECFC were cultivated over 24 h under a high pulsatile shear stress (20 dyn/cm2, 1 Hz) and subsequently analyzed. ECFC oriented and elongated in the direction of flow and expressed similar anti-thrombotic and endothelial differentiation markers compared to HAEC. There were significant differences observable in gene expression levels of CD31, CD34 and NOTCH4 between ECFC and HUVEC. These results therefore suggest an arterial phenotype for PB-derived ECFC both under static and flow conditions, and this was supported by NOTCH4 protein expression profiles. ECFC also significantly up-regulated gene expression levels of anti-thrombotic genes such as krueppel-like factor 2, endothelial nitric oxide synthase 3 and thrombomodulin under shear stress cultivation as compared to static conditions. Dynamically cultured PB-derived ECFC therefore may be a promising cell source for pre-endothelialization of arterial TEVGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenia Kraus
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Technical Chemistry, Callinstr. 5, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Edda van de Flierdt
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Technical Chemistry, Callinstr. 5, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jannis Renzelmann
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Technical Chemistry, Callinstr. 5, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefanie Thoms
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Technical Chemistry, Callinstr. 5, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Witt
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Technical Chemistry, Callinstr. 5, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Scheper
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Technical Chemistry, Callinstr. 5, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Cornelia Blume
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Technical Chemistry, Callinstr. 5, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Flow goes forward and cells step backward: endothelial migration. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:711-719. [PMID: 35701563 PMCID: PMC9256678 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00785-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic and pulmonary circulations constitute a complex organ that serves multiple important biological functions. Consequently, any pathological processing affecting the vasculature can have profound systemic ramifications. Endothelial and smooth muscle are the two principal cell types composing blood vessels. Critically, endothelial proliferation and migration are central to the formation and expansion of the vasculature both during embryonic development and in adult tissues. Endothelial populations are quite heterogeneous and are both vasculature type- and organ-specific. There are profound molecular, functional, and phenotypic differences between arterial, venular and capillary endothelial cells and endothelial cells in different organs. Given this endothelial cell population diversity, it has been challenging to determine the origin of endothelial cells responsible for the angiogenic expansion of the vasculature. Recent technical advances, such as precise cell fate mapping, time-lapse imaging, genome editing, and single-cell RNA sequencing, have shed new light on the role of venous endothelial cells in angiogenesis under both normal and pathological conditions. Emerging data indicate that venous endothelial cells are unique in their ability to serve as the primary source of endothelial cellular mass during both developmental and pathological angiogenesis. Here, we review recent studies that have improved our understanding of angiogenesis and suggest an updated model of this process. Cells that line the inside of veins possess a unique ability to grow new blood vessels and a better understanding of these cells could lead to new treatments for cancer, autoimmunity and other diseases associated with abnormal blood vessel formation. Michael Simons and colleagues from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, USA, review the attributes of venous endothelial cells, such as their unique ability to proliferate and migrate against blood flow, and then to form new intricate networks of minute blood vessels, in response to appropriate signals. The authors discuss emerging evidence implicating these cells in a variety of diseases, and suggest that drugs aimed at modulating the molecular function or migratory activities of venous endothelial cells could be used to correct abnormal blood vessel expansion.
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Stefopoulos G, Lendenmann T, Schutzius TM, Giampietro C, Roy T, Chala N, Giavazzi F, Cerbino R, Poulikakos D, Ferrari A. Bistability of Dielectrically Anisotropic Nematic Crystals and the Adaptation of Endothelial Collectives to Stress Fields. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2102148. [PMID: 35344288 PMCID: PMC9165505 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202102148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Endothelial monolayers physiologically adapt to flow and flow-induced wall shear stress, attaining ordered configurations in which elongation, orientation, and polarization are coherently organized over many cells. Here, with the flow direction unchanged, a peculiar bi-stable (along the flow direction or perpendicular to it) cell alignment is observed, emerging as a function of the flow intensity alone, while cell polarization is purely instructed by flow directionality. Driven by the experimental findings, the parallelism between endothelia is delineated under a flow field and the transition of dual-frequency nematic liquid crystals under an external oscillatory electric field. The resulting physical model reproduces the two stable configurations and the energy landscape of the corresponding system transitions. In addition, it reveals the existence of a disordered, metastable state emerging upon system perturbation. This intermediate state, experimentally demonstrated in endothelial monolayers, is shown to expose the cellular system to a weakening of cell-to-cell junctions to the detriment of the monolayer integrity. The flow-adaptation of monolayers composed of healthy and senescent endothelia is successfully predicted by the model with adjustable nematic parameters. These results may help to understand the maladaptive response of in vivo endothelial tissues to disturbed hemodynamics and the progressive functional decay of senescent endothelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Stefopoulos
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichSonneggstrasse 3Zurich8092Switzerland
| | - Tobias Lendenmann
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichSonneggstrasse 3Zurich8092Switzerland
| | - Thomas M. Schutzius
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichSonneggstrasse 3Zurich8092Switzerland
| | - Costanza Giampietro
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichSonneggstrasse 3Zurich8092Switzerland
- Experimental Continuum MechanicsEMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and TechnologyÜberlandstrasse 129Dübendorf8600Switzerland
- Institute for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichLeonhardstrasse 21Zurich8092Switzerland
| | - Tamal Roy
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichSonneggstrasse 3Zurich8092Switzerland
| | - Nafsika Chala
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichSonneggstrasse 3Zurich8092Switzerland
| | - Fabio Giavazzi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina TraslazionaleUniversità degli Studi di MilanoVia F.lli Cervi 93Segrate20090Italy
| | - Roberto Cerbino
- Faculty of PhysicsUniversity of ViennaBoltzmanngasse 5ViennaAustria
| | - Dimos Poulikakos
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichSonneggstrasse 3Zurich8092Switzerland
| | - Aldo Ferrari
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichSonneggstrasse 3Zurich8092Switzerland
- Experimental Continuum MechanicsEMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and TechnologyÜberlandstrasse 129Dübendorf8600Switzerland
- Institute for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETH ZurichLeonhardstrasse 21Zurich8092Switzerland
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Rapid shear stress-dependent ENaC membrane insertion is mediated by the endothelial glycocalyx and the mineralocorticoid receptor. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:235. [PMID: 35397686 PMCID: PMC8995297 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04260-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The contribution of the shear stress-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) to the mechanical properties of the endothelial cell surface under (patho)physiological conditions is unclear. This issue was addressed in in vivo and in vitro models for endothelial dysfunction. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to laminar (LSS) or non-laminar shear stress (NLSS). ENaC membrane insertion was quantified using Quantum-dot-based immunofluorescence staining and the mechanical properties of the cell surface were probed with the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) in vitro and ex vivo in isolated aortae of C57BL/6 and ApoE/LDLR-/- mice. Flow- and acetylcholine-mediated vasodilation was measured in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging. Acute LSS led to a rapid mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-dependent membrane insertion of ENaC and subsequent stiffening of the endothelial cortex caused by actin polymerization. Of note, NLSS stress further augmented the cortical stiffness of the cells. These effects strongly depend on the presence of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) and could be prevented by functional inhibition of ENaC and MR in vitro endothelial cells and ex vivo endothelial cells derived from C57BL/6, but not ApoE/LDLR-/- vessel. In vivo In C57BL/6 vessels, ENaC- and MR inhibition blunted flow- and acetylcholine-mediated vasodilation, while in the dysfunctional ApoE/LDLR-/- vessels, this effect was absent. In conclusion, under physiological conditions, endothelial ENaC, together with the glycocalyx, was identified as an important shear stress sensor and mediator of endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In contrast, in pathophysiological conditions, ENaC-mediated mechanotransduction and endothelium-dependent vasodilation were lost, contributing to sustained endothelial stiffening and dysfunction.
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49
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Weinberg PD. Haemodynamic Wall Shear Stress, Endothelial Permeability and Atherosclerosis-A Triad of Controversy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:836680. [PMID: 35340842 PMCID: PMC8948426 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.836680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A striking feature of atherosclerosis is its patchy distribution within the vascular system; certain arteries and certain locations within each artery are preferentially affected. Identifying the local risk factors underlying this phenomenon may lead to new therapeutic strategies. The large variation in lesion prevalence in areas of curvature and branching has motivated a search for haemodynamic triggers, particular those related to wall shear stress (WSS). The fact that lesions are rich in blood-derived lipids has motivated studies of local endothelial permeability. However, the location of lesions, the underlying haemodynamic triggers, the role of permeability, the routes by which lipids cross the endothelium, and the mechanisms by which WSS affects permeability have all been areas of controversy. This review presents evidence for and against the current consensus that lesions are triggered by low and/or oscillatory WSS and that this type of shear profile leads to elevated entry of low density lipoprotein (LDL) into the wall via widened intercellular junctions; it also evaluates more recent evidence that lesion location changes with age, that multidirectional shear stress plays a key role, that LDL dominantly crosses the endothelium by transcytosis, and that the link between flow and permeability results from hitherto unrecognised shear-sensitive mediators.
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50
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Fernandes A, Hosseini V, Vogel V, Lovchik RD. Engineering solutions for biological studies of flow-exposed endothelial cells on orbital shakers. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262044. [PMID: 35061745 PMCID: PMC8782315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Shear stress is extremely important for endothelial cell (EC) function. The popularity of 6-well plates on orbital shakers to impose shear stress on ECs has increased among biologists due to their low cost and simplicity. One characteristic of such a platform is the heterogeneous flow profile within a well. While cells in the periphery are exposed to a laminar and high-velocity pulsatile flow that mimics physiological conditions, the flow in the center is disturbed and imposes low shear stress on the cells, which is characteristic of atheroprone regions. For studies where such heterogeneity is not desired, we present a simple cell-patterning technique to selectively prevent cell growth in the center of the well and facilitate the exclusive collection and analysis of cells in the periphery. This guarantees that cell phenotypes will not be influenced by secreted factors from cells exposed to other shear profiles nor that interesting results are obscured by mixing cells from different regions. We also present a multi-staining platform that compartmentalizes each well into 5 smaller independent regions: four at the periphery and one in the center. This is ideal for studies that aim to grow cells on the whole well surface, for comparison with previous work and minimal interference in the cell culture, but require screening of markers by immunostaining afterwards. It allows to compare different regions of the well, reduces antibody-related costs, and allows the exploration of multiple markers essential for high-content screening of cell response. By increasing the versatility of the 6-well plate on an orbital shaker system, we hope that these two solutions motivate biologists to pursue studies on EC mechanobiology and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Fernandes
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vahid Hosseini
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Viola Vogel
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
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