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Waxman S, Schilpp H, Linton A, Jakobs TC, Sigal IA. Morphological comparison of astrocytes in the lamina cribrosa and glial lamina. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.07.610493. [PMID: 39314351 PMCID: PMC11418941 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.07.610493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Purpose Although the mechanisms underlying glaucomatous neurodegeneration are not yet well understood, cellular and small animal models suggest that LC astrocytes undergo early morphologic and functional changes, indicating their role as early responders to glaucomatous stress. These models, however, lack the LC found in larger animals and humans, leaving the in situ morphology of LC astrocytes and their role in glaucoma initiation underexplored. In this work, we aimed to characterize the morphology of LC astrocytes in situ and determine differences and similarities with astrocytes in the mouse glial lamina (GL), the analogous structure in a prominent glaucoma model. Methods Astrocytes in the LCs of twenty-two eyes from goats, sheep, and pigs were stochastically labeled via Multicolor DiOlistics and imaged in situ using confocal microscopy. 3D models of DiOlistically-labeled LC astrocytes and hGFAPpr-GFP mouse GL astrocytes were constructed to quantify morphological features related to astrocyte functions. LC and GL astrocyte cross-pore contacts, branching complexity, branch tortuosity, and cell and branch span were compared. Results LC astrocytes displayed distinct spatial relationships with collagen, greater branching complexity, and higher branch tortuosity compared to GL astrocytes. Despite substantial differences in their anatomical environments, LC and GL astrocytes had similar cell and branch spans. Conclusions Astrocyte morphology in the LC was characterized through Multicolor DiOlistic labeling. LC and GL astrocytes have both distinct and shared morphological features. Further research is needed to understand the potentially unique roles of LC astrocytes in glaucoma initiation and progression.
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Al Yazeedi S, Abokor AF, Brussow J, Thiam F, Phogat S, Osei ET. The effect of the mechanodynamic lung environment on fibroblast phenotype via the Flexcell. BMC Pulm Med 2024; 24:362. [PMID: 39068387 PMCID: PMC11282647 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03167-7] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The lung is a highly mechanical organ as it is exposed to approximately 109 strain cycles, (where strain is the length change of tissue structure per unit initial length), with an approximately 4% amplitude change during quiet tidal breathing or 107 strain cycles at a 25% amplitude during heavy exercises, sighs, and deep inspirations. These mechanical indices have been reported to become aberrant in lung diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary hypertension, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and asthma. Through recent innovations, various in vitro systems/bioreactors used to mimic the lung's mechanical strain have been developed. Among these, the Flexcell tension system which is composed of bioreactors that utilize a variety of programs in vitro to apply static and cyclic strain on different cell-types established as 2D monolayer cultures or cell-embedded 3D hydrogel models, has enabled the assessment of the response of different cells such as fibroblasts to the lung's mechanical strain in health and disease. Fibroblasts are the main effector cells responsible for the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to repair and maintain tissue homeostasis and are implicated in the excessive deposition of matrix proteins that leads to lung fibrosis. In this review, we summarise, studies that have used the Flexcell tension bioreactor to assess effects of the mechanical lung on the structure, function, and phenotype of lung fibroblasts in homeostatic conditions and abnormal environments associated with lung injury and disease. We show that these studies have revealed that different strain conditions regulate fibroblast proliferation, ECM protein production, and inflammation in normal repair and the diseased lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Al Yazeedi
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - A F Abokor
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - J Brussow
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - F Thiam
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - S Phogat
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada
| | - E T Osei
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus, 3187 University Way, ASC366, Kelowna, BC, V1V1V7, Canada.
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
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Hariani HN, Ghosh AK, Rosen SM, Tso HY, Kessinger C, Zhang C, Jones WK, Sappington RM, Mitchell CH, Stubbs EB, Rao VR, Kaja S. Lysyl oxidase like-1 deficiency in optic nerve head astrocytes elicits reactive astrocytosis and alters functional effects of astrocyte derived exosomes. Exp Eye Res 2024; 240:109813. [PMID: 38331016 PMCID: PMC10962968 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109813] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a multifactorial progressive ocular pathology that manifests clinically with damage to the optic nerve (ON) and the retina, ultimately leading to blindness. The optic nerve head (ONH) shows the earliest signs of glaucoma pathology, and therefore, is an attractive target for drug discovery. The goal of this study was to elucidate the effects of reactive astrocytosis on the elastin metabolism pathway in primary rat optic nerve head astrocytes (ONHA), the primary glial cell type in the unmyelinated ONH. Following exposure to static equibiaxial mechanical strain, we observed prototypic molecular and biochemical signatures of reactive astrocytosis that were associated with a decrease in lysyl oxidase like 1 (Loxl1) expression and a concomitant decrease in elastin (Eln) gene expression. We subsequently investigated the role of Loxl1 in reactive astrocytosis by generating primary rat ONHA cultures with ∼50% decreased Loxl1 expression. Our results suggest that reduced Loxl1 expression is sufficient to elicit molecular signatures of elastinopathy in ONHA. Astrocyte derived exosomes (ADE) significantly increased the length of primary neurites of primary neurons in vitro. In contrast, ADE from Loxl1-deficient ONHA were deficient of trophic effects on neurite outgrowth in vitro, positing that Loxl1 dysfunction and the ensuing impaired elastin synthesis during reactive astrocytosis in the ONH may contribute to impaired neuron-glia signaling in glaucoma. Our data support a role of dysregulated Loxl1 function in eliciting reactive astrocytosis in glaucoma subtypes associated with increased IOP, even in the absence of genetic polymorphisms in LOXL1 typically associated with exfoliation glaucoma. This suggests the need for a paradigm shift toward considering lysyl oxidase activity and elastin metabolism and signaling as contributors to an altered secretome of the ONH that may lead to the progression of glaucomatous changes. Future research is needed to investigate cargo of exosomes in the context of reactive astrocytosis and identify the pathways leading to the observed transcriptome changes during reactive astrocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh N Hariani
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; Research Service, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA
| | - Anita K Ghosh
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; Research Service, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA
| | - Sasha M Rosen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; Department of Radiology, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Huen-Yee Tso
- Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Cassidy Kessinger
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Chongyu Zhang
- Graduate Program in Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - W Keith Jones
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Rebecca M Sappington
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA; Translational Eye and Vision Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
| | - Claire H Mitchell
- Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Evan B Stubbs
- Department of Ophthalmology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; Research Service, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA
| | - Vidhya R Rao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; Research Service, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA
| | - Simon Kaja
- Department of Ophthalmology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA; Research Service, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA.
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Gao L, Xie M, Zhang X, Qiu Z, Pu Z, Huang S, Li B. Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel Improves Cutibacterium acnes-Induced Inflammatory Responses in a Mouse Ear Edema Model and Suppresses Pro-Inflammatory Chemokine Production via the MAPK and NF-κB Pathways in RAW264.7 Cells. Ann Dermatol 2023; 35:408-416. [PMID: 38086354 PMCID: PMC10733074 DOI: 10.5021/ad.22.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common adolescent skin condition which is mainly caused by Cutibacterium acnes overcolonization and subsequent inflammation. OBJECTIVE Our previous studies demonstrated that ethanol extracts of Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel (EMQ) possess significant antimicrobial properties. However, their protective effects and potential mechanisms against AV remain unclear. METHODS In the present study, the EMQ treatment potential for AV was evaluated in a C. acnes-induced mouse ear edema model, and the EMQ anti-inflammatory mechanism was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells. RESULTS The results showed that EMQ alleviated edema formation and inflammatory cell infiltration in an acne mouse model by suppressing inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α expression. Moreover, EMQ inhibited the phosphorylation of MAP kinases (MAPKs) such as p38, JNK, and ERK, the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB-α and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSION These findings suggest the potent anti-inflammatory activity of EMQ is possibly through the regulation of the MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways. Inhibition of C. acnes activity combined with a powerful anti-inflammatory effect of EMQ indicated its potential as a novel therapeutic option for AV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liying Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Research for Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Mi Xie
- Department of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Research for Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiayu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Research for Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhenhan Qiu
- Department of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Research for Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhen Pu
- Center of Tibetan Studies (Everest Research Institute), Tibet University, Lhasa, China
| | - Shan Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Research for Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Research for Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
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Yu X, He L, Lin W, Zheng X, Zhang L, Yu B, Wang Y, Yang Z, Lin Y. Long-term menopause exacerbates vaginal wall support injury in ovariectomized rats by regulating amino acid synthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1119599. [PMID: 37424873 PMCID: PMC10324610 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1119599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Menopause is a risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and is frequently associated with diminished vaginal wall support. To uncover relevant molecular mechanisms and provide potential therapeutic targets, we evaluated changes in the transcriptome and metabolome of the vaginal wall in ovariectomized rats to identify important molecular changes. Methods Sixteen adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either the control or menopause group. Seven months after the operation, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Masson trichrome staining were used to observe changes in the rat vaginal wall structure. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and metabolites (DEMs) in the vaginal wall were detected by RNA-sequencing and LC-MS, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of DEGs and DEMs were performed. Results We verified that long-term menopause causes vaginal wall injury by H&E and Masson trichrome staining. From the multiomics analyses, 20,669 genes and 2193 metabolites were identified. Compared with the control group, 3255 DEGs were found in the vaginal wall of long-term menopausal rats. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in mechanistic pathways, including cell-cell junction, extracellular matrix, muscle tissue developments, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, tight junctions and the Wnt signaling pathway. Additionally, 313 DEMs were found, and they consisted mostly of amino acids and their metabolites. DEMs were also enriched in mechanistic pathways, such as glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, gap junctions and ferroptosis. Coexpression analysis of DEGs and DEMs revealed that biosynthesis of amino acids (isocitric acid and PKM) and glycerophospholipid metabolism (1-(9Z-hexadecenoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and PGS1) are critical metabolic pathways, suggesting that POP induced by menopause may be associated with the regulation of these processes. Conclusion The findings showed that long-term menopause greatly exacerbated vaginal wall support injury by decreasing the biosynthesis of amino acids and interfering with glycerophospholipid metabolism, which may result in POP. This study not only clarified that long-term menopause exacerbates damage to the vaginal wall but also provided insight into the potential molecular mechanisms by which long-term menopause induces POP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Li He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenyi Lin
- Department of Medical Pathology, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuemei Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Medical Pathology, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanjun Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhenglin Yang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study and Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yonghong Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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MAPK Pathways in Ocular Pathophysiology: Potential Therapeutic Drugs and Challenges. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040617. [PMID: 36831285 PMCID: PMC9954064 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways represent ubiquitous cellular signal transduction pathways that regulate all aspects of life and are frequently altered in disease. Once activated through phosphorylation, these MAPKs in turn phosphorylate and activate transcription factors present either in the cytoplasm or in the nucleus, leading to the expression of target genes and, as a consequence, they elicit various biological responses. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive review focusing on the roles of MAPK signaling pathways in ocular pathophysiology and the potential to influence these for the treatment of eye diseases. We summarize the current knowledge of identified MAPK-targeting compounds in the context of ocular diseases such as macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma and keratopathy, but also in rare ocular diseases where the cell differentiation, proliferation or migration are defective. Potential therapeutic interventions are also discussed. Additionally, we discuss challenges in overcoming the reported eye toxicity of some MAPK inhibitors.
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Castillo Ransanz L, Van Altena PFJ, Heine VM, Accardo A. Engineered cell culture microenvironments for mechanobiology studies of brain neural cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1096054. [PMID: 36588937 PMCID: PMC9794772 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1096054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The biomechanical properties of the brain microenvironment, which is composed of different neural cell types, the extracellular matrix, and blood vessels, are critical for normal brain development and neural functioning. Stiffness, viscoelasticity and spatial organization of brain tissue modulate proliferation, migration, differentiation, and cell function. However, the mechanical aspects of the neural microenvironment are largely ignored in current cell culture systems. Considering the high promises of human induced pluripotent stem cell- (iPSC-) based models for disease modelling and new treatment development, and in light of the physiological relevance of neuromechanobiological features, applications of in vitro engineered neuronal microenvironments should be explored thoroughly to develop more representative in vitro brain models. In this context, recently developed biomaterials in combination with micro- and nanofabrication techniques 1) allow investigating how mechanical properties affect neural cell development and functioning; 2) enable optimal cell microenvironment engineering strategies to advance neural cell models; and 3) provide a quantitative tool to assess changes in the neuromechanobiological properties of the brain microenvironment induced by pathology. In this review, we discuss the biological and engineering aspects involved in studying neuromechanobiology within scaffold-free and scaffold-based 2D and 3D iPSC-based brain models and approaches employing primary lineages (neural/glial), cell lines and other stem cells. Finally, we discuss future experimental directions of engineered microenvironments in neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Castillo Ransanz
- Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pieter F. J. Van Altena
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Vivi M. Heine
- Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Angelo Accardo
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
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