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Srivastava LK, Ehrlicher AJ. Sensing the squeeze: nuclear mechanotransduction in health and disease. Nucleus 2024; 15:2374854. [PMID: 38951951 PMCID: PMC11221475 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2024.2374854] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The nucleus not only is a repository for DNA but also a center of cellular and nuclear mechanotransduction. From nuclear deformation to the interplay between mechanosensing components and genetic control, the nucleus is poised at the nexus of mechanical forces and cellular function. Understanding the stresses acting on the nucleus, its mechanical properties, and their effects on gene expression is therefore crucial to appreciate its mechanosensitive function. In this review, we examine many elements of nuclear mechanotransduction, and discuss the repercussions on the health of cells and states of illness. By describing the processes that underlie nuclear mechanosensation and analyzing its effects on gene regulation, the review endeavors to open new avenues for studying nuclear mechanics in physiology and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allen J. Ehrlicher
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Centre for Structural Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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2
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Li Y, Zhu J, Zhai F, Kong L, Li H, Jin X. Advances in the understanding of nuclear pore complexes in human diseases. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:374. [PMID: 39080077 PMCID: PMC11289042 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05881-5] [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: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are sophisticated and dynamic protein structures that straddle the nuclear envelope and act as gatekeepers for transporting molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. NPCs comprise up to 30 different proteins known as nucleoporins (NUPs). However, a growing body of research has suggested that NPCs play important roles in gene regulation, viral infections, cancer, mitosis, genetic diseases, kidney diseases, immune system diseases, and degenerative neurological and muscular pathologies. PURPOSE In this review, we introduce the structure and function of NPCs. Then We described the physiological and pathological effects of each component of NPCs which provide a direction for future clinical applications. METHODS The literatures from PubMed have been reviewed for this article. CONCLUSION This review summarizes current studies on the implications of NPCs in human physiology and pathology, highlighting the mechanistic underpinnings of NPC-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Li
- The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fengguang Zhai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lili Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hong Li
- The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Jin
- The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315040, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Nngbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China.
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3
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Tan YH, Wang KCW, Chin IL, Sanderson RW, Li J, Kennedy BF, Noble PB, Choi YS. Stiffness Mediated-Mechanosensation of Airway Smooth Muscle Cells on Linear Stiffness Gradient Hydrogels. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2304254. [PMID: 38593989 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202304254] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
In obstructive airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein amount and composition of the airway smooth muscle (ASM) is often remodelled, likely altering tissue stiffness. The underlying mechanism of how human ASM cell (hASMC) mechanosenses the aberrant microenvironment is not well understood. Physiological stiffnesses of the ASM were measured by uniaxial compression tester using porcine ASM layers under 0, 5 and 10% longitudinal stretch above in situ length. Linear stiffness gradient hydrogels (230 kPa range) were fabricated and functionalized with ECM proteins, collagen I (ColI), fibronectin (Fn) and laminin (Ln), to recapitulate the above-measured range of stiffnesses. Overall, hASMC mechanosensation exhibited a clear correlation with the underlying hydrogel stiffness. Cell size, nuclear size and contractile marker alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression showed a strong correlation to substrate stiffness. Mechanosensation, assessed by Lamin-A intensity and nuc/cyto YAP, exhibited stiffness-mediated behaviour only on ColI and Fn-coated hydrogels. Inhibition studies using blebbistatin or Y27632 attenuated most mechanotransduction-derived cell morphological responses, αSMA and Lamin-A expression and nuc/cyto YAP (blebbistatin only). This study highlights the interplay and complexities between stiffness and ECM protein type on hASMC mechanosensation, relevant to airway remodelling in obstructive airway diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Hwee Tan
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Kimberley C W Wang
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Ian L Chin
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Rowan W Sanderson
- BRITElab, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jiayue Li
- BRITElab, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Brendan F Kennedy
- BRITElab, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziadzka 5, Torun, 87-100, Poland
| | - Peter B Noble
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Yu Suk Choi
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
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4
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Massidda MW, Ashirov D, Demkov A, Sices A, Baker AB. A Computational Model of Mechanical Stretching of Cultured Cells on a Flexible Membrane. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.06.597769. [PMID: 38895285 PMCID: PMC11185657 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.06.597769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Mechanical forces applied to cells are known to regulate a wide variety of biological processes. Recent studies have supported that mechanical forces can cause nuclear deformation, leading to significant alterations in the gene expression and chromatin landscape of the cell. While the stresses and strains applied to cells is it is often known or controlled experimentally on a macroscopic length scale, it is often unclear what the actual forces and displacements are at the microscopic level of the cell. In this work, we created a model of cell deformation during application of mechanical stretch to cultured cells growth on a flexible membrane. This configuration is commonly used is in experimental studies as a means to apply controlled mechanical strains to adherent cultured cells. The parameters used in the study were used for application of strain to a mesenchymal stem cell stretched on a membrane. computational model was created to simulate the stresses and strains within the cell under a variety of stain amplitudes, waveforms and frequencies of mechanical loading with the range of commonly used experimental systems. The results demonstrate the connection between mechanical loading parameters applied through the flexible membrane and the resulting stresses and strains within the cell and nucleus. Using a viscoelastic model of chromatin, we connected the results provide to a rough model of resulting deformation within chromatin from the forces applied to the nucleus. Overall, the model is useful in providing insight between experimentally applied mechanical forces and the actual forces within the cell to better interpret the results of experimental studies. Statement of Significance In this work, we created a computational model of the mechanical stretching of cell on a flexible membrane under cyclic mechanical loading. This model provides insight into the forces and displacements inside of cell that result from that application of stretch. As many experiments use this set up, our work is relevant to interpreting many studies that use mechanical stretch to stimulate mechanotransduction.
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5
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Alasaadi DN, Mayor R. Mechanically guided cell fate determination in early development. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:242. [PMID: 38811420 PMCID: PMC11136904 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05272-6] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Cell fate determination, a vital process in early development and adulthood, has been the focal point of intensive investigation over the past decades. Its importance lies in its critical role in shaping various and diverse cell types during embryonic development and beyond. Exploration of cell fate determination started with molecular and genetic investigations unveiling central signaling pathways and molecular regulatory networks. The molecular studies into cell fate determination yielded an overwhelming amount of information invoking the notion of the complexity of cell fate determination. However, recent advances in the framework of biomechanics have introduced a paradigm shift in our understanding of this intricate process. The physical forces and biochemical interplay, known as mechanotransduction, have been identified as a pivotal drive influencing cell fate decisions. Certainly, the integration of biomechanics into the process of cell fate pushed our understanding of the developmental process and potentially holds promise for therapeutic applications. This integration was achieved by identifying physical forces like hydrostatic pressure, fluid dynamics, tissue stiffness, and topography, among others, and examining their interplay with biochemical signals. This review focuses on recent advances investigating the relationship between physical cues and biochemical signals that control cell fate determination during early embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delan N Alasaadi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Roberto Mayor
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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6
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Li Y, Li Q, Mu L, Hu Y, Yan C, Zhao H, Mi Y, Li X, Tao D, Qin J. Nuclear Softness Promotes the Metastatic Potential of Large-Nucleated Colorectal Cancer Cells via the ErbB4-Akt1-Lamin A/C Signaling Pathway. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:2748-2762. [PMID: 38725859 PMCID: PMC11077370 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.89481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal nuclear enlargement is a diagnostic and physical hallmark of malignant tumors. Large nuclei are positively associated with an increased risk of developing metastasis; however, a large nucleus is inevitably more resistant to cell migration due to its size. The present study demonstrated that the nuclear size of primary colorectal cancer (CRC) cells at an advanced stage was larger than cells at an early stage. In addition, the nuclei of CRC liver metastases were larger than those of the corresponding primary CRC tissues. CRC cells were sorted into large-nucleated cells (LNCs) and small-nucleated cells (SNCs). Purified LNCs exhibited greater constricted migratory and metastatic capacity than SNCs in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ErbB4 was highly expressed in LNCs, which phosphorylated lamin A/C at serine 22 via the ErbB4-Akt1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, the level of phosphorylated lamin A/C was a negative determinant of nuclear stiffness. Taken together, CRC LNCs possessed greater constricted migratory and metastatic potential than SNCs due to ErbB4-Akt1-mediated lamin A/C phosphorylation and nuclear softening. These results may provide a potential treatment strategy for tumor metastasis by targeting nuclear stiffness in patients with cancer, particularly CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangkun Li
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qilin Li
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Lei Mu
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yibing Hu
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Breast Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Chang Yan
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yulong Mi
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350013, China
| | - Xiaolan Li
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Deding Tao
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jichao Qin
- Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
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7
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Asparuhova MB, Song X, Riedwyl D, van Geest G, Bosshardt DD, Sculean A. Differential molecular profiles and associated functionalities characterize connective tissue grafts obtained at different locations and depths in the human palate. Int J Oral Sci 2023; 15:57. [PMID: 38072943 PMCID: PMC10711016 DOI: 10.1038/s41368-023-00260-1] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to assess the molecular profiles of subepithelial connective tissue grafts (CTGs) obtained at different locations and depths in the human palate. Sixty-four CTGs belonging to anterior deep (AD), anterior superficial (AS), posterior deep (PD), and posterior superficial (PS) groups were subjected to RNA-Sequencing and their transcriptomes were analyzed computationally. Functional correlations characterizing the CTG groups were validated by cell biological experiments using primary human palatal fibroblasts (HPFs) extracted from the CTGs. A clearly more pronounced location-dependent than depth-dependent difference between the grafts, with a minimal number of genes (4) showing no dependence on the location, was revealed. Epithelial, endothelial, and monocytic cell migration was strongly (P < 0.001) potentiated by AD- and PS-HPFs. Moreover, significantly increased expression of genes encoding C-C and C-X-C motif chemokine ligands as well as significantly (P < 0.01) activated p38 signaling suggested immunomodulatory phenotype for AD- and PS-HPFs. Increased growth factor gene expression and significantly activated (P < 0.001) Erk and Akt signaling in HPFs originating from A-CTGs implied their involvement in cell survival, proliferation, and motility. Prominent collagen-rich expression profile contributing to high mechanical stability, increased osteogenesis-related gene expression, and strongly activated (P < 0.001) Smad1/5/8 signaling characterized HPFs originating from P-CTGs. The present data indicate that in humans, differences between palatal CTGs harvested from different locations and depths appear to be location- rather than depth-dependent. Our findings provide the basis for future personalization of the therapeutic strategy by selecting an optimal graft type depending on the clinical indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria B Asparuhova
- Laboratory of Oral Cell Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Xiaoqing Song
- Laboratory of Oral Cell Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dominic Riedwyl
- Laboratory of Oral Cell Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Geert van Geest
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dieter D Bosshardt
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Robert K. Schenk Laboratory of Oral Histology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anton Sculean
- Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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8
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Ji C, Huang Y. Durotaxis and negative durotaxis: where should cells go? Commun Biol 2023; 6:1169. [PMID: 37973823 PMCID: PMC10654570 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05554-y] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Durotaxis and negative durotaxis are processes in which cell migration is directed by extracellular stiffness. Durotaxis is the tendency of cells to migrate toward stiffer areas, while negative durotaxis occurs when cells migrate toward regions with lower stiffness. The mechanisms of both processes are not yet fully understood. Additionally, the connection between durotaxis and negative durotaxis remains unclear. In this review, we compare the mechanisms underlying durotaxis and negative durotaxis, summarize the basic principles of both, discuss the possible reasons why some cell types exhibit durotaxis while others exhibit negative durotaxis, propose mechanisms of switching between these processes, and emphasize the challenges in the investigation of durotaxis and negative durotaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Ji
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yuxing Huang
- Center for Precision Medicine Multi-Omics Research, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
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9
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Wang X, Agrawal V, Dunton CL, Liu Y, Virk RKA, Patel PA, Carter L, Pujadas EM, Li Y, Jain S, Wang H, Ni N, Tsai HM, Rivera-Bolanos N, Frederick J, Roth E, Bleher R, Duan C, Ntziachristos P, He TC, Reid RR, Jiang B, Subramanian H, Backman V, Ameer GA. Chromatin reprogramming and bone regeneration in vitro and in vivo via the microtopography-induced constriction of cell nuclei. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:1514-1529. [PMID: 37308586 PMCID: PMC10804399 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01053-x] [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: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Topographical cues on cells can, through contact guidance, alter cellular plasticity and accelerate the regeneration of cultured tissue. Here we show how changes in the nuclear and cellular morphologies of human mesenchymal stromal cells induced by micropillar patterns via contact guidance influence the conformation of the cells' chromatin and their osteogenic differentiation in vitro and in vivo. The micropillars impacted nuclear architecture, lamin A/C multimerization and 3D chromatin conformation, and the ensuing transcriptional reprogramming enhanced the cells' responsiveness to osteogenic differentiation factors and decreased their plasticity and off-target differentiation. In mice with critical-size cranial defects, implants with micropillar patterns inducing nuclear constriction altered the cells' chromatin conformation and enhanced bone regeneration without the need for exogenous signalling molecules. Our findings suggest that medical device topographies could be designed to facilitate bone regeneration via chromatin reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlong Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Vasundhara Agrawal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Cody L Dunton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Yugang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Ranya K A Virk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Priyam A Patel
- Quantitative Data Science Core, Center for Genetic Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lucas Carter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Emily M Pujadas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Surbhi Jain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Hao Wang
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Na Ni
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hsiu-Ming Tsai
- Department of Radiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nancy Rivera-Bolanos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Jane Frederick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Eric Roth
- Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Reiner Bleher
- Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Chongwen Duan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Panagiotis Ntziachristos
- Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tong Chuan He
- Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Russell R Reid
- Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Laboratory of Craniofacial Biology and Development, Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bin Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hariharan Subramanian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Vadim Backman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Guillermo A Ameer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Chemistry of Life Process Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Bionanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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10
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Dang I, Brazzo JA, Bae Y, Assoian RK. Key role for Rac in the early transcriptional response to extracellular matrix stiffness and stiffness-dependent repression of ATF3. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs260636. [PMID: 37737020 PMCID: PMC10617619 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Rho family GTPases Rac and Rho play critical roles in transmitting mechanical information contained within the extracellular matrix (ECM) to the cell. Rac and Rho have well-described roles in regulating stiffness-dependent actin remodeling, proliferation and motility. However, much less is known about the relative roles of these GTPases in stiffness-dependent transcription, particularly at the genome-wide level. Here, we selectively inhibited Rac and Rho in mouse embryonic fibroblasts cultured on deformable substrata and used RNA sequencing to elucidate and compare the contribution of these GTPases to the early transcriptional response to ECM stiffness. Surprisingly, we found that the stiffness-dependent activation of Rac was dominant over Rho in the initial transcriptional response to ECM stiffness. We also identified activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) as a major target of stiffness- and Rac-mediated signaling and show that ATF3 repression by ECM stiffness helps to explain how the stiffness-dependent activation of Rac results in the induction of cyclin D1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irène Dang
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Joseph A. Brazzo
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Yongho Bae
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Richard K. Assoian
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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11
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Abdelrahman S, Ge R, Susapto HH, Liu Y, Samkari F, Moretti M, Liu X, Hoehndorf R, Emwas AH, Jaremko M, Rawas RH, Hauser CAE. The Impact of Mechanical Cues on the Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Profiles of Human Dermal Fibroblasts Cultured in Ultrashort Self-Assembling Peptide 3D Scaffolds. ACS NANO 2023; 17:14508-14531. [PMID: 37477873 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c01176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Cells' interactions with their microenvironment influence their morphological features and regulate crucial cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and gene expression. Most biological data available are based on in vitro two-dimensional (2D) cellular models, which fail to recapitulate the three-dimensional (3D) in vivo systems. This can be attributed to the lack of cell-matrix interaction and the limitless access to nutrients and oxygen, in contrast to in vivo systems. Despite the emergence of a plethora of 3D matrices to address this challenge, there are few reports offering a proper characterization of these matrices or studying how the cell-matrix interaction influences cellular metabolism in correlation with gene expression. In this study, two tetrameric ultrashort self-assembling peptide sequences, FFIK and FIIK, were used to create in vitro 3D models using well-described human dermal fibroblast cells. The peptide sequences are derived from naturally occurring amino acids that are capable of self-assembling into stable hydrogels without UV or chemical cross-linking. Our results showed that 2D cultured fibroblasts exhibited distinct metabolic and transcriptomic profiles compared to 3D cultured cells. The observed changes in the metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles were closely interconnected and influenced several important metabolic pathways including the TCA cycle, glycolysis, MAPK signaling cascades, and hemostasis. Data provided here may lead to clearer insights into the influence of the surrounding microenvironment on human dermal fibroblast metabolic patterns and molecular mechanisms, underscoring the importance of utilizing efficient 3D in vitro models to study such complex mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherin Abdelrahman
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rui Ge
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hepi H Susapto
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yang Liu
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faris Samkari
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manola Moretti
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xinzhi Liu
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Robert Hoehndorf
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences & Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdul-Hamid Emwas
- Core Laboratories, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) and Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ranim H Rawas
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Charlotte A E Hauser
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
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12
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Vágó J, Takács R, Kovács P, Hajdú T, van der Veen DR, Matta C. Combining biomechanical stimulation and chronobiology: a novel approach for augmented chondrogenesis? Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1232465. [PMID: 37456723 PMCID: PMC10349586 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1232465] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The unique structure and composition of articular cartilage is critical for its physiological function. However, this architecture may get disrupted by degeneration or trauma. Due to the low intrinsic regeneration properties of the tissue, the healing response is generally poor. Low-grade inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis advances cartilage degradation, resulting in pain, immobility, and reduced quality of life. Generating neocartilage using advanced tissue engineering approaches may address these limitations. The biocompatible microenvironment that is suitable for cartilage regeneration may not only rely on cells and scaffolds, but also on the spatial and temporal features of biomechanics. Cell-autonomous biological clocks that generate circadian rhythms in chondrocytes are generally accepted to be indispensable for normal cartilage homeostasis. While the molecular details of the circadian clockwork are increasingly well understood at the cellular level, the mechanisms that enable clock entrainment by biomechanical signals, which are highly relevant in cartilage, are still largely unknown. This narrative review outlines the role of the biomechanical microenvironment to advance cartilage tissue engineering via entraining the molecular circadian clockwork, and highlights how application of this concept may enhance the development and successful translation of biomechanically relevant tissue engineering interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Vágó
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Histology and Embryology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Roland Takács
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Histology and Embryology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Patrik Kovács
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Histology and Embryology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Tibor Hajdú
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Histology and Embryology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Daan R. van der Veen
- Chronobiology Section, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Csaba Matta
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Histology and Embryology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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13
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Shah PP, Santini GT, Shen KM, Jain R. InterLINCing Chromatin Organization and Mechanobiology in Laminopathies. Curr Cardiol Rep 2023; 25:307-314. [PMID: 37052760 PMCID: PMC10185580 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-01853-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this review, we explore the chromatin-related consequences of laminopathy-linked mutations through the lens of mechanotransduction. RECENT FINDINGS Multiple studies have highlighted the role of the nuclear lamina in maintaining the integrity of the nucleus. The lamina also has a critical role in 3D genome organization. Mutations in lamina proteins associated with various laminopathies result in the loss of organization of DNA at the nuclear periphery. However, it remains unclear if or how these two aspects of lamin function are connected. Recent data suggests that unlinking the cytoskeleton from the nuclear lamina may be beneficial to slow progress of deleterious phenotypes observed in laminopathies. In this review, we highlight emerging data that suggest interlinked chromatin- and mechanical biology-related pathways are interconnected in the pathogenesis of laminopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisha P. Shah
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Smilow Center for Translational Research, 09-184, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Garrett T. Santini
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Kaitlyn M. Shen
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Rajan Jain
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Smilow Center for Translational Research, 09-101, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
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14
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Zhao YQ, Deng XW, Xu GQ, Lin J, Lu HZ, Chen J. Mechanical homeostasis imbalance in hepatic stellate cells activation and hepatic fibrosis. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1183808. [PMID: 37152902 PMCID: PMC10157180 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1183808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver disease or repeated damage to hepatocytes can give rise to hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a pathological process of excessive sedimentation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagens, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans (PGs) in the hepatic parenchyma. Changes in the composition of the ECM lead to the stiffness of the matrix that destroys its inherent mechanical homeostasis, and a mechanical homeostasis imbalance activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts, which can overproliferate and secrete large amounts of ECM proteins. Excessive ECM proteins are gradually deposited in the Disse gap, and matrix regeneration fails, which further leads to changes in ECM components and an increase in stiffness, forming a vicious cycle. These processes promote the occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis. In this review, the dynamic process of ECM remodeling of HF and the activation of HSCs into mechanotransduction signaling pathways for myofibroblasts to participate in HF are discussed. These mechanotransduction signaling pathways may have potential therapeutic targets for repairing or reversing fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Quan Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Xi-Wen Deng
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Guo-Qi Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Hua-Ze Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
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15
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Yang BA, da Rocha AM, Newton I, Shcherbina A, Wong SW, Fraczek PM, Larouche JA, Hiraki HL, Baker BM, Shin JW, Takayama S, Thouless MD, Aguilar CA. Manipulation of the nucleoscaffold potentiates cellular reprogramming kinetics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.12.532246. [PMID: 36993714 PMCID: PMC10055010 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.12.532246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Somatic cell fate is an outcome set by the activities of specific transcription factors and the chromatin landscape and is maintained by gene silencing of alternate cell fates through physical interactions with the nuclear scaffold. Here, we evaluate the role of the nuclear scaffold as a guardian of cell fate in human fibroblasts by comparing the effects of transient loss (knockdown) and mutation (progeria) of functional Lamin A/C, a core component of the nuclear scaffold. We observed that Lamin A/C deficiency or mutation disrupts nuclear morphology, heterochromatin levels, and increases access to DNA in lamina-associated domains. Changes in Lamin A/C were also found to impact the mechanical properties of the nucleus when measured by a microfluidic cellular squeezing device. We also show that transient loss of Lamin A/C accelerates the kinetics of cellular reprogramming to pluripotency through opening of previously silenced heterochromatin domains while genetic mutation of Lamin A/C into progerin induces a senescent phenotype that inhibits the induction of reprogramming genes. Our results highlight the physical role of the nuclear scaffold in safeguarding cellular fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A. Yang
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Isabel Newton
- Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Anna Shcherbina
- Dept. of Biomedical Informatics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sing-Wan Wong
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Paula M. Fraczek
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jacqueline A. Larouche
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Harrison L. Hiraki
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Brendon M. Baker
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jae-Won Shin
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Wallace Coulter Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
| | - M. D. Thouless
- Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Carlos A. Aguilar
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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16
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Beedle AEM, Garcia-Manyes S. The role of single protein elasticity in mechanobiology. NATURE REVIEWS. MATERIALS 2023; 8:10-24. [PMID: 37469679 PMCID: PMC7614781 DOI: 10.1038/s41578-022-00488-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
In addition to biochemical signals and genetic considerations, mechanical forces are rapidly emerging as a master regulator of human physiology. Yet the molecular mechanisms that regulate force-induced functionalities across a wide range of scales, encompassing the cell, tissue or organ levels, are comparatively not so well understood. With the advent, development and refining of single molecule nanomechanical techniques, enabling to exquisitely probe the conformational dynamics of individual proteins under the effect of a calibrated force, we have begun to acquire a comprehensive knowledge on the rich plethora of physicochemical principles that regulate the elasticity of single proteins. Here we review the major advances underpinning our current understanding of how the elasticity of single proteins regulates mechanosensing and mechanotransduction. We discuss the present limitations and future challenges of such a prolific and burgeoning field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy EM Beedle
- Department of Physics, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Centre for the Physical Science of Life and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King’s College London, Strand, WC2R 2LS London, United Kingdom
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), the Barcelona Institute of Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Garcia-Manyes
- Department of Physics, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Centre for the Physical Science of Life and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King’s College London, Strand, WC2R 2LS London, United Kingdom
- Single Molecule Mechanobiology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, London, UK
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17
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Santini GT, Shah PP, Karnay A, Jain R. Aberrant chromatin organization at the nexus of laminopathy disease pathways. Nucleus 2022; 13:300-312. [PMID: 36503349 PMCID: PMC9746625 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2022.2153564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Garrett T. Santini
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Parisha P. Shah
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ashley Karnay
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Rajan Jain
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA,CONTACT Rajan Jain Smilow Center for Translational Research, 09-101 3400 Civic Center Blvd, PhiladelphiaPA 19104
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18
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Goult BT, von Essen M, Hytönen VP. The mechanical cell - the role of force dependencies in synchronising protein interaction networks. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:283155. [PMID: 36398718 PMCID: PMC9845749 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of mechanical signals in the proper functioning of organisms is increasingly recognised, and every cell senses physical forces and responds to them. These forces are generated both from outside the cell or via the sophisticated force-generation machinery of the cell, the cytoskeleton. All regions of the cell are connected via mechanical linkages, enabling the whole cell to function as a mechanical system. In this Review, we define some of the key concepts of how this machinery functions, highlighting the critical requirement for mechanosensory proteins, and conceptualise the coupling of mechanical linkages to mechanochemical switches that enables forces to be converted into biological signals. These mechanical couplings provide a mechanism for how mechanical crosstalk might coordinate the entire cell, its neighbours, extending into whole collections of cells, in tissues and in organs, and ultimately in the coordination and operation of entire organisms. Consequently, many diseases manifest through defects in this machinery, which we map onto schematics of the mechanical linkages within a cell. This mapping approach paves the way for the identification of additional linkages between mechanosignalling pathways and so might identify treatments for diseases, where mechanical connections are affected by mutations or where individual force-regulated components are defective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T. Goult
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, Kent, UK,Authors for correspondence (; )
| | - Magdaléna von Essen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, FI-33100 Tampere, Finland
| | - Vesa P. Hytönen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, FI-33100 Tampere, Finland,Fimlab Laboratories, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland,Authors for correspondence (; )
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19
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Fenelon KD, Thomas E, Samani M, Zhu M, Tao H, Sun Y, McNeill H, Hopyan S. Transgenic force sensors and software to measure force transmission across the mammalian nuclear envelope in vivo. Biol Open 2022; 11:281166. [DOI: 10.1242/bio.059656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Nuclear mechanotransduction is a growing field with exciting implications for the regulation of gene expression and cellular function. Mechanical signals may be transduced to the nuclear interior biochemically or physically through connections between the cell surface and chromatin. To define mechanical stresses upon the nucleus in physiological settings, we generated transgenic mouse strains that harbour FRET-based tension sensors or control constructs in the outer and inner aspects of the nuclear envelope. We knocked-in a published esprin-2G sensor to measure tensions across the LINC complex and generated a new sensor that links the inner nuclear membrane to chromatin. To mitigate challenges inherent to fluorescence lifetime analysis in vivo, we developed software (FLIMvivo) that markedly improves the fitting of fluorescence decay curves. In the mouse embryo, the sensors responded to cytoskeletal relaxation and stretch applied by micro-aspiration. They reported organ-specific differences and a spatiotemporal tension gradient along the proximodistal axis of the limb bud, raising the possibility that mechanical mechanisms coregulate pattern formation. These mouse strains and software are potentially valuable tools for testing and refining mechanotransduction hypotheses in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli D. Fenelon
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
- University of Toronto 2 Department of Molecular Genetics , , Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 , Canada
| | - Evan Thomas
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
| | - Mohammad Samani
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
| | - Min Zhu
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
- University of Toronto 3 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering , , Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 , Canada
| | - Hirotaka Tao
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
| | - Yu Sun
- University of Toronto 3 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering , , Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 , Canada
| | - Helen McNeill
- Washington University 4 Department of Developmental Biology , , St. Louis, MO 63110 , USA
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute 5 , Toronto, ON M5G 1X5 , Canada
| | - Sevan Hopyan
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
- University of Toronto 2 Department of Molecular Genetics , , Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 , Canada
- Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto 6 Division of Orthopaedic Surgery , , ON M5G 1X8 , Canada
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20
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Niu L, Cheng B, Huang G, Nan K, Han S, Ren H, Liu N, Li Y, Genin GM, Xu F. A positive mechanobiological feedback loop controls bistable switching of cardiac fibroblast phenotype. Cell Discov 2022; 8:84. [PMID: 36068215 PMCID: PMC9448780 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00427-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is associated with activation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), a pathological, phenotypic transition that is widely believed to be irreversible in the late stages of disease development. Sensing of a stiffened mechanical environment through regulation of integrin-based adhesion plaques and activation of the Piezo1 mechanosensitive ion channel is known to factor into this transition. Here, using integrated in vitro and in silico models, we discovered a mutually reinforcing, mechanical positive feedback loop between integrin β1 and Piezo1 activation that forms a bistable switch. The bistable switch is initiated by perturbations in matrix elastic modulus that amplify to trigger downstream signaling involving Ca2+ and YAP that, recursively, leads fibroblasts to further stiffen their environment. By simultaneously interfering with the newly identified mechanical positive feedback loop and modulating matrix elastic modulus, we reversed markers of phenotypical transition of CF, suggesting new therapeutic targets for fibrotic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Niu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Bo Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guoyou Huang
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kai Nan
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuang Han
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.,Honghui Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hui Ren
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.,Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Cardiology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guy M Genin
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.,Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.,NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Feng Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. .,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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21
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Kalukula Y, Stephens AD, Lammerding J, Gabriele S. Mechanics and functional consequences of nuclear deformations. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:583-602. [PMID: 35513718 PMCID: PMC9902167 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00480-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
As the home of cellular genetic information, the nucleus has a critical role in determining cell fate and function in response to various signals and stimuli. In addition to biochemical inputs, the nucleus is constantly exposed to intrinsic and extrinsic mechanical forces that trigger dynamic changes in nuclear structure and morphology. Emerging data suggest that the physical deformation of the nucleus modulates many cellular and nuclear functions. These functions have long been considered to be downstream of cytoplasmic signalling pathways and dictated by gene expression. In this Review, we discuss an emerging perspective on the mechanoregulation of the nucleus that considers the physical connections from chromatin to nuclear lamina and cytoskeletal filaments as a single mechanical unit. We describe key mechanisms of nuclear deformations in time and space and provide a critical review of the structural and functional adaptive responses of the nucleus to deformations. We then consider the contribution of nuclear deformations to the regulation of important cellular functions, including muscle contraction, cell migration and human disease pathogenesis. Collectively, these emerging insights shed new light on the dynamics of nuclear deformations and their roles in cellular mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohalie Kalukula
- University of Mons, Soft Matter and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, Place du Parc, 20 B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Andrew D. Stephens
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jan Lammerding
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA,Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sylvain Gabriele
- University of Mons, Soft Matter and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, Place du Parc, 20 B-7000 Mons, Belgium
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22
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Jana A, Tran A, Gill A, Kiepas A, Kapania RK, Konstantopoulos K, Nain AS. Sculpting Rupture-Free Nuclear Shapes in Fibrous Environments. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2203011. [PMID: 35863910 PMCID: PMC9443471 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cytoskeleton-mediated force transmission regulates nucleus morphology. How nuclei shaping occurs in fibrous in vivo environments remains poorly understood. Here suspended nanofiber networks of precisely tunable (nm-µm) diameters are used to quantify nucleus plasticity in fibrous environments mimicking the natural extracellular matrix. Contrary to the apical cap over the nucleus in cells on 2-dimensional surfaces, the cytoskeleton of cells on fibers displays a uniform actin network caging the nucleus. The role of contractility-driven caging in sculpting nuclear shapes is investigated as cells spread on aligned single fibers, doublets, and multiple fibers of varying diameters. Cell contractility increases with fiber diameter due to increased focal adhesion clustering and density of actin stress fibers, which correlates with increased mechanosensitive transcription factor Yes-associated protein (YAP) translocation to the nucleus. Unexpectedly, large- and small-diameter fiber combinations lead to teardrop-shaped nuclei due to stress fiber anisotropy across the cell. As cells spread on fibers, diameter-dependent nuclear envelope invaginations that run the nucleus's length are formed at fiber contact sites. The sharpest invaginations enriched with heterochromatin clustering and sites of DNA repair are insufficient to trigger nucleus rupture. Overall, the authors quantitate the previously unknown sculpting and adaptability of nuclei to fibrous environments with pathophysiological implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniket Jana
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
| | - Avery Tran
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Amritpal Gill
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
| | - Alexander Kiepas
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Rakesh K. Kapania
- Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace EngineeringVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
| | | | - Amrinder S. Nain
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
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23
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Jain N, Lord JM, Vogel V. Mechanoimmunology: Are inflammatory epigenetic states of macrophages tuned by biophysical factors? APL Bioeng 2022; 6:031502. [PMID: 36051106 PMCID: PMC9427154 DOI: 10.1063/5.0087699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many inflammatory diseases that are responsible for a majority of deaths are still uncurable, in part as the underpinning pathomechanisms and how to combat them is still poorly understood. Tissue-resident macrophages play pivotal roles in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, but if they gradually convert to proinflammatory phenotypes, or if blood-born proinflammatory macrophages persist long-term after activation, they contribute to chronic inflammation and fibrosis. While biochemical factors and how they regulate the inflammatory transcriptional response of macrophages have been at the forefront of research to identify targets for therapeutic interventions, evidence is increasing that physical factors also tune the macrophage phenotype. Recently, several mechanisms have emerged as to how physical factors impact the mechanobiology of macrophages, from the nuclear translocation of transcription factors to epigenetic modifications, perhaps even DNA methylation. Insight into the mechanobiology of macrophages and associated epigenetic modifications will deliver novel therapeutic options going forward, particularly in the context of increased inflammation with advancing age and age-related diseases. We review here how biophysical factors can co-regulate pro-inflammatory gene expression and epigenetic modifications and identify knowledge gaps that require urgent attention if this therapeutic potential is to be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Jain
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
| | | | - Viola Vogel
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Translational Medicine, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Urciuoli E, Peruzzi B. The Paradox of Nuclear Lamins in Pathologies: Apparently Controversial Roles Explained by Tissue-Specific Mechanobiology. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142194. [PMID: 35883635 PMCID: PMC9318957 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuclear lamina is a complex meshwork of intermediate filaments (lamins) that is located beneath the inner nuclear membrane and the surrounding nucleoplasm. The lamins exert both structural and functional roles in the nucleus and, by interacting with several nuclear proteins, are involved in a wide range of nuclear and cellular activities. Due their pivotal roles in basic cellular processes, lamin gene mutations, or modulations in lamin expression, are often associated with pathological conditions, ranging from rare genetic diseases, such as laminopathies, to cancer. Although a substantial amount of literature describes the effects that are mediated by the deregulation of nuclear lamins, some apparently controversial results have been reported, which may appear to conflict with each other. In this context, we herein provide our explanation of such “controversy”, which, in our opinion, derives from the tissue-specific expression of nuclear lamins and their close correlation with mechanotransduction processes, which could be very different, or even opposite, depending on the specific mechanical conditions that should not be compared (a tissue vs. another tissue, in vivo studies vs. cell cultures on glass/plastic supports, etc.). Moreover, we have stressed the relevance of considering and reproducing the “mechano-environment” in in vitro experimentation. Indeed, when primary cells that are collected from patients or donors are maintained in a culture, the mechanical signals deriving from canonical experimental procedures of cell culturing could alter the lamin expression, thereby profoundly modifying the assessed cell type, in some cases even too much, compared to the cell of origin.
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Korulmaz A, Başer B, Alakaya M, Arslanköylü AE. A Boy with Sandestig-Stefanova Syndrome and Genital Abnormalities. Mol Syndromol 2022; 13:343-349. [PMID: 36158057 PMCID: PMC9421686 DOI: 10.1159/000521331] [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: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sandestig-Stefanova syndrome is an autosomal recessive developmental syndrome characterized by microcephaly, trigonocephaly, congenital cataracts, microphthalmia, facial findings, camptodactyly, periventricular white matter loss, thin corpus callosum, delayed myelination, and poor prognosis. This syndrome is caused by biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the NUP188 gene. Case Presentation In the physical examination of our patient, whose mother and father were third-degree relatives, hypotonia, bilateral congenital cataracts, ambiguous genitalia, hypospadias, undescended testis, and facial dysmorphic findings (hypertelorism, high palate, micrognathia, microphthalmia, low-set ears) were detected. Discussion In our patient, a homozygous c.1087C>T (p.Gln363Ter) variant was detected in exon 11 of the NUP188 (NM_015354.3) gene. The mother and father were found to be heterozygous carriers of this variant. All patients with the diagnosis of Sandestig-Stevanova syndrome reported in the literature are female. Our patient is the first male patient reported with this syndrome. In addition, immunodeficiency, congenital hypothyroidism, biotinidase deficiency, undescended testis, hypospadias, and ambiguous genitalia are defined for the first time in this syndrome. Our patient is the first case of Sandestig-Stefanova syndrome reported from Turkey. In this study, Sandestig-Stefanova syndrome with a novel pathogenic NUP188 gene variant is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Korulmaz
- Pediatric İntensive Care Unit, Kocaeli Derince Training and Research Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey,*Ali Korulmaz,
| | | | - Mehmet Alakaya
- Pediatric İntensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Ali Ertuğ Arslanköylü
- Pediatric İntensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey
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26
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Nguyen DT, Ogando-Rivas E, Liu R, Wang T, Rubin J, Jin L, Tao H, Sawyer WW, Mendez-Gomez HR, Cascio M, Mitchell DA, Huang J, Sawyer WG, Sayour EJ, Castillo P. CAR T Cell Locomotion in Solid Tumor Microenvironment. Cells 2022; 11:1974. [PMID: 35741103 PMCID: PMC9221866 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The promising outcomes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in hematologic malignancies potentiates its capability in the fight against many cancers. Nevertheless, this immunotherapy modality needs significant improvements for the treatment of solid tumors. Researchers have incrementally identified limitations and constantly pursued better CAR designs. However, even if CAR T cells are armed with optimal killer functions, they must overcome and survive suppressive barriers imposed by the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we will discuss in detail the important role of TME in CAR T cell trafficking and how the intrinsic barriers contribute to an immunosuppressive phenotype and cancer progression. It is of critical importance that preclinical models can closely recapitulate the in vivo TME to better predict CAR T activity. Animal models have contributed immensely to our understanding of human diseases, but the intensive care for the animals and unreliable representation of human biology suggest in vivo models cannot be the sole approach to CAR T cell therapy. On the other hand, in vitro models for CAR T cytotoxic assessment offer valuable insights to mechanistic studies at the single cell level, but they often lack in vivo complexities, inter-individual heterogeneity, or physiologically relevant spatial dimension. Understanding the advantages and limitations of preclinical models and their applications would enable more reliable prediction of better clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duy T. Nguyen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (D.T.N.); (W.W.S.); (W.G.S.)
| | - Elizabeth Ogando-Rivas
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Ruixuan Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Theodore Wang
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Jacob Rubin
- Warrington College of Business, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Linchun Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Haipeng Tao
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - William W. Sawyer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (D.T.N.); (W.W.S.); (W.G.S.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Hector R. Mendez-Gomez
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Matthew Cascio
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Duane A. Mitchell
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Jianping Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
| | - W. Gregory Sawyer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (D.T.N.); (W.W.S.); (W.G.S.)
| | - Elias J. Sayour
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; (E.O.-R.); (R.L.); (L.J.); (H.T.); (H.R.M.-G.); (D.A.M.); (J.H.); (E.J.S.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Paul Castillo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
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Bellanger A, Madsen-Østerbye J, Galigniana NM, Collas P. Restructuring of Lamina-Associated Domains in Senescence and Cancer. Cells 2022; 11:1846. [PMID: 35681541 PMCID: PMC9180887 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Induction of cellular senescence or cancer is associated with a reshaping of the nuclear envelope and a broad reorganization of heterochromatin. At the periphery of mammalian nuclei, heterochromatin is stabilized at the nuclear lamina via lamina-associated domains (LADs). Alterations in the composition of the nuclear lamina during senescence lead to a loss of peripheral heterochromatin, repositioning of LADs, and changes in epigenetic states of LADs. Cancer initiation and progression are also accompanied by a massive reprogramming of the epigenome, particularly in domains coinciding with LADs. Here, we review recent knowledge on alterations in chromatin organization and in the epigenome that affect LADs and related genomic domains in senescence and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Bellanger
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway; (A.B.); (J.M.-Ø.); (N.M.G.)
| | - Julia Madsen-Østerbye
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway; (A.B.); (J.M.-Ø.); (N.M.G.)
| | - Natalia M. Galigniana
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway; (A.B.); (J.M.-Ø.); (N.M.G.)
- Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Philippe Collas
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway; (A.B.); (J.M.-Ø.); (N.M.G.)
- Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway
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The transcription factor PREP1(PKNOX1) regulates nuclear stiffness, the expression of LINC complex proteins and mechanotransduction. Commun Biol 2022; 5:456. [PMID: 35550602 PMCID: PMC9098460 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03406-9] [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: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanosignaling, initiated by extracellular forces and propagated through the intracellular cytoskeletal network, triggers signaling cascades employed in processes as embryogenesis, tissue maintenance and disease development. While signal transduction by transcription factors occurs downstream of cellular mechanosensing, little is known about the cell intrinsic mechanisms that can regulate mechanosignaling. Here we show that transcription factor PREP1 (PKNOX1) regulates the stiffness of the nucleus, the expression of LINC complex proteins and mechanotransduction of YAP-TAZ. PREP1 depletion upsets the nuclear membrane protein stoichiometry and renders nuclei soft. Intriguingly, these cells display fortified actomyosin network with bigger focal adhesion complexes resulting in greater traction forces at the substratum. Despite the high traction, YAP-TAZ translocation is impaired indicating disrupted mechanotransduction. Our data demonstrate mechanosignaling upstream of YAP-TAZ and suggest the existence of a transcriptional mechanism actively regulating nuclear membrane homeostasis and signal transduction through the active engagement/disengagement of the cell from the extracellular matrix. The transcription factor PREP1 binds to promoter regions of SUN1, SUN2 and LAP2 genes and promotes nuclear stiffness, and its depletion results in impaired mechanotransduction.
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29
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Echarri A. A Multisensory Network Drives Nuclear Mechanoadaptation. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030404. [PMID: 35327596 PMCID: PMC8945967 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells have adapted to mechanical forces early in evolution and have developed multiple mechanisms ensuring sensing of, and adaptation to, the diversity of forces operating outside and within organisms. The nucleus must necessarily adapt to all types of mechanical signals, as its functions are essential for virtually all cell processes, many of which are tuned by mechanical cues. To sense forces, the nucleus is physically connected with the cytoskeleton, which senses and transmits forces generated outside and inside the cell. The nuclear LINC complex bridges the cytoskeleton and the nuclear lamina to transmit mechanical information up to the chromatin. This system creates a force-sensing macromolecular complex that, however, is not sufficient to regulate all nuclear mechanoadaptation processes. Within the nucleus, additional mechanosensitive structures, including the nuclear envelope and the nuclear pore complex, function to regulate nuclear mechanoadaptation. Similarly, extra nuclear mechanosensitive systems based on plasma membrane dynamics, mechanotransduce information to the nucleus. Thus, the nucleus has the intrinsic structural components needed to receive and interpret mechanical inputs, but also rely on extra nuclear mechano-sensors that activate nuclear regulators in response to force. Thus, a network of mechanosensitive cell structures ensures that the nucleus has a tunable response to mechanical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asier Echarri
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Mechanoadaptation and Caveolae Biology Laboratory, Areas of Cell & Developmental Biology, Calle Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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30
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Mechanical Cues: Bidirectional Reciprocity in the Extracellular Matrix Drives Mechano-Signalling in Articular Cartilage. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413595. [PMID: 34948394 PMCID: PMC8707858 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition and organisation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly the pericellular matrix (PCM), in articular cartilage is critical to its biomechanical functionality; the presence of proteoglycans such as aggrecan, entrapped within a type II collagen fibrillar network, confers mechanical resilience underweight-bearing. Furthermore, components of the PCM including type VI collagen, perlecan, small leucine-rich proteoglycans—decorin and biglycan—and fibronectin facilitate the transduction of both biomechanical and biochemical signals to the residing chondrocytes, thereby regulating the process of mechanotransduction in cartilage. In this review, we summarise the literature reporting on the bidirectional reciprocity of the ECM in chondrocyte mechano-signalling and articular cartilage homeostasis. Specifically, we discuss studies that have characterised the response of articular cartilage to mechanical perturbations in the local tissue environment and how the magnitude or type of loading applied elicits cellular behaviours to effect change. In vivo, including transgenic approaches, and in vitro studies have illustrated how physiological loading maintains a homeostatic balance of anabolic and catabolic activities, involving the direct engagement of many PCM molecules in orchestrating this slow but consistent turnover of the cartilage matrix. Furthermore, we document studies characterising how abnormal, non-physiological loading including excessive loading or joint trauma negatively impacts matrix molecule biosynthesis and/or organisation, affecting PCM mechanical properties and reducing the tissue’s ability to withstand load. We present compelling evidence showing that reciprocal engagement of the cells with this altered ECM environment can thus impact tissue homeostasis and, if sustained, can result in cartilage degradation and onset of osteoarthritis pathology. Enhanced dysregulation of PCM/ECM turnover is partially driven by mechanically mediated proteolytic degradation of cartilage ECM components. This generates bioactive breakdown fragments such as fibronectin, biglycan and lumican fragments, which can subsequently activate or inhibit additional signalling pathways including those involved in inflammation. Finally, we discuss how bidirectionality within the ECM is critically important in enabling the chondrocytes to synthesise and release PCM/ECM molecules, growth factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines and proteolytic enzymes, under a specified load, to influence PCM/ECM composition and mechanical properties in cartilage health and disease.
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31
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Choi G, Tang Z, Guan W. Microfluidic high-throughput single-cell mechanotyping: Devices and
applications. NANOTECHNOLOGY AND PRECISION ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.1063/10.0006042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gihoon Choi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802,
USA
| | - Zifan Tang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802,
USA
| | - Weihua Guan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802,
USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802,
USA
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32
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Macdougall LJ, Pérez‐Madrigal MM, Shaw JE, Worch JC, Sammon C, Richardson SM, Dove AP. Using Stereochemistry to Control Mechanical Properties in Thiol-Yne Click-Hydrogels. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 133:26060-26068. [PMID: 38505187 PMCID: PMC10947108 DOI: 10.1002/ange.202107161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The stereochemistry of polymers has a profound impact on their mechanical properties. While this has been observed in thermoplastics, studies on how stereochemistry affects the bulk properties of swollen networks, such as hydrogels, are limited. Typically, changing the stiffness of a hydrogel is achieved at the cost of changing another parameter, that in turn affects the physical properties of the material and ultimately influences the cellular response. Herein, we report that by manipulating the stereochemistry of a double bond, formed in situ during gelation, materials with diverse mechanical properties but comparable physical properties can be obtained. Click-hydrogels that possess a high % trans content are stiffer than their high % cis analogues by almost a factor of 3. Human mesenchymal stem cells acted as a substrate stiffness cell reporter demonstrating the potential of these platforms to study mechanotransduction without the influence of other external factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joshua E. Shaw
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative MedicineSchool of Biological SciencesFaculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthManchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterM13 9PLUK
| | - Joshua C. Worch
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamB15 2TTUK
| | - Christopher Sammon
- Materials and Engineering Research InstituteSheffield Hallam UniversitySheffieldS1 1WBUK
| | - Stephen M. Richardson
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative MedicineSchool of Biological SciencesFaculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthManchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterM13 9PLUK
| | - Andrew P. Dove
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamB15 2TTUK
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33
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Macdougall LJ, Pérez‐Madrigal MM, Shaw JE, Worch JC, Sammon C, Richardson SM, Dove AP. Using Stereochemistry to Control Mechanical Properties in Thiol-Yne Click-Hydrogels. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:25856-25864. [PMID: 34551190 PMCID: PMC9298389 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202107161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The stereochemistry of polymers has a profound impact on their mechanical properties. While this has been observed in thermoplastics, studies on how stereochemistry affects the bulk properties of swollen networks, such as hydrogels, are limited. Typically, changing the stiffness of a hydrogel is achieved at the cost of changing another parameter, that in turn affects the physical properties of the material and ultimately influences the cellular response. Herein, we report that by manipulating the stereochemistry of a double bond, formed in situ during gelation, materials with diverse mechanical properties but comparable physical properties can be obtained. Click-hydrogels that possess a high % trans content are stiffer than their high % cis analogues by almost a factor of 3. Human mesenchymal stem cells acted as a substrate stiffness cell reporter demonstrating the potential of these platforms to study mechanotransduction without the influence of other external factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joshua E. Shaw
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative MedicineSchool of Biological SciencesFaculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthManchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterM13 9PLUK
| | - Joshua C. Worch
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamB15 2TTUK
| | - Christopher Sammon
- Materials and Engineering Research InstituteSheffield Hallam UniversitySheffieldS1 1WBUK
| | - Stephen M. Richardson
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative MedicineSchool of Biological SciencesFaculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthManchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterM13 9PLUK
| | - Andrew P. Dove
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamB15 2TTUK
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Walker CJ, Crocini C, Ramirez D, Killaars AR, Grim JC, Aguado BA, Clark K, Allen MA, Dowell RD, Leinwand LA, Anseth KS. Nuclear mechanosensing drives chromatin remodelling in persistently activated fibroblasts. Nat Biomed Eng 2021; 5:1485-1499. [PMID: 33875841 PMCID: PMC9102466 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00709-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Fibrotic disease is caused by the continuous deposition of extracellular matrix by persistently activated fibroblasts (also known as myofibroblasts), even after the resolution of the injury. Using fibroblasts from porcine aortic valves cultured on hydrogels that can be softened via exposure to ultraviolet light, here we show that increased extracellular stiffness activates the fibroblasts, and that cumulative tension on the nuclear membrane and increases in the activity of histone deacetylases transform transiently activated fibroblasts into myofibroblasts displaying condensed chromatin with genome-wide alterations. The condensed structure of the myofibroblasts is associated with cytoskeletal stability, as indicated by the inhibition of chromatin condensation and myofibroblast persistence after detachment of the nucleus from the cytoskeleton via the displacement of endogenous nesprins from the nuclear envelope. We also show that the chromatin structure of myofibroblasts from patients with aortic valve stenosis is more condensed than that of myofibroblasts from healthy donors. Our findings suggest that nuclear mechanosensing drives distinct chromatin signatures in persistently activated fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cierra J Walker
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Claudia Crocini
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Daniel Ramirez
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Anouk R Killaars
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Joseph C Grim
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Brian A Aguado
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kyle Clark
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Mary A Allen
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Robin D Dowell
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Leslie A Leinwand
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
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Petzold J, Gentleman E. Intrinsic Mechanical Cues and Their Impact on Stem Cells and Embryogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:761871. [PMID: 34820380 PMCID: PMC8606660 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.761871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although understanding how soluble cues direct cellular processes revolutionised the study of cell biology in the second half of the 20th century, over the last two decades, new insights into how mechanical cues similarly impact cell fate decisions has gained momentum. During development, extrinsic cues such as fluid flow, shear stress and compressive forces are essential for normal embryogenesis to proceed. Indeed, both adult and embryonic stem cells can respond to applied forces, but they can also detect intrinsic mechanical cues from their surrounding environment, such as the stiffness of the extracellular matrix, which impacts differentiation and morphogenesis. Cells can detect changes in their mechanical environment using cell surface receptors such as integrins and focal adhesions. Moreover, dynamic rearrangements of the cytoskeleton have been identified as a key means by which forces are transmitted from the extracellular matrix to the cell and vice versa. Although we have some understanding of the downstream mechanisms whereby mechanical cues are translated into changes in cell behaviour, many of the signalling pathways remain to be defined. This review discusses the importance of intrinsic mechanical cues on adult cell fate decisions, the emerging roles of cell surface mechano-sensors and the cytoskeleton in enabling cells to sense its microenvironment, and the role of intracellular signalling in translating mechanical cues into transcriptional outputs. In addition, the contribution of mechanical cues to fundamental processes during embryogenesis such as apical constriction and convergent extension is discussed. The continued development of tools to measure the biomechanical properties of soft tissues in vivo is likely to uncover currently underestimated contributions of these cues to adult stem cell fate decisions and embryogenesis, and may inform on regenerative strategies for tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonna Petzold
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eileen Gentleman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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36
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Iyer SR, Folker ES, Lovering RM. The Nucleoskeleton: Crossroad of Mechanotransduction in Skeletal Muscle. Front Physiol 2021; 12:724010. [PMID: 34721058 PMCID: PMC8554227 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.724010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs) are a primary structural component of the cytoskeleton extending throughout the muscle cell (myofiber). Mechanotransduction, the process by which mechanical force is translated into a biochemical signal to activate downstream cellular responses, is crucial to myofiber function. Mechanical forces also act on the nuclear cytoskeleton, which is integrated with the myofiber cytoskeleton by the linker of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes. Thus, the nucleus serves as the endpoint for the transmission of force through the cell. The nuclear lamina, a dense meshwork of lamin IFs between the nuclear envelope and underlying chromatin, plays a crucial role in responding to mechanical input; myofibers constantly respond to mechanical perturbation via signaling pathways by activation of specific genes. The nucleus is the largest organelle in cells and a master regulator of cell homeostasis, thus an understanding of how it responds to its mechanical environment is of great interest. The importance of the cell nucleus is magnified in skeletal muscle cells due to their syncytial nature and the extreme mechanical environment that muscle contraction creates. In this review, we summarize the bidirectional link between the organization of the nucleoskeleton and the contractile features of skeletal muscle as they relate to muscle function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shama R Iyer
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Eric S Folker
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Richard M Lovering
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Olaopa MA, Ai T, Chao B, Xiao X, Vatta M, Habecker BA. Phosphorylation of Lamin A/C at serine 22 modulates Na v 1.5 function. Physiol Rep 2021; 9:e15121. [PMID: 34806324 PMCID: PMC8606869 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Variants in the LMNA gene, which encodes for Lamin A/C, are associated with cardiac conduction disease (CCD). We previously reported that Lamin A/C variants p.R545H and p.A287Lfs*193, which were identified in CCD patients, decreased peak INa in HEK-293 cells expressing Nav 1.5. Decreased peak INa in the cardiac conduction system could account for patients' atrioventricular block. We found that serine 22 (Ser 22) phosphorylation of Lamin A/C was decreased in the p.R545H variant and hypothesized that lamin phosphorylation modulated Nav 1.5 activity. To test this hypothesis, we assessed Nav 1.5 function in HEK-293 cells co-transfected with LMNA variants or treated with the small molecule LBL1 (lamin-binding ligand 1). LBL1 decreased Ser 22 phosphorylation by 65% but did not affect Nav 1.5 function. To test the complete loss of phosphorylation, we generated a version of LMNA with serine 22 converted to alanine 22 (S22A-LMNA); and a version of mutant R545H-LMNA that mimics phosphorylation via serine 22 to aspartic acid 22 substitution (S22D-R545H-LMNA). We found that S22A-LMNA inhibited Lamin-mediated activation of peak INa by 63% and shifted voltage-dependency of steady-state inactivation of Nav 1.5. Conversely, S22D-R545H-LMNA abolished the effects of mutant R545H-LMNA on voltage-dependency but not peak INa . We conclude that Lamin A/C Ser 22 phosphorylation can modulate Nav 1.5 function and contributes to the mechanism by which R545H-LMNA alters Nav 1.5 function. The differential impact of complete versus partial loss of Ser 22 phosphorylation suggests a threshold of phosphorylation that is required for full Nav 1.5 modulation. This is the first study to link Lamin A/C phosphorylation to Nav 1.5 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Olaopa
- Department of Chemical Physiology and BiochemistryOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
- Krannert Institute of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Tomohiko Ai
- Krannert Institute of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
- Department of Clinical Laboratory MedicineJuntendo UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Bo Chao
- Department of Chemical Physiology and BiochemistryOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
| | - Xiangshu Xiao
- Department of Chemical Physiology and BiochemistryOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
| | - Matteo Vatta
- Krannert Institute of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Beth A. Habecker
- Department of Chemical Physiology and BiochemistryOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
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Clinical Features of LMNA-Related Cardiomyopathy in 18 Patients and Characterization of Two Novel Variants. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10215075. [PMID: 34768595 PMCID: PMC8584896 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10215075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) refers to a spectrum of heterogeneous myocardial disorders characterized by ventricular dilation and depressed myocardial performance in the absence of hypertension, valvular, congenital, or ischemic heart disease. Mutations in LMNA gene, encoding for lamin A/C, account for 10% of familial DCM. LMNA-related cardiomyopathies are characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations that vary from a predominantly structural heart disease, mainly mild-to-moderate left ventricular (LV) dilatation associated or not with conduction system abnormalities, to highly pro-arrhythmic profiles where sudden cardiac death (SCD) occurs as the first manifestation of disease in an apparently normal heart. In the present study, we select, among 77 DCM families referred to our center for genetic counselling and molecular screening, 15 patient heterozygotes for LMNA variants. Segregation analysis in the relatives evidences other eight heterozygous patients. A genotype-phenotype correlation has been performed for symptomatic subjects. Lastly, we perform in vitro functional characterization of two novel LMNA variants using dermal fibroblasts obtained from three heterozygous patients, evidencing significant differences in terms of lamin expression and nuclear morphology. Due to the high risk of SCD that characterizes patients with lamin A/C cardiomyopathy, genetic testing for LMNA gene variants is highly recommended when there is suspicion of laminopathy.
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Urciuoli E, D'Oria V, Petrini S, Peruzzi B. Lamin A/C Mechanosensor Drives Tumor Cell Aggressiveness and Adhesion on Substrates With Tissue-Specific Elasticity. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:712377. [PMID: 34595168 PMCID: PMC8476891 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.712377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Besides its structural properties in the nucleoskeleton, Lamin A/C is a mechanosensor protein involved in perceiving the elasticity of the extracellular matrix. In this study we provide evidence about Lamin A/C-mediated regulation of osteosarcoma cell adhesion and spreading on substrates with tissue-specific elasticities. Our working hypothesis is based on the observation that low-aggressive and bone-resident SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cells express high level of Lamin A/C in comparison to highly metastatic, preferentially to the lung, osteosarcoma 143B cells, thereby suggesting a role for Lamin A/C in tumor cell tropism. Specifically, LMNA gene over-expression in 143B cells induced a reduction in tumor cell aggressiveness in comparison to parental cells, with decreased proliferation rate and reduced migration capability. Furthermore, LMNA reintegration into 143B cells changed the adhesion properties of tumor cells, from a preferential tropism toward the 1.5 kPa PDMS substrate (resembling normal lung parenchyma) to the 28 kPa (resembling pre-mineralized bone osteoid matrix). Our study suggests that Lamin A/C expression could be involved in the organ tropism of tumor cells, thereby providing a rationale for further studies focused on the definition of cancer mechanism of metastatization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrica Urciuoli
- Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina D'Oria
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Center, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Petrini
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Center, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Peruzzi
- Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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40
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Gumina S, Peruzzi B, Leopizzi M, Porta N, Di Maio V, Rocca CD, Candela V. Nuclear lamin A in rotator cuff tear margin tenocytes: an antiapoptotic and cell mechanostat factor. J Orthop Surg Res 2021; 16:413. [PMID: 34193225 PMCID: PMC8243552 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-021-02569-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The network of intermediate filament proteins underlying the inner nuclear membrane forms the nuclear lamin. A- and B-type lamins are the major components of the nuclear lamina. Lamins function in many nuclear activities. The role of lamin A and transcription factors (NF-kB) as anti-apoptotic is well documented. Recently, lamin A has also been considered as a mechanosensor protein that is able to maintain nuclear integrity from mechanical insults. We aimed to verify how lamin A expression varies in healthy cuff cells and in those with different-sized tears where various mechanical stresses are present. Methods Forty-three patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) [23M–20F, mean age (SD): 63.5 (6.1)] were enrolled. Tissue samples excised from the most medial point of tear margins were analyzed for lamin A expression by immunohistochemistry. Controls were represented by samples obtained by normal supraspinatus tendons excised from patients submitted to reverse shoulder prosthesis implant [8M–7F, mean age (SD): 67.9 (7.1)]. The intensity of staining was graded, and an H-score was assigned. Statistical analysis was performed. Results Our study revealed a moderate intensity of lamin A in the healthy cuff tendons, a higher expression of this protein in the small tears, and a significant decrease of lamin A with increasing tear size (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Our study emphasizes the importance of early repair of small RCTs since nuclear stability is maintained, and the cellular function is protected by lamin A overexpression. High re-tear of massive cuff repair could be due to cellular apoptosis and nuclear modifications induced by lamin A lack. Level of evidence III
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Gumina
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Istituto Clinico Ortopedico Traumatologico (ICOT), Latina, Italy
| | - Barbara Peruzzi
- Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Leopizzi
- Department of Medico-Surgical Science and Biothecnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy
| | - Natale Porta
- Department of Medico-Surgical Science and Biothecnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy
| | - Valeria Di Maio
- Department of Medico-Surgical Science and Biothecnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy
| | - Carlo Della Rocca
- Department of Medico-Surgical Science and Biothecnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy
| | - Vittorio Candela
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Istituto Clinico Ortopedico Traumatologico (ICOT), Latina, Italy.
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41
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Padilla-Mejia NE, Koreny L, Holden J, Vancová M, Lukeš J, Zoltner M, Field MC. A hub-and-spoke nuclear lamina architecture in trypanosomes. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:jcs251264. [PMID: 34151975 PMCID: PMC8255026 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.251264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The nuclear lamina supports many functions, including maintaining nuclear structure and gene expression control, and correct spatio-temporal assembly is vital to meet these activities. Recently, multiple lamina systems have been described that, despite independent evolutionary origins, share analogous functions. In trypanosomatids the two known lamina proteins, NUP-1 and NUP-2, have molecular masses of 450 and 170 kDa, respectively, which demands a distinct architecture from the ∼60 kDa lamin-based system of metazoa and other lineages. To uncover organizational principles for the trypanosome lamina we generated NUP-1 deletion mutants to identify domains and their arrangements responsible for oligomerization. We found that both the N- and C-termini act as interaction hubs, and that perturbation of these interactions impacts additional components of the lamina and nuclear envelope. Furthermore, the assembly of NUP-1 terminal domains suggests intrinsic organizational capacity. Remarkably, there is little impact on silencing of telomeric variant surface glycoprotein genes. We suggest that both terminal domains of NUP-1 have roles in assembling the trypanosome lamina and propose a novel architecture based on a hub-and-spoke configuration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ludek Koreny
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Jennifer Holden
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Marie Vancová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Zoltner
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, BIOCEV 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Mark C. Field
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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42
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Rakshit T, Melters DP, Dimitriadis EK, Dalal Y. Mechanical properties of nucleoprotein complexes determined by nanoindentation spectroscopy. Nucleus 2021; 11:264-282. [PMID: 32954931 PMCID: PMC7529419 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2020.1816053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The interplay between transcription factors, chromatin remodelers, 3-D organization, and mechanical properties of the chromatin fiber controls genome function in eukaryotes. Besides the canonical histones which fold the bulk of the chromatin into nucleosomes, histone variants create distinctive chromatin domains that are thought to regulate transcription, replication, DNA damage repair, and faithful chromosome segregation. Whether histone variants translate distinctive biochemical or biophysical properties to their associated chromatin structures, and whether these properties impact chromatin dynamics as the genome undergoes a multitude of transactions, is an important question in biology. Here, we describe single-molecule nanoindentation tools that we developed specifically to determine the mechanical properties of histone variant nucleosomes and their complexes. These methods join an array of cutting-edge new methods that further our quantitative understanding of the response of chromatin to intrinsic and extrinsic forces which act upon it during biological transactions in the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatini Rakshit
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Chemical, Biological & Macromolecular Sciences, S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences , Salt Lake, India
| | - Daniël P Melters
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Emilios K Dimitriadis
- Trans-NIH Shared Resource on Biomedical Engineering and Physical Science, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yamini Dalal
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda, MD, USA
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43
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Chowdhury F, Huang B, Wang N. Cytoskeletal prestress: The cellular hallmark in mechanobiology and mechanomedicine. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2021; 78:249-276. [PMID: 33754478 PMCID: PMC8518377 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence demonstrates that mechanical forces, in addition to soluble molecules, impact cell and tissue functions in physiology and diseases. How living cells integrate mechanical signals to perform appropriate biological functions is an area of intense investigation. Here, we review the evidence of the central role of cytoskeletal prestress in mechanotransduction and mechanobiology. Elevating cytoskeletal prestress increases cell stiffness and reinforces cell stiffening, facilitates long-range cytoplasmic mechanotransduction via integrins, enables direct chromatin stretching and rapid gene expression, spurs embryonic development and stem cell differentiation, and boosts immune cell activation and killing of tumor cells whereas lowering cytoskeletal prestress maintains embryonic stem cell pluripotency, promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis of stem cell-like malignant tumor-repopulating cells, and elevates drug delivery efficiency of soft-tumor-cell-derived microparticles. The overwhelming evidence suggests that the cytoskeletal prestress is the governing principle and the cellular hallmark in mechanobiology. The application of mechanobiology to medicine (mechanomedicine) is rapidly emerging and may help advance human health and improve diagnostics, treatment, and therapeutics of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhan Chowdhury
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Energy ProcessesSouthern Illinois University CarbondaleCarbondaleIllinoisUSA
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences & State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular BiologyChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
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44
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Fabrication of Adhesive Substrate for Incorporating Hydrogels to Investigate the Influence of Stiffness on Cancer Cell Behavior. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2174:277-297. [PMID: 32813257 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0759-6_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Stiffness control of cell culture platforms provides researchers in cell biology with the ability to study different experimental models in conditions of mimicking physiological or pathological microenvironments. Nevertheless, the signal transduction pathways and drug sensibility of cancer cells have been poorly characterized widely using biomimetic platforms because the limited experience of cancer cell biology groups about handling substrates with specific mechanical properties. The protein cross-linking and stiffening control are crucial checkpoints that could strongly affect cell adhesion and spreading, misrepresenting the data acquired, and also generating inaccurate cellular models. Here, we introduce a simple method to adhere to polyacrylamide (PAA) hydrogels on glass coverslips without any special treatment for mechanics studies in cancer cell biology. By using a commercial photosensitive glue, Loctite 3525, it is possible to polymerize PAA hydrogels directly on glass surfaces. Furthermore, we describe a cross-linking reaction method to attach proteins to PAA as an alternative method to Sulfo-SANPAH cross-linking, which is sometimes difficult to implement and reproduce. In this chapter, we describe a reliable procedure to fabricate ECM protein-cross-linked PAA hydrogels for mechanotransduction studies on cancer cells.
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Modeling force application configurations and morphologies required for cancer cell invasion. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 20:1187-1194. [PMID: 33683515 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01441-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We show that cell-applied, normal mechanical stresses are required for cells to penetrate into soft substrates, matching experimental observations in invasive cancer cells, while in-plane traction forces alone reproduce observations in non-cancer/noninvasive cells. Mechanobiological interactions of cells with their microenvironment drive migration and cancer invasion. We have previously shown that invasive cancer cells forcefully and rapidly push into impenetrable, physiological stiffness gels and indent them to cell-scale depths (up to 10 μm); normal, noninvasive cells indent at most to 0.7 μm. Significantly indenting cells signpost increased cancer invasiveness and higher metastatic risk in vitro and in vivo, as verified experimentally in different cancer types, yet the underlying cell-applied, force magnitudes and configurations required to produce the cell-scale gel indentations have yet to be evaluated. Hence, we have developed finite element models of forces applied onto soft, impenetrable gels using experimental cell/gel morphologies, gel mechanics, and force magnitudes. We show that in-plane traction forces can only induce small-scale indentations in soft gels (< 0.7 μm), matching experiments with various single, normal cells. Addition of a normal force (on the scale of experimental traction forces) produced cell-scale indentations that matched observations in invasive cancer cells. We note that normal stresses (force and area) determine the indentation depth, while contact area size and morphology have a minor effect, explaining the origin of experimentally observed cell morphologies. We have thus revealed controlling features facilitating invasive indentations by single cancer cells, which will allow application of our model to complex problems, such as multicellular systems.
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Van De Bor V, Loreau V, Malbouyres M, Cerezo D, Placenti A, Ruggiero F, Noselli S. A dynamic and mosaic basement membrane controls cell intercalation in Drosophila ovaries. Development 2021; 148:dev.195511. [PMID: 33526583 DOI: 10.1242/dev.195511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Basement membranes (BM) are extracellular matrices assembled into complex and highly organized networks essential for organ morphogenesis and function. However, little is known about the tissue origin of BM components and their dynamics in vivo Here, we unravel the assembly and role of the BM main component, Collagen type IV (ColIV), in Drosophila ovarian stalk morphogenesis. Stalks are short strings of cells assembled through cell intercalation that link adjacent follicles and maintain ovarian integrity. We show that stalk ColIV has multiple origins and is assembled following a regulated pattern leading to a unique BM organisation. Absence of ColIV leads to follicle fusion, as observed upon ablation of stalk cells. ColIV and integrins are both required to trigger cell intercalation and maintain mechanically strong cell-cell attachment within the stalk. These results show how the dynamic assembly of a mosaic BM controls complex tissue morphogenesis and integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marilyne Malbouyres
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, ENS de Lyon - CNRS UMR 5242 - INRA USC 1370, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon cedex 07, France
| | | | | | - Florence Ruggiero
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, ENS de Lyon - CNRS UMR 5242 - INRA USC 1370, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon cedex 07, France
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47
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Urizar-Arenaza I, Benedicto A, Perez-Valle A, Osinalde N, Akimov V, Muñoa-Hoyos I, Rodriguez JA, Asumendi A, Boyano MD, Blagoev B, Kratchmarova I, Subiran N. The multifunctional role of SPANX-A/D protein subfamily in the promotion of pro-tumoural processes in human melanoma. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3583. [PMID: 33574425 PMCID: PMC7878863 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83169-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human sperm protein associated with the nucleus on the X chromosome (SPANX) genes encode a protein family (SPANX-A, -B, -C and -D), whose expression is limited to the testis and spermatozoa in normal tissues and various tumour cells. SPANX-A/D proteins have been detected in metastatic melanoma cells, but their contribution to cancer development and the underlying molecular mechanisms of skin tumourigenesis remain unknown. Combining functional and proteomic approaches, the present work describes the presence of SPANX-A/D in primary and metastatic human melanoma cells and how it promotes pro-tumoural processes such as cell proliferation, motility and migration. We provide insights into the molecular features of skin tumourigenesis, describing for the first time a multifunctional role of the SPANX-A/D protein family in nuclear function, energy metabolism and cell survival, considered key hallmarks of cancer. A better comprehension of the SPANX-A/D protein subfamily and its molecular mechanisms will help to describe new aspects of tumour cell biology and develop new therapeutic targets and tumour-directed pharmacological drugs for skin tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itziar Urizar-Arenaza
- Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain. .,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - Aitor Benedicto
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Arantza Perez-Valle
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Nerea Osinalde
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Vyacheslav Akimov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Iraia Muñoa-Hoyos
- Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain.,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio Rodriguez
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Aintzane Asumendi
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Maria Dolores Boyano
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Blagoy Blagoev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Irina Kratchmarova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Nerea Subiran
- Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain. .,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bizkaia, Spain.
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48
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Ghosh S, Cuevas VC, Seelbinder B, Neu CP. Image-Based Elastography of Heterochromatin and Euchromatin Domains in the Deforming Cell Nucleus. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2006109. [PMID: 33448065 PMCID: PMC7869959 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202006109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin of the eukaryotic cell nucleus comprises microscopically dense heterochromatin and loose euchromatin domains, each with distinct transcriptional ability and roles in cellular mechanotransduction. While recent methods are developed to characterize the mechanics of nucleus, measurement of intranuclear mechanics remains largely unknown. Here, the development of "nuclear elastography," which combines microscopic imaging and computational modeling to quantify the relative elasticity of the heterochromatin and euchromatin domains, is described. Using contracting murine embryonic cardiomyocytes, nuclear elastography reveals that the heterochromatin is almost four times stiffer than the euchromatin at peak deformation. The relative elasticity between the two domains changes rapidly during the active deformation of the cardiomyocyte in the normal physiological condition but progresses more slowly in cells cultured in a mechanically stiff environment, although the relative stiffness at peak deformation does not change. Further, it is found that the disruption of the Klarsicht, ANC-1, Syne Homology domain of the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton complex compromises the intranuclear elasticity distribution resulting in elastically similar heterochromatin and euchromatin. These results provide insight into the elastography dynamics of heterochromatin and euchromatin domains and provide a noninvasive framework to further investigate the mechanobiological function of subcellular and subnuclear domains limited only by the spatiotemporal resolution of the acquired images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soham Ghosh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Victor Crespo Cuevas
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Benjamin Seelbinder
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Corey P. Neu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
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49
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Stachecka J, Kolodziejski PA, Noak M, Szczerbal I. Alteration of active and repressive histone marks during adipogenic differentiation of porcine mesenchymal stem cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1325. [PMID: 33446668 PMCID: PMC7809488 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79384-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A characteristic spatial distribution of the main chromatin fractions is observed in most mammalian cell nuclei, with euchromatin localized in the interior and heterochromatin at the nuclear periphery. It has been shown that interactions of heterochromatin with the nuclear lamina are necessary to establish this conventional architecture. Adipocytes are specific cells in which a reduction in lamin A/C expression is observed. We hypothesize that the loss of lamin A/C during adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be associated with the reorganization of the main classes of chromatin in the nucleus. Thus, in this study, we examine the abundance and nuclear distribution of selected heterochromatin (H3K9me3, H3K27me3 and H4K20me3) and euchromatin (H4K8ac, H3K4me3 and H3K9ac) histone marks during in vitro adipogenesis, using the pig as a model organism. We found that not only did the expression of lamin A/C decrease in our differentiation system, but so did the expression of lamin B receptor (LBR). The level of two heterochromatin marks, H3K27me3 and H4K20me3, increased during differentiation, while no changes were observed for H3K9me3. The levels of two euchromatin histone marks, H4K8ac and H3K9ac, were significantly higher in adipocytes than in undifferentiated cells, while the level of H3K4me3 did not change significantly. The spatial distribution of all the examined histone marks altered during in vitro adipogenesis. H3K27me3 and H4K20me3 moved towards the nuclear periphery and H3K9me3 localized preferentially in the intermediate part of adipocyte nuclei. The euchromatin marks H3K9ac and H3K4me3 preferentially occupied the peripheral part of the adipocyte nuclei, while H4K8ac was more evenly distributed in the nuclei of undifferentiated and differentiated cells. Analysis of the nuclear distribution of repetitive sequences has shown their clustering and relocalization toward nuclear periphery during differentiation. Our study shows that dynamic changes in the abundance and nuclear distribution of active and repressive histone marks take place during adipocyte differentiation. Nuclear reorganization of heterochromatin histone marks may allow the maintenance of the nuclear morphology of the adipocytes, in which reduced expression of lamin A/C and LBR is observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Stachecka
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland
| | - Pawel A Kolodziejski
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 35, 60-637, Poznan, Poland
| | - Magdalena Noak
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland
| | - Izabela Szczerbal
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wolynska 33, 60-637, Poznan, Poland.
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50
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Gensbittel V, Kräter M, Harlepp S, Busnelli I, Guck J, Goetz JG. Mechanical Adaptability of Tumor Cells in Metastasis. Dev Cell 2020; 56:164-179. [PMID: 33238151 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The most dangerous aspect of cancer lies in metastatic progression. Tumor cells will successfully form life-threatening metastases when they undergo sequential steps along a journey from the primary tumor to distant organs. From a biomechanics standpoint, growth, invasion, intravasation, circulation, arrest/adhesion, and extravasation of tumor cells demand particular cell-mechanical properties in order to survive and complete the metastatic cascade. With metastatic cells usually being softer than their non-malignant counterparts, high deformability for both the cell and its nucleus is thought to offer a significant advantage for metastatic potential. However, it is still unclear whether there is a finely tuned but fixed mechanical state that accommodates all mechanical features required for survival throughout the cascade or whether tumor cells need to dynamically refine their properties and intracellular components at each new step encountered. Here, we review the various mechanical requirements successful cancer cells might need to fulfill along their journey and speculate on the possibility that they dynamically adapt their properties accordingly. The mechanical signature of a successful cancer cell might actually be its ability to adapt to the successive microenvironmental constraints along the different steps of the journey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Gensbittel
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
| | - Martin Kräter
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sébastien Harlepp
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
| | - Ignacio Busnelli
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
| | - Jochen Guck
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Jacky G Goetz
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France.
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