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Korkmaz HI, Sheraton VM, Bumbuc RV, Li M, Pijpe A, Mulder PPG, Boekema BKHL, de Jong E, Papendorp SGF, Brands R, Middelkoop E, Sloot PMA, van Zuijlen PPM. An in silico modeling approach to understanding the dynamics of the post-burn immune response. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1303776. [PMID: 38348032 PMCID: PMC10859697 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1303776] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Burns are characterized by a massive and prolonged acute inflammation, which persists for up to months after the initial trauma. Due to the complexity of the inflammatory process, Predicting the dynamics of wound healing process can be challenging for burn injuries. The aim of this study was to develop simulation models for the post-burn immune response based on (pre)clinical data. Methods The simulation domain was separated into blood and tissue compartments. Each of these compartments contained solutes and cell agents. Solutes comprise pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines and inflammation triggering factors. The solutes diffuse around the domain based on their concentration profiles. The cells include mast cells, neutrophils, and macrophages, and were modeled as independent agents. The cells are motile and exhibit chemotaxis based on concentrations gradients of the solutes. In addition, the cells secrete various solutes that in turn alter the dynamics and responses of the burn wound system. Results We developed an Glazier-Graner-Hogeweg method-based model (GGH) to capture the complexities associated with the dynamics of inflammation after burn injuries, including changes in cell counts and cytokine levels. Through simulations from day 0 - 4 post-burn, we successfully identified key factors influencing the acute inflammatory response, i.e., the initial number of endothelial cells, the chemotaxis threshold, and the level of chemoattractants. Conclusion Our findings highlight the pivotal role of the initial endothelial cell count as a key parameter for intensity of inflammation and progression of acute inflammation, 0 - 4 days post-burn.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Ibrahim Korkmaz
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences (AMS) Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity (AII) Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Burn Center and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, Netherlands
- Preclinical Research, Association of Dutch Burn Centres (ADBC), Beverwijk, Netherlands
| | - Vivek M. Sheraton
- Computational Science Lab, Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam, UvA - LAB42, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, ONCODE, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location AMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Roland V. Bumbuc
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences (AMS) Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity (AII) Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Computational Science Lab, Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam, UvA - LAB42, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, ONCODE, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location AMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Meifang Li
- Computational Science Lab, Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam, UvA - LAB42, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anouk Pijpe
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences (AMS) Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Burn Center and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, Netherlands
| | - Patrick P. G. Mulder
- Preclinical Research, Association of Dutch Burn Centres (ADBC), Beverwijk, Netherlands
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Bouke K. H. L. Boekema
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences (AMS) Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Preclinical Research, Association of Dutch Burn Centres (ADBC), Beverwijk, Netherlands
| | - Evelien de Jong
- Department of Intensive Care, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, Netherlands
| | | | - Ruud Brands
- Complexity Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Alloksys Life Sciences BV, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Esther Middelkoop
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences (AMS) Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Burn Center and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, Netherlands
- Preclinical Research, Association of Dutch Burn Centres (ADBC), Beverwijk, Netherlands
| | - Peter M. A. Sloot
- Computational Science Lab, Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam, UvA - LAB42, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Paul P. M. van Zuijlen
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences (AMS) Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Burn Center and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, Netherlands
- Preclinical Research, Association of Dutch Burn Centres (ADBC), Beverwijk, Netherlands
- Paediatric Surgical Centre, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Location AMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Nagaraja S, Chen L, DiPietro LA, Reifman J, Mitrophanov AY. Predictive Approach Identifies Molecular Targets and Interventions to Restore Angiogenesis in Wounds With Delayed Healing. Front Physiol 2019; 10:636. [PMID: 31191342 PMCID: PMC6547939 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired angiogenesis is a hallmark of wounds with delayed healing, and currently used therapies to restore angiogenesis have limited efficacy. Here, we employ a computational simulation-based approach to identify influential molecular and cellular processes, as well as protein targets, whose modulation may stimulate angiogenesis in wounds. We developed a mathematical model that captures the time courses for platelets, 9 cell types, 29 proteins, and oxygen, which are involved in inflammation, proliferation, and angiogenesis during wound healing. We validated our model using previously published experimental data. By performing global sensitivity analysis on thousands of simulated wound-healing scenarios, we identified six processes (among the 133 modeled in total) whose modulation may improve angiogenesis in wounds. By simulating knockouts of 25 modeled proteins and by simulating different wound-oxygenation levels, we identified four proteins [namely, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), and angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2)], as well as oxygen, as therapeutic targets for stimulating angiogenesis in wounds. Our modeling results indicated that simultaneous inhibition of TGF-β and supplementation of either FGF-2 or ANG-2 could be more effective in stimulating wound angiogenesis than the modulation of either protein alone. Our findings suggest experimentally testable intervention strategies to restore angiogenesis in wounds with delayed healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sridevi Nagaraja
- Department of Defense, Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, MD, United States.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Lin Chen
- Center for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Luisa A DiPietro
- Center for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Jaques Reifman
- Department of Defense, Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, MD, United States
| | - Alexander Y Mitrophanov
- Department of Defense, Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, MD, United States.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, United States
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Nardini JT, Chapnick DA, Liu X, Bortz DM. Modeling keratinocyte wound healing dynamics: Cell-cell adhesion promotes sustained collective migration. J Theor Biol 2016; 400:103-17. [PMID: 27105673 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2016.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The in vitro migration of keratinocyte cell sheets displays behavioral and biochemical similarities to the in vivo wound healing response of keratinocytes in animal model systems. In both cases, ligand-dependent Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) activation is sufficient to elicit collective cell migration into the wound. Previous mathematical modeling studies of in vitro wound healing assays assume that physical connections between cells have a hindering effect on cell migration, but biological literature suggests a more complicated story. By combining mathematical modeling and experimental observations of collectively migrating sheets of keratinocytes, we investigate the role of cell-cell adhesion during in vitro keratinocyte wound healing assays. We develop and compare two nonlinear diffusion models of the wound healing process in which cell-cell adhesion either hinders or promotes migration. Both models can accurately fit the leading edge propagation of cell sheets during wound healing when using a time-dependent rate of cell-cell adhesion strength. The model that assumes a positive role of cell-cell adhesion on migration, however, is robust to changes in the leading edge definition and yields a qualitatively accurate density profile. Using RNAi for the critical adherens junction protein, α-catenin, we demonstrate that cell sheets with wild type cell-cell adhesion expression maintain migration into the wound longer than cell sheets with decreased cell-cell adhesion expression, which fails to exhibit collective migration. Our modeling and experimental data thus suggest that cell-cell adhesion promotes sustained migration as cells pull neighboring cells into the wound during wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Nardini
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0526, United States; Interdisciplinary Quantitative Biology Graduate Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, United States
| | - Douglas A Chapnick
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, United States.
| | - Xuedong Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, United States
| | - David M Bortz
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0526, United States.
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