1
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Fang S, Shi L, Vink JSY, Feltovich H, Hall TJ, Myers KM. Equilibrium Mechanical Properties of the Nonhuman Primate Cervix. J Biomech Eng 2024; 146:081001. [PMID: 38270929 PMCID: PMC10983698 DOI: 10.1115/1.4064558] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Cervical remodeling is critical for a healthy pregnancy. Premature tissue changes can lead to preterm birth (PTB), and the absence of remodeling can lead to post-term birth, causing significant morbidity. Comprehensive characterization of cervical material properties is necessary to uncover the mechanisms behind abnormal cervical softening. Quantifying cervical material properties during gestation is challenging in humans. Thus, a nonhuman primate (NHP) model is employed for this study. In this study, cervical tissue samples were collected from Rhesus macaques before pregnancy and at three gestational time points. Indentation and tension mechanical tests were conducted, coupled with digital image correlation (DIC), constitutive material modeling, and inverse finite element analysis (IFEA) to characterize the equilibrium material response of the macaque cervix during pregnancy. Results show, as gestation progresses: (1) the cervical fiber network becomes more extensible (nonpregnant versus pregnant locking stretch: 2.03 ± 1.09 versus 2.99 ± 1.39) and less stiff (nonpregnant versus pregnant initial stiffness: 272 ± 252 kPa versus 43 ± 43 kPa); (2) the ground substance compressibility does not change much (nonpregnant versus pregnant bulk modulus: 1.37 ± 0.82 kPa versus 2.81 ± 2.81 kPa); (3) fiber network dispersion increases, moving from aligned to randomly oriented (nonpregnant versus pregnant concentration coefficient: 1.03 ± 0.46 versus 0.50 ± 0.20); and (4) the largest change in fiber stiffness and dispersion happen during the second trimester. These results, for the first time, reveal the remodeling process of a nonhuman primate cervix and its distinct regimes throughout the entire pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyang Fang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
| | - Joy-Sarah Y. Vink
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
| | - Helen Feltovich
- Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Intermountain Healthcare, Park City, UT 84060
| | - Timothy J. Hall
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Kristin M. Myers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
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2
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Nesbitt DQ, Pu X, Turner MW, Zavala AG, Bond L, Oxford JT, Lujan TJ. Age-dependent changes in collagen crosslinks reduce the mechanical toughness of human meniscus. J Orthop Res 2024; 42:1870-1879. [PMID: 38491967 DOI: 10.1002/jor.25824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The mechanical resilience of the knee meniscus is provided by a group of structural proteins in the extracellular matrix. Aging can alter the quantity and molecular structure of these proteins making the meniscus more susceptible to debilitating tears. In this study, we determined the effect of aging on the quantity of structural proteins and collagen crosslinks in human lateral meniscus, and examined whether the quantity of these molecules was predictive of tensile toughness (area under the stress-strain curve). Two age groups were tested: a young group under 40 and an older group over 65 years old. Using mass spectrometry, we quantified the abundance of proteins and collagen crosslinks in meniscal tissue that was adjacent to the dumbbell-shaped specimens used to measure uniaxial tensile toughness parallel or perpendicular to the circumferential fiber orientation. We found that the enzymatic collagen crosslink deoxypyridinoline had a significant positive correlation with toughness, and reductions in the quantity of this crosslink with aging were associated with a loss of toughness in the ground substance and fibers. The non-enzymatic collagen crosslink carboxymethyl-lysine increased in quantity with aging, and these increases corresponded to reductions in ground substance toughness. For the collagenous (Types I, II, IV, VI, VIII) and non-collagenous structural proteins (elastin, decorin, biglycan, prolargin) analyzed in this study, only the quantity of collagen VIII was predictive of toughness. This study provides valuable insights on the structure-function relationships of the human meniscus, and how aging causes structural adaptations that weaken the tissue's mechanical integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Q Nesbitt
- Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Program, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Xinzhu Pu
- Biomolecular Research Institute, College of Arts and Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Matthew W Turner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Anamaria G Zavala
- Department of Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Laura Bond
- Biomolecular Research Institute, College of Arts and Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Julia T Oxford
- Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Program, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
- Biomolecular Research Institute, College of Arts and Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Trevor J Lujan
- Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Program, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
- Department of Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
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3
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Sebastian F, Vargas AI, Clarin J, Hurgoi A, Amini R. Meta Data Analysis of Sex Distribution of Study Samples Reported in Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Annual Conference Abstracts. J Biomech Eng 2024; 146:060906. [PMID: 37943115 DOI: 10.1115/1.4064032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The biased use of male subjects in biomedical research has created limitations, underscoring the importance of including women to enhance the outcomes of evidence-based medicine and to promote human health. While federal policies (e.g., the 1993 Revitalization Act and the 2016 Sex as a Biological Variable Act) have aimed to improve sex balance in studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), data on sex inclusivity in non-NIH funded research remain limited. The objective of this study was to analyze the trend of sex inclusion in abstracts submitted to the Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, & Biotransport Conference (SB3C) over 7 years. We scored every abstract accepted to SB3C, and the findings revealed that approximately 20% of total abstracts included sex-related information, and this trend remained stable. Surprisingly, there was no significant increase in abstracts, including both sexes and those with balanced female and male samples. The proportion of abstracts with balanced sexes was notably lower than those including both sexes. Additionally, we examined whether the exclusion of one sex from the corresponding studies was justified by the research questions. Female-only studies had a 50% justification rate, while male-only studies had only 2% justification. Disparity in sex inclusion in SB3C abstracts was apparent, prompting us to encourage scientists to be more mindful of the sex of the research samples. Addressing sex inclusivity in biomechanics and mechanobiology research is essential for advancing medical knowledge and for promoting better healthcare outcomes for everyone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana I Vargas
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02120
| | - Julia Clarin
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02120
| | - Anthony Hurgoi
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
- Northeastern University
| | - Rouzbeh Amini
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115; Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
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4
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Louwagie EM, Russell SR, Hairston JC, Nottman C, Nhan-Chang CL, Fuchs K, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Booker W, Andrikopoulou M, Friedman A, Zork N, Wapner R, Vink J, Mourad M, Feltovich HM, House MD, Myers KM. Uterus and cervix anatomical changes and cervix stiffness evolution throughout pregnancy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.01.592023. [PMID: 38746471 PMCID: PMC11092586 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.01.592023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The coordinated biomechanical performance, such as uterine stretch and cervical barrier function, within maternal reproductive tissues facilitates healthy human pregnancy and birth. Quantifying normal biomechanical function and detecting potentially detrimental biomechanical dysfunction (e.g., cervical insufficiency, uterine overdistention, premature rupture of membranes) is difficult, largely due to minimal data on the shape and size of maternal anatomy and material properties of tissue across gestation. This study quantitates key structural features of human pregnancy to fill this knowledge gap and facilitate three-dimensional modeling for biomechanical pregnancy simulations to deeply explore pregnancy and childbirth. These measurements include the longitudinal assessment of uterine and cervical dimensions, fetal weight, and cervical stiffness in 47 low-risk pregnancies at four time points during gestation (late first, middle second, late second, and middle third trimesters). The uterine and cervical size were measured via 2-dimensional ultrasound, and cervical stiffness was measured via cervical aspiration. Trends in uterine and cervical measurements were assessed as time-course slopes across pregnancy and between gestational time points, accounting for specific participants. Patient-specific computational solid models of the uterus and cervix, generated from the ultrasonic measurements, were used to estimate deformed uterocervical volume. Results show that for this low-risk cohort, the uterus grows fastest in the inferior-superior direction from the late first to middle second trimester and fastest in the anterior-posterior and left-right direction between the middle and late second trimester. Contemporaneously, the cervix softens and shortens. It softens fastest from the late first to the middle second trimester and shortens fastest between the late second and middle third trimester. Alongside the fetal weight estimated from ultrasonic measurements, this work presents holistic maternal and fetal patient-specific biomechanical measurements across gestation.
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5
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Jennings CM, Markel AC, Domingo MJE, Miller KS, Bayer CL, Parekh SH. Collagen organization and structure in FBLN5-/- mice using label-free microscopy: implications for pelvic organ prolapse. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:2863-2875. [PMID: 38855688 PMCID: PMC11161343 DOI: 10.1364/boe.518976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a gynecological disorder described by the descent of superior pelvic organs into or out of the vagina as a consequence of disrupted muscles and tissue. A thorough understanding of the etiology of POP is limited by the availability of clinically relevant samples, restricting longitudinal POP studies on soft-tissue biomechanics and structure to POP-induced models such as fibulin-5 knockout (FBLN5-/- ) mice. Despite being a principal constituent in the extracellular matrix, little is known about structural perturbations to collagen networks in the FBLN5-/- mouse cervix. We identify significantly different collagen network populations in normal and prolapsed cervical cross-sections using two label-free, nonlinear microscopy techniques. Collagen in the prolapsed mouse cervix tends to be more isotropic, and displays reduced alignment persistence via 2-D Fourier transform analysis of images acquired using second harmonic generation microscopy. Furthermore, coherent Raman hyperspectral imaging revealed elevated disorder in the secondary structure of collagen in prolapsed tissues. Our results underscore the need for in situ multimodal monitoring of collagen organization to improve POP predictive capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M Jennings
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew C Markel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, Lousiana, USA
| | - Mari J E Domingo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Kristin S Miller
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Carolyn L Bayer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, Lousiana, USA
| | - Sapun H Parekh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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6
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Durcan C, Hossain M, Chagnon G, Perić D, Girard E. Characterization of the layer, direction and time-dependent mechanical behaviour of the human oesophagus and the effects of formalin preservation. J R Soc Interface 2024; 21:20230592. [PMID: 38593841 PMCID: PMC11003784 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanical characterization of the oesophagus is essential for applications such as medical device design, surgical simulations and tissue engineering, as well as for investigating the organ's pathophysiology. However, the material response of the oesophagus has not been established ex vivo in regard to the more complex aspects of its mechanical behaviour using fresh, human tissue: as of yet, in the literature, only the hyperelastic response of the intact wall has been studied. Therefore, in this study, the layer-dependent, anisotropic, visco-hyperelastic behaviour of the human oesophagus was investigated through various mechanical tests. For this, cyclic tests, with increasing stretch levels, were conducted on the layers of the human oesophagus in the longitudinal and circumferential directions and at two different strain rates. Additionally, stress-relaxation tests on the oesophageal layers were carried out in both directions. Overall, the results show discrete properties in each layer and direction, highlighting the importance of treating the oesophagus as a multi-layered composite material with direction-dependent behaviour. Previously, the authors conducted layer-dependent cyclic experimentation on formalin-embalmed human oesophagi. A comparison between the fresh and embalmed tissue response was carried out and revealed surprising similarities in terms of anisotropy, strain-rate dependency, stress-softening and hysteresis, with the main difference between the two preservation states being the magnitude of these properties. As formalin fixation is known to notably affect the formation of cross-links between the collagen of biological materials, the differences may reveal the influence of cross-links on the mechanical behaviour of soft tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara Durcan
- Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling, Data and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK
- CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, TIMC, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble 38000, France
| | - Mokarram Hossain
- Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling, Data and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK
| | - Grégory Chagnon
- CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, TIMC, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble 38000, France
| | - Djordje Perić
- Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling, Data and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK
| | - Edouard Girard
- CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, TIMC, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble 38000, France
- Laboratoire d’Anatomie des Alpes Françaises, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
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7
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Zhang M, Li S, Tian C, Li M, Zhang B, Yu H. Changes of uterocervical angle and cervical length in early and mid-pregnancy and their value in predicting spontaneous preterm birth. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1304513. [PMID: 38577623 PMCID: PMC10991810 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1304513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: To explore the feasibility of transvaginal ultrasound measurement of uterocervical angle (UCA) and cervical length (CL) in early and mid-pregnancy and evaluate their combined prediction of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in singleton pregnancies. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study comprised 274 pregnant women who underwent transvaginal ultrasound measurement of CL in mid-pregnancy (15-23+6 weeks); in 75 among them, CL also had been measured in early-pregnancy (<14 weeks). These 274 pregnant women were further divided into a preterm group (n = 149, <37 weeks gestation) and a control group (n = 125, >37 weeks gestation) according to delivery before or after 37 weeks, respectively. In the preterm group, 35 patients delivered before 34 weeks and the remaining 114 delivered between 34 and 37 weeks. Results: The optimal threshold of CL to predict preterm birth risk in women with <37 weeks gestation was 3.38 cm, and the optimal threshold of the UCA to predict preterm birth risk in the same group of women was 96°. The optimal threshold of CL to predict preterm birth risk in women with <34 weeks gestation was 2.54 cm, while that of the UCA in the same group of patients was 106°. The area under the curve for predicting preterm birth by combining the UCA and CL measurements was greater than that by using the UCA or CL alone (p < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity for predicting preterm birth at <34 weeks gestation was 71.7% and 86.4%, respectively; and the sensitivity and specificity for predicting preterm birth at <37 weeks gestation was 87.6% and 80.6%, respectively. The difference between the two groups in CL and UCA were not significant in early pregnancy (p > 0.01), but only in mid-pregnancy (p < 0.01). There was a negative correlation between UCA and gestational week at delivery (r = -0.361, p < 0.001) and a positive correlation between CL and gestational week at delivery (r = 0.346, p < 0.001) in mid-pregnancy. The proportion of deliveries at <34 weeks was highest when the UCA was >105°, and the proportion of deliveries between 35 and 37 weeks was highest when the UCA was between 95° and 105°. The proportion of deliveries at <34 weeks was highest when the CL was <2.5 cm. Conclusion: The combination of UCA and CL has a better ability to predict preterm birth than either measurement alone. A more obtuse UCA or a shorter CL is associated with an earlier spontaneous preterm birth. The UCA increases from early to mid-pregnancy, while the CL decreases from early to mid-pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Hongkui Yu
- Department of Sonography, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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8
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Kurt I, Kulhan M, AlAshqar A, Borahay MA. Uterine Collagen Cross-Linking: Biology, Role in Disorders, and Therapeutic Implications. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:645-660. [PMID: 37907804 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01386-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Collagen is an essential constituent of the uterine extracellular matrix that provides biomechanical strength, resilience, structural integrity, and the tensile properties necessary for the normal functioning of the uterus. Cross-linking is a fundamental step in collagen biosynthesis and is critical for its normal biophysical properties. This step occurs enzymatically via lysyl oxidase (LOX) or non-enzymatically with the production of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Cross-links found in uterine tissue include the reducible dehydro-dihydroxylysinonorleucine (deH-DHLNL), dehydro-hydroxylysinonorleucine (deH-HLNL), and histidinohydroxymerodesmosine (HHMD); and the non-reducible pyridinoline (PYD), deoxy-pyridinoline (DPD); and a trace of pentosidine (PEN). Collagen cross-links are instrumental for uterine tissue integrity and the continuation of a healthy pregnancy. Decreased cervical cross-link density is observed in preterm birth, whereas increased tissue stiffness caused by increased cross-link density is a pathogenic feature of uterine fibroids. AGEs disrupt embryo development, decidualization, implantation, and trophoblast invasion. Uterine collagen cross-linking regulators include steroid hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, prostaglandins, proteoglycans, metalloproteinases, lysyl oxidases, nitric oxide, nicotine, and vitamin D. Thus, uterine collagen cross-linking presents an opportunity to design therapeutic targets and warrants further investigation in common uterine disorders, such as uterine fibroids, cervical insufficiency, preterm birth, dystocia, endometriosis, and adenomyosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irem Kurt
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, 42000, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Kulhan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, 42000, Konya, Turkey
| | - Abdelrahman AlAshqar
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Mostafa A Borahay
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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9
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Jennings CM, Markel AC, Domingo MJ, Miller KS, Bayer CL, Parekh SH. Collagen organization and structure in FLBN5-/- mice using label-free microscopy: implications for pelvic organ prolapse. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.31.578106. [PMID: 38352586 PMCID: PMC10862878 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.31.578106] [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: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a gynecological disorder described by the descent of superior pelvic organs into or out of the vagina as a consequence of disrupted muscles and tissue. A thorough understanding of the etiology of POP is limited by the availability of clinically relevant samples, restricting longitudinal POP studies on soft-tissue biomechanics and structure to POP-induced models such as fibulin-5 knockout (FBLN5-/-) mice. Despite being a principal constituent in the extracellular matrix, little is known about structural perturbations to collagen networks in the FBLN5-/- mouse cervix. We identify significantly different collagen network populations in normal and prolapsed cervical cross-sections using two label-free, nonlinear microscopy techniques. Collagen in the prolapsed mouse cervix tends to be more isotropic, and displays reduced alignment persistence via 2-D Fourier Transform analysis of images acquired using second harmonic generation microscopy. Furthermore, coherent Raman hyperspectral imaging revealed elevated disorder in the secondary structure of collagen in prolapsed tissues. Our results underscore the need for in situ multimodal monitoring of collagen organization to improve POP predictive capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M. Jennings
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Andrew C. Markel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Mari J.E. Domingo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Kristin S. Miller
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Carolyn L. Bayer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sapun H. Parekh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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10
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Mohammadkhah M, Klinge S. Review paper: The importance of consideration of collagen cross-links in computational models of collagen-based tissues. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 148:106203. [PMID: 37879165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106203] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Collagen as the main protein in Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM) is the main load-bearing component of fibrous tissues. Nanostructure and architecture of collagen fibrils play an important role in mechanical behavior of these tissues. Extensive experimental and theoretical studies have so far been performed to capture these properties, but none of the current models realistically represent the complexity of network mechanics because still less is known about the collagen's inner structure and its effect on the mechanical properties of tissues. The goal of this review article is to emphasize the significance of cross-links in computational modeling of different collagen-based tissues, and to reveal the need for continuum models to consider cross-links properties to better reflect the mechanical behavior observed in experiments. In addition, this study outlines the limitations of current investigations and provides potential suggestions for the future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melika Mohammadkhah
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Mechanics, Chair of Structural Mechanics and Analysis, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sandra Klinge
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Mechanics, Chair of Structural Mechanics and Analysis, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
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11
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John S, Hester S, Basij M, Paul A, Xavierselvan M, Mehrmohammadi M, Mallidi S. Niche preclinical and clinical applications of photoacoustic imaging with endogenous contrast. PHOTOACOUSTICS 2023; 32:100533. [PMID: 37636547 PMCID: PMC10448345 DOI: 10.1016/j.pacs.2023.100533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, photoacoustic (PA) imaging has attracted a great deal of popularity as an emergent diagnostic technology owing to its successful demonstration in both preclinical and clinical arenas by various academic and industrial research groups. Such steady growth of PA imaging can mainly be attributed to its salient features, including being non-ionizing, cost-effective, easily deployable, and having sufficient axial, lateral, and temporal resolutions for resolving various tissue characteristics and assessing the therapeutic efficacy. In addition, PA imaging can easily be integrated with the ultrasound imaging systems, the combination of which confers the ability to co-register and cross-reference various features in the structural, functional, and molecular imaging regimes. PA imaging relies on either an endogenous source of contrast (e.g., hemoglobin) or those of an exogenous nature such as nano-sized tunable optical absorbers or dyes that may boost imaging contrast beyond that provided by the endogenous sources. In this review, we discuss the applications of PA imaging with endogenous contrast as they pertain to clinically relevant niches, including tissue characterization, cancer diagnostics/therapies (termed as theranostics), cardiovascular applications, and surgical applications. We believe that PA imaging's role as a facile indicator of several disease-relevant states will continue to expand and evolve as it is adopted by an increasing number of research laboratories and clinics worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel John
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Scott Hester
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Maryam Basij
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Avijit Paul
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | | | - Mohammad Mehrmohammadi
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
- Wilmot Cancer Institute, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Srivalleesha Mallidi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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12
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Shi L, Myers K. A finite porous-viscoelastic model capturing mechanical behavior of human cervix under multi-step spherical indentation. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 143:105875. [PMID: 37187153 PMCID: PMC10330483 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.105875] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The cervix is a soft tissue exhibiting time-dependent behavior under mechanical loads. The cervix is a vital mechanical barrier to protect the growing fetus. The remodeling of the cervical tissue, characterized by an increase in time-dependent material properties, is necessary for a safe parturition. The failure of its mechanical function and accelerated tissue remodeling is hypothesized to lead to preterm birth, which is birth before 37 weeks of gestation. To understand the mechanism of the time-dependent behavior of the cervix under compressive states, we employ a porous-viscoelastic material model to describe a set of spherical indentation tests performed on nonpregnant and term pregnant tissue. A genetic algorithm-based inverse finite element analysis is used to fit the force-relaxation data by optimizing the material parameters, and the statistical analysis of the optimized material parameters is conducted on different sample groups. The force response is captured well using the porous-viscoelastic model. The indentation force-relaxation of the cervix is explained by the porous effects and the intrinsic viscoelastic properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) microstructure. The hydraulic permeability obtained from the inverse finite element analysis agrees with the trend of the value directly measured previously by our group. The nonpregnant samples are found significantly more permeable than the pregnant samples. Within nonpregnant samples, the posterior internal os is found significantly less permeable than the anterior and posterior external os. The proposed model exhibits the superior capability to capture the force-relaxation response of the cervix under indentation, as compared to the conventional quasi-linear viscoelastic framework (range of r2 of the porous-viscoelastic model 0.88-0.98 vs. quasi-linear model: 0.67-0.89). As a constitutive model with a relatively simple form, the porous-viscoelastic framework has the potential to be used to understand disease mechanisms of premature cervical remodeling, model contact of the cervix with biomedical devices, and interpret force readings from novel in-vivo measurement tools such as an aspiration device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Shi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W 120th St, MC 4703, New York, 10027, NY, USA
| | - Kristin Myers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W 120th St, MC 4703, New York, 10027, NY, USA.
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13
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Brütsch SM, Madzharova E, Pantasis S, Wüstemann T, Gurri S, Steenbock H, Gazdhar A, Kuhn G, Angel P, Bellusci S, Brinckmann J, Auf dem Keller U, Werner S, Bordoli MR. Mesenchyme-derived vertebrate lonesome kinase controls lung organogenesis by altering the matrisome. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:89. [PMID: 36920550 PMCID: PMC10017657 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04735-6] [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: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Vertebrate lonesome kinase (VLK) is the only known secreted tyrosine kinase and responsible for the phosphorylation of a broad range of secretory pathway-resident and extracellular matrix proteins. However, its cell-type specific functions in vivo are still largely unknown. Therefore, we generated mice lacking the VLK gene (protein kinase domain containing, cytoplasmic (Pkdcc)) in mesenchymal cells. Most of the homozygous mice died shortly after birth, most likely as a consequence of their lung abnormalities and consequent respiratory failure. E18.5 embryonic lungs showed a reduction of alveolar type II cells, smaller bronchi, and an increased lung tissue density. Global mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics identified 97 proteins with significantly and at least 1.5-fold differential abundance between genotypes. Twenty-five of these had been assigned to the extracellular region and 15 to the mouse matrisome. Specifically, fibromodulin and matrilin-4, which are involved in extracellular matrix organization, were significantly more abundant in lungs from Pkdcc knockout embryos. These results support a role for mesenchyme-derived VLK in lung development through regulation of matrix dynamics and the resulting modulation of alveolar epithelial cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salome M Brütsch
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeta Madzharova
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sophia Pantasis
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Till Wüstemann
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Selina Gurri
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Heiko Steenbock
- Institute of Virology and Cell Biology, University of Lübeck, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Amiq Gazdhar
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gisela Kuhn
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Angel
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, DKFZ/ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Saverio Bellusci
- German Lung Research Center (DCL), Giessen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine II, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Aulweg 130, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Brinckmann
- Institute of Virology and Cell Biology, University of Lübeck, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.,Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ulrich Auf dem Keller
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Sabine Werner
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Mattia R Bordoli
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
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14
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Stearns-Reider KM, Hicks MR, Hammond KG, Reynolds JC, Maity A, Kurmangaliyev YZ, Chin J, Stieg AZ, Geisse NA, Hohlbauch S, Kaemmer S, Schmitt LR, Pham TT, Yamauchi K, Novitch BG, Wollman R, Hansen KC, Pyle AD, Crosbie RH. Myoscaffolds reveal laminin scarring is detrimental for stem cell function while sarcospan induces compensatory fibrosis. NPJ Regen Med 2023; 8:16. [PMID: 36922514 PMCID: PMC10017766 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-023-00287-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We developed an on-slide decellularization approach to generate acellular extracellular matrix (ECM) myoscaffolds that can be repopulated with various cell types to interrogate cell-ECM interactions. Using this platform, we investigated whether fibrotic ECM scarring affected human skeletal muscle progenitor cell (SMPC) functions that are essential for myoregeneration. SMPCs exhibited robust adhesion, motility, and differentiation on healthy muscle-derived myoscaffolds. All SPMC interactions with fibrotic myoscaffolds from dystrophic muscle were severely blunted including reduced motility rate and migration. Furthermore, SMPCs were unable to remodel laminin dense fibrotic scars within diseased myoscaffolds. Proteomics and structural analysis revealed that excessive collagen deposition alone is not pathological, and can be compensatory, as revealed by overexpression of sarcospan and its associated ECM receptors in dystrophic muscle. Our in vivo data also supported that ECM remodeling is important for SMPC engraftment and that fibrotic scars may represent one barrier to efficient cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M Stearns-Reider
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Michael R Hicks
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Katherine G Hammond
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Joseph C Reynolds
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Alok Maity
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Yerbol Z Kurmangaliyev
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, HHMI, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jesse Chin
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Adam Z Stieg
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | | | - Sophia Hohlbauch
- Asylum Research, An Oxford Instruments Company, Santa Barbara, CA, 93117, USA
| | - Stefan Kaemmer
- Park Systems, 3040 Olcott St, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, USA
| | - Lauren R Schmitt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Thanh T Pham
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Ken Yamauchi
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Bennett G Novitch
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Roy Wollman
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Kirk C Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - April D Pyle
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Rachelle H Crosbie
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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15
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Ostadi Moghaddam A, Arshee MR, Lin Z, Sivaguru M, Phillips H, McFarlin BL, Toussaint KC, Wagoner Johnson AJ. Orientation-dependent indentation reveals the crosslink-mediated deformation mechanisms of collagen fibrils. Acta Biomater 2023; 158:347-357. [PMID: 36638936 PMCID: PMC10039649 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.01.005] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The spatial arrangement and interactions of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components control the mechanical behavior of tissue at multiple length scales. Changes in microscale deformation mechanisms affect tissue function and are often hallmarks of remodeling and disease. Despite their importance, the deformation mechanisms that modulate the mechanical behavior of collagenous tissue, particularly in indentation and compression modes of deformation, remain poorly understood. Here, we develop an integrated computational and experimental approach to investigate the deformation mechanisms of collagenous tissue at the microscale. While the complex deformation arising from indentation with a spherical probe is often considered a pitfall rather than an opportunity, we leverage this orientation-dependent deformation to examine the shear-regulated interactions of collagen fibrils and the role of crosslinks in modulating these interactions. We specifically examine tendon and cervix, two tissues rich in collagen with quite different microstructures and mechanical functions. We find that interacting, crosslinked collagen fibrils resist microscale longitudinal compressive forces, while widely used constitutive models fail to capture this behavior. The reorientation of collagen fibrils tunes the compressive stiffness of complex tissues like cervix. This study offers new insights into the mechanical behavior of collagen fibrils during indentation, and more generally, under longitudinal compressive forces, and illustrates the mechanisms that contribute to the experimentally observed orientation-dependent mechanical behavior. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Remodeling and disease can affect the deformation and interaction of tissue constituents, and thus mechanical function of tissue. Yet, the microscale deformation mechanisms are not well characterized in many tissues. Here, we develop a combined experimental-computational approach to infer the microscale deformation mechanisms of collagenous tissues with very different functions: tendon and cervix. Results show that collagen fibrils resist microscale forces along their length, though widely-used constitutive models do not account for this mechanism. This deformation process partially modulates the compressive stiffness of complex tissues such as cervix. Computational modeling shows that crosslink-mediated shear deformations are central to this unexpected behavior. This study offers new insights into the deformation mechanisms of collagenous tissue and the function of collagen crosslinkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ostadi Moghaddam
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - M R Arshee
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Z Lin
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - M Sivaguru
- Flow Cytometry and Microscopy to Omics, Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - H Phillips
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - B L McFarlin
- Department of Women, Children and Family Health Science, University of Illinois College of Nursing, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - K C Toussaint
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - A J Wagoner Johnson
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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16
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Pensalfini M, Tepole AB. Mechano-biological and bio-mechanical pathways in cutaneous wound healing. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1010902. [PMID: 36893170 PMCID: PMC10030043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Injuries to the skin heal through coordinated action of fibroblast-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, ECM remodeling, and wound contraction. Defects involving the dermis result in fibrotic scars featuring increased stiffness and altered collagen content and organization. Although computational models are crucial to unravel the underlying biochemical and biophysical mechanisms, simulations of the evolving wound biomechanics are seldom benchmarked against measurements. Here, we leverage recent quantifications of local tissue stiffness in murine wounds to refine a previously-proposed systems-mechanobiological finite-element model. Fibroblasts are considered as the main cell type involved in ECM remodeling and wound contraction. Tissue rebuilding is coordinated by the release and diffusion of a cytokine wave, e.g. TGF-β, itself developed in response to an earlier inflammatory signal triggered by platelet aggregation. We calibrate a model of the evolving wound biomechanics through a custom-developed hierarchical Bayesian inverse analysis procedure. Further calibration is based on published biochemical and morphological murine wound healing data over a 21-day healing period. The calibrated model recapitulates the temporal evolution of: inflammatory signal, fibroblast infiltration, collagen buildup, and wound contraction. Moreover, it enables in silico hypothesis testing, which we explore by: (i) quantifying the alteration of wound contraction profiles corresponding to the measured variability in local wound stiffness; (ii) proposing alternative constitutive links connecting the dynamics of the biochemical fields to the evolving mechanical properties; (iii) discussing the plausibility of a stretch- vs. stiffness-mediated mechanobiological coupling. Ultimately, our model challenges the current understanding of wound biomechanics and mechanobiology, beside offering a versatile tool to explore and eventually control scar fibrosis after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pensalfini
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Institute for Mechanical Systems (IMES), Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Laboratori de Càlcul Numèric (LaCàN), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrian Buganza Tepole
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
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17
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Herrera CL, Maiti K, Smith R. Preterm Birth and Corticotrophin-Releasing Hormone as a Placental Clock. Endocrinology 2022; 164:bqac206. [PMID: 36478045 PMCID: PMC10583728 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth worldwide remains a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, yet the exact mechanisms of preterm parturition remain unclear. Preterm birth is not a single condition, but rather a syndrome with a multifactorial etiology. This multifactorial nature explains why individual predictive measures for preterm birth have had limited sensitivity and specificity. One proposed pathway for preterm birth is via placentally synthesized corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH is a peptide hormone that increases exponentially in pregnancy and has been implicated in preterm birth because of its endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine roles. CRH has actions that increase placental production of estriol and of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB, that likely play a key role in activating the myometrium. CRH has been proposed as part of a placental clock, with early activation of placental production resulting in preterm birth. This article will review the current understanding of preterm birth, CRH as an initiator of human parturition, and the evidence regarding the use of CRH in the prediction of preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L Herrera
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9032, USA
| | - Kaushik Maiti
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2305, Australia
| | - Roger Smith
- Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales 2305, Australia
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18
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Tripathy S, Nallasamy S, Mahendroo M. Progesterone and its receptor signaling in cervical remodeling: Mechanisms of physiological actions and therapeutic implications. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2022; 223:106137. [PMID: 35690241 PMCID: PMC9509468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2022.106137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The remodeling of the cervix from a closed rigid structure to one that can open sufficiently for passage of a term infant is achieved by a complex series of molecular events that in large part are regulated by the steroid hormones progesterone and estrogen. Among hormonal influences, progesterone exerts a dominant role for most of pregnancy to initiate a loss of tissue strength yet maintain competence in a phase termed softening. Equally important are the molecular events that abrogate progesterone function in late pregnancy to allow a loss of tissue competence and strength during cervical ripening and dilation. In this review, we focus on current understanding by which progesterone receptor signaling for the majority of pregnancy followed by a loss/shift in progesterone receptor action at the end of pregnancy, collectively ensure cervical remodeling as necessary for successful parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeshna Tripathy
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Shanmugasundaram Nallasamy
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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19
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Ouellette A, Mahendroo M, Nallasamy S. Collagen and elastic fiber remodeling in the pregnant mouse myometrium†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:741-751. [PMID: 35594450 PMCID: PMC9767674 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac102] [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: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The myometrium undergoes progressive tissue remodeling from early to late pregnancy to support fetal growth and transitions to the contractile phase to deliver a baby at term. Much of our effort has been focused on understanding the functional role of myometrial smooth muscle cells, but the role of extracellular matrix is not clear. This study was aimed to demonstrate the expression profile of sub-sets of genes involved in the synthesis, processing, and assembly of collagen and elastic fibers, their structural remodeling during pregnancy, and hormonal regulation. Myometrial tissues were isolated from non-pregnant and pregnant mice to analyze gene expression and protein levels of components of collagen and elastic fibers. Second harmonic generation imaging was used to examine the morphology of collagen and elastic fibers. Gene and protein expressions of collagen and elastin were induced very early in pregnancy. Further, the gene expressions of some of the factors involved in the synthesis, processing, and assembly of collagen and elastic fibers were differentially expressed in the pregnant mouse myometrium. Our imaging analysis demonstrated that the collagen and elastic fibers undergo structural reorganization from early to late pregnancy. Collagen and elastin were differentially induced in response to estrogen and progesterone in the myometrium of ovariectomized mice. Collagen was induced by both estrogen and progesterone. By contrast, estrogen induced elastin, but progesterone suppressed its expression. The current study suggests progressive extracellular matrix remodeling and its potential role in the myometrial tissue mechanical function during pregnancy and parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Ouellette
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Larner College of Medicine University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shanmugasundaram Nallasamy
- Correspondence: Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Tel: +18026568668; Fax: +18026568771; E-mail:
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20
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Shi L, Hu L, Lee N, Fang S, Myers K. Three-Dimensional Anisotropic Hyperelastic Constitutive Model Describing the Mechanical Response of Human and Mouse Cervix. Acta Biomater 2022; 150:277-294. [PMID: 35931278 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.07.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The mechanical function of the uterine cervix is critical for a healthy pregnancy. During pregnancy, the cervix undergoes significant softening to allow for a successful delivery. Abnormal cervical remodeling is suspected to contribute to preterm birth. Material constitutive models describing known biological shifts in pregnancy are essential to predict the mechanical integrity of the cervix. In this work, the material response of human cervical tissue under spherical indentation and uniaxial tensile tests loaded along different anatomical directions is experimentally measured. A deep-learning segmentation tool is applied to capture the tissue deformation during the uniaxial tensile tests. A 3-dimensional, equilibrium anisotropic continuous fiber constitutive model is formulated, considering collagen fiber directionality, fiber bundle dispersion, and the entropic nature of wavy cross-linked collagen molecules. Additionally, the universality of the material model is demonstrated by characterizing previously published mouse cervix mechanical data. Overall, the proposed material model captures the tension-compression asymmetric material responses and the remodeling characteristics of both human and mouse cervical tissue. The pregnant (PG) human cervix (mean locking stretch ζ=2.4, mean initial stiffness ξ=12 kPa, mean bulk modulus κ=0.26 kPa, mean dispersion b=1.0) is more compliant compared with the nonpregnant (NP) cervix (mean ζ=1.3, mean ξ=32 kPa, mean κ=1.4 kPa, mean b=1.4). Creating a validated material model, which describes the role of collagen fiber directionality, dispersion, and crosslinking, enables tissue-level biomechanical simulations to determine which material and anatomical factors drive the cervix to open prematurely. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, we report a 3D anisotropic hyperelastic constitutive model based on Langevin statistic mechanics and successfully describe the material behavior of both human and mouse cervical tissue using this model. This model bridges the connection between the extracellular matrix (ECM) microstructure remodeling and the macro mechanical properties change of the cervix during pregnancy via microstructure-associated material parameters. This is the first model, to our knowledge, to connect the the entropic nature of wavy cross-linked collagen molecules with the mechanical behavior of the cervix. Inspired by microstructure, this model provides a foundation to understand further the relationship between abnormal cervical ECM remodeling and preterm birth. Furthermore, with a relatively simple form, the proposed model can be applied to other fibrous tissues in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Shi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Lingfeng Hu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Nicole Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Shuyang Fang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Kristin Myers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
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Gouissem A, Mbarki R, Al Khatib F, Adouni M. Multiscale Characterization of Type I Collagen Fibril Stress–Strain Behavior under Tensile Load: Analytical vs. MD Approaches. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9050193. [PMID: 35621471 PMCID: PMC9138028 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9050193] [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: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Type I collagen is one of the most important proteins in the human body because of its role in providing structural support to the extracellular matrix of the connective tissues. Understanding its mechanical properties was widely investigated using experimental testing as well as molecular and finite element simulations. In this work, we present a new approach for defining the properties of the type I collagen fibrils by analytically formulating its response when subjected to a tensile load and investigating the effects of enzymatic crosslinks on the behavioral response. We reveal some of the shortcomings of the molecular dynamics (MD) method and how they affect the obtained stress–strain behavior of the fibril, and we prove that not only does MD underestimate the Young’s modulus and the ultimate tensile strength of the collagen fibrils, but also fails to detect the mechanics of some stretching phases of the fibril. We prove that non-crosslinked fibrils have three tension phases: (i) an initial elastic deformation corresponding to the collagen molecule uncoiling, (ii) a linear regime related to the stretching of the backbone of the tropocollagen molecules, and (iii) a plastic regime dominated by molecular sliding. We also show that for crosslinked fibrils, the second regime can be subdivided into three sub-regimes, and we define the properties of each regime. We also prove, analytically, the alleged MD quadratic relation between the ultimate tensile strength of the fibril and the concentration of enzymatic crosslinks (β).
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Affiliation(s)
- Afif Gouissem
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Australian University, East Mishref, Kuwait City P.O. Box 1411, Kuwait; (A.G.); (R.M.); (F.A.K.)
| | - Raouf Mbarki
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Australian University, East Mishref, Kuwait City P.O. Box 1411, Kuwait; (A.G.); (R.M.); (F.A.K.)
| | - Fadi Al Khatib
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Australian University, East Mishref, Kuwait City P.O. Box 1411, Kuwait; (A.G.); (R.M.); (F.A.K.)
| | - Malek Adouni
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Australian University, East Mishref, Kuwait City P.O. Box 1411, Kuwait; (A.G.); (R.M.); (F.A.K.)
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Correspondence:
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22
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Lee N, Shi L, Colon Caraballo M, Nallasamy S, Mahendroo M, Myers K. Mechanical Response of Mouse Cervices Lacking Decorin and Biglycan During Pregnancy. J Biomech Eng 2022; 144:1139857. [PMID: 35348624 DOI: 10.1115/1.4054199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cervical remodeling is critical for a healthy pregnancy. The proper regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover leads to remodeling throughout gestation, transforming the tissue from a stiff material to a compliant, extensible, viscoelastic tissue prepared for delivery. Small leucine rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) are known to regulate structural fiber assembly in the cervical ECM and overall tissue material properties. To quantify the SLRPs' mechanical role in the cervix, whole cervix specimens from non-pregnant and late pregnant knockout mice of SLRPs, decorin and biglycan, were subjected to cyclic load-unload, ramp-hold, and load-to-failure mechanical tests. Further, a fiber composite material model, accounting for collagen fiber bundle waviness, was developed to describe the three-dimensional large deformation equilibrium behavior of the cervix. In nonpregnant tissue, SLRP KO cervices have the same equilibrium material properties as wild-type tissue. In contrast, the load-to-failure and ramp-hold tests reveal SLRPs impact rupture and time-dependent relaxation behavior. Loss of decorin in NP cervices results in inferior rupture properties. While remodeling recovers cervical strength, the SLRP-deficient tissue has diminished ability to dissipate stress during a ramp-hold. In mice with a combined loss of decorin and biglycan, the pregnant cervix loses its extensibility, compliance, and viscoelasticity. Taken together, these results suggest decorin and biglycan are necessary for key compliance and viscoelastic material property features of a healthy remodeled pregnant cervix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Mariano Colon Caraballo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Shanmugasundaram Nallasamy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Kristin Myers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York
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23
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Moghaddam AO, Lin Z, Sivaguru M, Phillips H, McFarlin BL, Toussaint KC, Johnson AJW. Heterogeneous microstructural changes of the cervix influence cervical funneling. Acta Biomater 2022; 140:434-445. [PMID: 34958969 PMCID: PMC8828692 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The cervix acts as a dynamic barrier between the uterus and vagina, retaining the fetus during pregnancy and allowing birth at term. Critical to this function, the physical properties of the cervix change, or remodel, but abnormal remodeling can lead to preterm birth (PTB). Although cervical remodeling has been studied, the complex 3D cervical microstructure has not been well-characterized. In this complex, dynamic, and heterogeneous tissue microenvironment, the microstructural changes are likely also heterogeneous. Using quantitative, 3D, second-harmonic generation microscopy, we demonstrate that rat cervical remodeling during pregnancy is not uniform across the cervix; the collagen fibers orient progressively more perpendicular to the cervical canals in the inner cervical zone, but do not reorient in other regions. Furthermore, regions that are microstructurally distinct early in pregnancy become more similar as pregnancy progresses. We use a finite element simulation to show that heterogeneous regional changes influence cervical funneling, an important marker of increased risk for PTB; the internal cervical os shows ∼6.5x larger radial displacement when fibers in the inner cervical zone are parallel to the cervical canals compared to when fibers are perpendicular to the canals. Our results provide new insights into the microstructural and tissue-level cervical changes that have been correlated with PTB and motivate further clinical studies exploring the origins of cervical funneling. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cervical funneling, or dilation of the internal cervical os, is highly associated with increased risk of preterm birth. This study explores the 3D microstructural changes of the rat cervix during pregnancy and illustrates how these changes influence cervical funneling, assuming similar evolution in rats and humans. Quantitative imaging showed that microstructural remodeling during pregnancy is nonuniform across cervical regions and that initially distinct regions become more similar. We report, for the first time, that remodeling of the inner cervical zone can influence the dilation of the internal cervical os and allow the cervix to stay closed despite increased intrauterine pressure. Our results suggest a possible relationship between the microstructural changes of this zone and cervical funneling, motivating further clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Ostadi Moghaddam
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Z. Lin
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - M. Sivaguru
- Flow Cytometry and Microscopy to Omics, Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - H. Phillips
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - B. L. McFarlin
- Department of Women, Children and Family Health Science, University of Illinois College of Nursing, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - K. C. Toussaint
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - A. J. Wagoner Johnson
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA,Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA,Corresponding author at: 2101A Mechanical Engineering Laboratory MC-244, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
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24
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Singh PK, Srivastava R, Kumar I, Rai S, Pandey S, Shukla RC, Verma A. Evaluation of Uterocervical Angle and Cervical Length as Predictors of Spontaneous Preterm Birth. Indian J Radiol Imaging 2022; 32:10-15. [PMID: 35722650 PMCID: PMC9200462 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1741411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aim The aim of this article was to evaluate uterocervical angle (UCA) and cervical length (CL) measured at 16 to 24 weeks of gestation using transvaginal sonography (TVS) as predictors of spontaneous preterm birth.
Methods In this prospective study, TVS was performed in 159 primigravidas with a singleton, uncomplicated pregnancy at 16 to 24 weeks of gestation to measure the anterior UCA and CL. All the cases were followed until labor to document gestational age at delivery.
Results The risk of spontaneous preterm birth was higher in women with obtuse UCA (>95 degrees) with sensitivity of 86.7%, specificity of 93.0%, positive predictive value of 83.0%, negative predictive value of 94.6%, and p-value of <0.001. The difference between the means was statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). UCAs ≥105degrees and 95 to 105 degrees were found to be significantly associated with spontaneous preterm births at <34 weeks and 34 to 37 weeks, respectively. CL <2.5 cm was found to predict spontaneous preterm births at <37 weeks with sensitivity of 31.1%, specificity of 95.6%, and p-value of <0.001. UCA was found to be a better predictor of spontaneous preterm birth with a higher coefficient of variation (56.4%) when compared with CL (16.9%).
Conclusions UCA proved to be a novel ultrasound parameter that can serve as a better predictor of spontaneous preterm births in comparison to CL. A strong correlation exists between obtuse UCA and a risk of spontaneous preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Kumar Singh
- Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Resham Srivastava
- Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ishan Kumar
- Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sangeeta Rai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Saurabh Pandey
- Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ram C. Shukla
- Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashish Verma
- Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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25
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Colon-Caraballo M, Lee N, Nallasamy S, Myers K, Hudson D, Iozzo RV, Mahendroo M. Novel regulatory roles of small leucine-rich proteoglycans in remodeling of the uterine cervix in pregnancy. Matrix Biol 2022; 105:53-71. [PMID: 34863915 PMCID: PMC9446484 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The cervix undergoes rapid and dramatic shifts in collagen and elastic fiber structure to achieve its disparate physiological roles of competence during pregnancy and compliance during birth. An understanding of the structure-function relationships of collagen and elastic fibers to maintain extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis requires an understanding of the mechanisms executed by non-structural ECM molecules. Small-leucine rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) play key functions in biology by affecting collagen fibrillogenesis and regulating enzyme and growth factor bioactivities. In the current study, we evaluated collagen and elastic fiber structure-function relationships in mouse cervices using mice with genetic ablation of decorin and/or biglycan genes as representative of Class I SLRPs, and lumican gene representative of Class II SLRP. We identified structural defects in collagen fibril and elastic fiber organization in nonpregnant mice lacking decorin, or biglycan or lumican with variable resolution of defects noted during pregnancy. The severity of collagen and elastic fiber defects was greater in nonpregnant mice lacking both decorin and biglycan and defects were maintained throughout pregnancy. Loss of biglycan alone reduced tissue extensibility in nonpregnant mice while loss of both decorin and biglycan manifested in decreased rupture stretch in late pregnancy. Collagen cross-link density was similar in the Class I SLRP null mice as compared to wild-type nonpregnant and pregnant controls. A broader range in collagen fibril diameter along with an increase in mean fibril spacing was observed in the mutant mice compared to wild-type controls. Collectively, these findings uncover functional redundancy and hierarchical roles of Class I and Class II SLRPs as key regulators of cervical ECM remodeling in pregnancy. These results expand our understating of the critical role SLRPs play to maintain ECM homeostasis in the cervix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Colon-Caraballo
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Nicole Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University New York, New York 10027
| | - Shanmugasundaram Nallasamy
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont Burlington, Vermont 05405
| | - Kristin Myers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University New York, New York 10027
| | - David Hudson
- Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington Seattle, Washington 98165
| | - Renato V. Iozzo
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology and the Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390,Correspondence to: Mala Mahendroo, Ph.D, Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.
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26
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Bielajew BJ, Hu JC, Athanasiou KA. Methodology to Quantify Collagen Subtypes and Crosslinks: Application in Minipig Cartilages. Cartilage 2021; 13:1742S-1754S. [PMID: 34823380 PMCID: PMC8804780 DOI: 10.1177/19476035211060508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study develops assays to quantify collagen subtypes and crosslinks with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and characterizes the cartilages in the Yucatan minipig. METHODS For collagen subtyping, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis was performed on tissues digested in trypsin. For collagen crosslinks, LC-MS analysis was performed on hydrolysates. Samples were also examined histologically and with bottom-up proteomics. Ten cartilages (femoral condyle, femoral head, facet joint, floating rib, true rib, auricular cartilage, annulus fibrosus, 2 meniscus locations, and temporomandibular joint disc) were analyzed. RESULTS The collagen subtyping assay quantified collagen types I and II. The collagen crosslinks assay quantified mature and immature crosslinks. Collagen subtyping revealed that collagen type I predominates in fibrocartilages and collagen type II in hyaline cartilages, as expected. Elastic cartilage and fibrocartilages had more mature collagen crosslink profiles than hyaline cartilages. Bottom-up proteomics revealed a spectrum of ratios between collagen types I and II, and quantified 42 proteins, including 24 collagen alpha-chains and 12 minor collagen types. DISCUSSION The novel assays developed in this work are sensitive, inexpensive, and use a low operator time relative to other collagen analysis methods. Unlike the current collagen assays, these assays quantify collagen subtypes and crosslinks without an antibody-based approach or lengthy chromatography. They apply to any collagenous tissue, with broad applications in tissue characterization and tissue engineering. For example, a novel finding of this work was the presence of a large quantity of collagen type III in the white-white knee meniscus and a spectrum of hyaline and fibrous cartilages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J. Bielajew
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jerry C. Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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27
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Clark-Patterson GL, McGuire JA, Desrosiers L, Knoepp LR, De Vita R, Miller KS. Investigation of Murine Vaginal Creep Response to Altered Mechanical Loads. J Biomech Eng 2021; 143:1119395. [PMID: 34494082 DOI: 10.1115/1.4052365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The vagina is a viscoelastic fibromuscular organ that provides support to the pelvic organs. The viscoelastic properties of the vagina are understudied but may be critical for pelvic stability. Most studies evaluate vaginal viscoelasticity under a single uniaxial load; however, the vagina is subjected to dynamic multiaxial loading in the body. It is unknown how varied multiaxial loading conditions affect vaginal viscoelastic behavior and which microstructural processes dictate the viscoelastic response. Therefore, the objective was to develop methods using extension-inflation protocols to quantify vaginal viscoelastic creep under various circumferential and axial loads. Then, the protocol was applied to quantify vaginal creep and collagen microstructure in the fibulin-5 wildtype and haploinsufficient vaginas. To evaluate pressure-dependent creep, the fibulin-5 wildtype and haploinsufficient vaginas (n = 7/genotype) were subjected to various constant pressures at the physiologic length for 100 s. For axial length-dependent creep, the vaginas (n = 7/genotype) were extended to various fixed axial lengths then subjected to the mean in vivo pressure for 100 s. Second-harmonic generation imaging was performed to quantify collagen fiber organization and undulation (n = 3/genotype). Increased pressure significantly increased creep strain in the wildtype, but not the haploinsufficient vagina. The axial length did not significantly affect the creep rate or strain in both genotypes. Collagen undulation varied through the depth of the subepithelium but not between genotypes. These findings suggest that the creep response to loading may vary with biological processes and pathologies, therefore, evaluating vaginal creep under various circumferential loads may be important to understand vaginal function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey A McGuire
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 330 A Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Laurephile Desrosiers
- Department of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, University of Queensland Ochsner Clinical School, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121
| | - Leise R Knoepp
- Department of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, University of Queensland Ochsner Clinical School, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121
| | - Raffaella De Vita
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 330 A Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Kristin S Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118
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28
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Jayyosi C, Lee N, Madhukaran SP, Nallasamy S, Mahendroo M, Myers K. The swelling behavior of the mouse cervix: Changing kinetics with osmolarity and the role of hyaluronan in pregnancy. Acta Biomater 2021; 135:414-424. [PMID: 34411755 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The cervical remodeling process during pregnancy is characterized by progressive compositional and structural changes in the tissues extra-cellular matrix (ECM). Appropriately timed remodeling is critical for healthy gestation and prevention of premature cervical softening leading to preterm birth (PTB). Modification of the ECM glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) content with advancing pregnancy, especially the non-sulfated GAG hyaluronan (HA), is a fundamental change associated with cervical remodeling. While GAGs have numerous physiological roles, the mechanical consequence of evolving GAG content on cervical structure-function behavior remains an open question. Additionally, an understanding of cervical swelling properties, postulated to be regulated in part by GAGs, is required for the appropriate definition of a reference configuration for mechanical tests and to enhance biological understanding. To investigate cervical swelling, osmotic loading tests are conducted on isolated wild type mouse cervices throughout pregnancy. These tests are performed in various osmolarity solutions to assess the influence of the media on swelling kinetics. A genetically altered strain of mice with depletion of cervical HA is also tested to elucidate the contribution of HA to tissue swelling. Results show ex vivo cervical swelling is significant with volume changes ranging from 20 to 100% after 3h of free swelling. The swelling kinetics depend highly on osmolarity of the media and is altered with advancing pregnancy. The contribution of HA to swelling is only significant in hypo-osmotic solution when HA cervical content is high at the end of pregnancy. In summary, it is critical to account for swelling deformation mechanisms after excision in mechanical experiments. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The cervical extracellular matrix (ECM) undergoes drastic changes to fulfill the functional change of the cervix during pregnancy. Inappropriate timing for this transformation can result in preterm birth, a severe clinical challenge. One of the fundamental changes of the cervical ECM is the significant modification of the glycosaminoglycan content, especially hyaluronan (HA), which is thought to contribute significantly to the swelling and mechanical properties of the cervix. This study aims to measure the swelling kinetics of cervical tissue during pregnancy and to investigate the role of HA in these swelling tendencies. Results show the significant swelling of cervical tissue, which evolves as pregnancy progresses, highlighting a key material property feature of the remodeled cervix. Using a mouse strain with a cervical HA depletion, this work shows HA contributes to the swelling trends of late-term cervical tissue, in a hypo-osmotic solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jayyosi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - N Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - S P Madhukaran
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - S Nallasamy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - M Mahendroo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - K Myers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
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29
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Leimert KB, Xu W, Princ MM, Chemtob S, Olson DM. Inflammatory Amplification: A Central Tenet of Uterine Transition for Labor. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:660983. [PMID: 34490133 PMCID: PMC8417473 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.660983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In preparation for delivery, the uterus transitions from actively maintaining quiescence during pregnancy to an active parturient state. This transition occurs as a result of the accumulation of pro-inflammatory signals which are amplified by positive feedback interactions involving paracrine and autocrine signaling at the level of each intrauterine cell and tissue. The amplification events occur in parallel until they reach a certain threshold, ‘tipping the scale’ and contributing to processes of uterine activation and functional progesterone withdrawal. The described signaling interactions all occur upstream from the presentation of clinical labor symptoms. In this review, we will: 1) describe the different physiological processes involved in uterine transition for each intrauterine tissue; 2) compare and contrast the current models of labor initiation; 3) introduce innovative models for measuring paracrine inflammatory interactions; and 4) discuss the therapeutic value in identifying and targeting key players in this crucial event for preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelycia B Leimert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Wendy Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Magdalena M Princ
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Sylvain Chemtob
- Department of Pediatrics, Ophthalmology and Pharmacology, CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - David M Olson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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30
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Dunham CL, Steenbock H, Brinckmann J, Reiter AJ, Castile RM, Chamberlain AM, Lake SP. Increased volume and collagen crosslinks drive soft tissue contribution to post-traumatic elbow contracture in an animal model. J Orthop Res 2021; 39:1800-1810. [PMID: 33258516 PMCID: PMC7744303 DOI: 10.1002/jor.24781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic joint contracture (PTJC) in the elbow is a biological problem with functional consequences. Restoring elbow motion after injury is a complex challenge because contracture is a multi-tissue pathology. We previously developed an animal model of elbow PTJC using Long-Evans rats and showed that the capsule and ligaments/cartilage were the primary soft tissues that caused persistent joint motion loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate tissue-specific changes within the anterior capsule and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) that led to their contribution to elbow contracture. In our rat model of elbow PTJC, a unilateral surgery replicated damage that commonly occurs due to elbow dislocation. Following surgery, the injured limb was immobilized for 42 days. The capsule and LCL were evaluated after 42 days of immobilization or 42 days of immobilization followed by 42 days of free mobilization. We evaluated extracellular matrix protein biochemistry, non-enzymatic collagen crosslink content, tissue volume with contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography, and tissue mechanical properties. Increased collagen content, but not collagen density, was observed in both injured limb capsules and LCLs, which was consistent with the increased tissue volume. Injured limb LCLs exhibited decreased normalized maximum force, and both tissues had increased immature collagen cross-links compared to control. Overall, increased tissue volume and immature collagen crosslinks in the capsule and LCL drive their contribution to elbow contracture in our rat model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsey L. Dunham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
| | - Heiko Steenbock
- Institute of Virology and Cell Biology, University of Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jürgen Brinckmann
- Institute of Virology and Cell Biology, University of Lübeck, Germany;,Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Germany
| | - Alex J. Reiter
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
| | - Ryan M. Castile
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
| | | | - Spencer P. Lake
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, MO;,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, MO;,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
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Nallasamy S, Palacios HH, Setlem R, Caraballo MC, Li K, Cao E, Shankaran M, Hellerstein M, Mahendroo M. Transcriptome and proteome dynamics of cervical remodeling in the mouse during pregnancy. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:1257-1271. [PMID: 34309663 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During gestation, the female reproductive tract must maintain pregnancy while concurrently preparing for parturition. Here, we explore the transitions in gene expression and protein turnover (fractional synthesis rates [FSR]) by which the cervix implements a transition from rigid to compliant. Shifts in gene transcription to achieve immune tolerance and alter epithelial cell programs begin in early pregnancy. Subsequently, in mid-to-late pregnancy transcriptional programs emerge that promote structural reorganization of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Stable isotope labeling revealed a striking slowdown of overall FSRs across the proteome on gestation day 6 that reverses in mid-to-late pregnancy. An exception was soluble fibrillar collagens and proteins of collagen assembly, which exhibit high turnover in non-pregnant cervix compared to other tissues and FSRs that continue throughout pregnancy. This finding provides a mechanism to explain how cross-linked collagen is replaced by newly synthesized, less-cross-linked collagens, which allows increased tissue compliance during parturition. The rapid transition requires a reservoir of newly synthesized, less cross-linked collagens, which is assured by the high FSR of soluble collagens in the cervix. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized form of "metabolic flexibility" for ECM in the cervix that underlies rapid transformation in compliance to allow parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanmugasundaram Nallasamy
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Hector H Palacios
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Rohit Setlem
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Mariano Colon Caraballo
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Kelvin Li
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Edward Cao
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Mahalakshmi Shankaran
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Marc Hellerstein
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biological Science, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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Conway CK, Varghese A, Mahendroo M, Miller KS. The Role of Biaxial Loading on Smooth Muscle Contractility in the Nulliparous Murine Cervix. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:1874-1887. [PMID: 33880630 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-021-02778-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the estrus cycle, the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cervical smooth muscle cells (cSMC) coordinate to accomplish normal physiologic function in the non-pregnant cervix. While previous uniaxial experiments provide fundamental knowledge about cervical contractility and biomechanics, the specimen preparation is disruptive to native organ geometry and does not permit simultaneous assessment of circumferential and axial properties. Thus, a need remains to investigate cervical contractility and passive biomechanics within physiologic multiaxial loading. Biaxial inflation-extension experiments overcome these limitations by preserving geometry, ECM-cell interactions, and multiaxially loading the cervix. Utilizing in vivo pressure measurements and inflation-extension testing, this study presented methodology and examined maximum biaxial contractility and biomechanics in the nulliparous murine cervix. The study showed that increased pressure resulted in decreased contractile potential in the circumferential direction, however, axial contractility remained unaffected. Additionally, total change in axial stress ([Formula: see text]) increased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to circumferential stress ([Formula: see text]) with maximum contraction. However, passive stiffness was significantly greater (p < 0.01) in the circumferential direction. Overall, axial cSMC may have a critical function in maintaining cervical homeostasis during normal function. Potentially, a loss of axial contractility in the cervix during pregnancy may result in maladaptive remodeling such as cervical insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra K Conway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Asha Varghese
- Obstetrics and Gynecology and Green Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Obstetrics and Gynecology and Green Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Kristin S Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA.
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Roa C, Du Le VN, Mahendroo M, Saytashev I, Ramella-Roman JC. Auto-detection of cervical collagen and elastin in Mueller matrix polarimetry microscopic images using K-NN and semantic segmentation classification. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 12:2236-2249. [PMID: 33996226 PMCID: PMC8086465 DOI: 10.1364/boe.420079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We propose an approach for discriminating fibrillar collagen fibers from elastic fibers in the mouse cervix in Mueller matrix microscopy using convolutional neural networks (CNN) and K-nearest neighbor (K-NN) for classification. Second harmonic generation (SHG), two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF), and Mueller matrix polarimetry images of the mice cervix were collected with a self-validating Mueller matrix micro-mesoscope (SAMMM) system. The components and decompositions of each Mueller matrix were arranged as individual channels of information, forming one 3-D voxel per cervical slice. The classification algorithms analyzed each voxel and determined the amount of collagen and elastin, pixel by pixel, on each slice. SHG and TPEF were used as ground truths. To assess the accuracy of the results, mean-square error (MSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and structural similarity (SSIM) were used. Although the training and testing is limited to 11 and 5 cervical slices, respectively, MSE accuracy was above 85%, SNR was greater than 40 dB, and SSIM was larger than 90%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Roa
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - V N Du Le
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, 10555 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33174, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Ilyas Saytashev
- Department of Ophthalmology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Jessica C Ramella-Roman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, 10555 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33174, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA
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Wu WJ, Welter AA, Rice EA, Olson BA, O'Quinn TG, Boyle EAE, Magnin-Bissel G, Houser TA, Chao MD. Biochemical Factors Affecting East Asian Consumers’ Sensory Preferences of Six Beef Shank Cuts. MEAT AND MUSCLE BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.22175/mmb.11626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate biochemical factors affecting Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and East Asian consumers’ eating preferences of 6 different beef shank cuts cooked by moist heat. Six different beef shank muscles were collected from 12 USDA Choice beef carcasses (N = 72). Shank cuts from the left sides were cooked with moist heat and used for East Asian consumer sensory evaluation and WBSF, and shank cuts from the right sides were left uncooked and used for biochemical analysis and visual panels utilizing the same group of consumers. A correlation analysis was conducted to determine the driving factors that contributed to WBSF and East Asian consumers’ overall liking for beef shanks. Biceps brachii and flexor digitorum superficialis-pelvic received the greatest sensory overall liking, with deep digital flexor from the foreshank having the lowest scores (P < 0.01). Deep digital flexor from the foreshank had the greatest WBSF value, most cooked collagen content, and greatest insoluble collagen percentage as well as the greatest raw and cooked pyridinoline (PYD) densities among all the beef shank cuts (P < 0.05). For visual overall liking, shank cuts at approximately 700–750 g such as biceps brachii and extensor carpi radialis received the highest ratings (P < 0.01), and consumers indicated that there was no visual difference in surface color among the shank cuts (P > 0.10). Correlation analysis showed that cooked collagen content and insoluble collagen percentage as well as raw PYD densities had positive correlations with WBSF (P < 0.05) and negative correlations with consumer overall liking (P < 0.01). Surprisingly, collagen content from uncooked shank cuts did not have a direct relationship with consumers’ overall liking nor with WBSF. The results demonstrated that raw PYD density may be a great indicator for cooked beef tenderness in beef cuts with a high concentration of connective tissue prepared with moist heat cookery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Jun Wu
- Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry
| | - Amelia A. Welter
- Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry
| | - Emily A. Rice
- Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael D. Chao
- Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry
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Yan Y, Basij M, Garg A, Varrey A, Alhousseini A, Hsu R, Hernandez-Andrade E, Romero R, Hassan SS, Mehrmohammadi M. Spectroscopic photoacoustic imaging of cervical tissue composition in excised human samples. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247385. [PMID: 33657136 PMCID: PMC7928441 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Cervical remodeling is an important component in determining the pathway of parturition; therefore, assessing changes in cervical tissue composition may provide information about the cervix’s status beyond the measurement of cervical length. Photoacoustic imaging is a non-invasive ultrasound-based technology that captures acoustic signals emitted by tissue components in response to laser pulses. This optical information allows for the determination of the collagen-to-water ratio (CWR). The purpose of this study was to compare the CWR evaluated by using spectroscopic photoacoustic (sPA) imaging in cervical samples obtained from pregnant and non-pregnant women. Methods This cross-sectional study comprised cervical biopsies obtained at the time of hysterectomy (n = 8) and at the scheduled cesarean delivery in pregnant women at term who were not in labor (n = 8). The cervical CWR was analyzed using a fiber-optic light-delivery system integrated to an ultrasound probe. The photoacoustic signals were acquired within the range of wavelengths that cover the peak absorption of collagen and water. Differences in the CWR between cervical samples from pregnant and non-pregnant women were analyzed. Hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius Red stains were used to compare the collagen content of cervical samples in these two groups. Results Eight cervix samples were obtained after hysterectomy, four from women ≤41 years of age and four from women ≥43 years of age; all cervical samples (n = 8) from pregnant women were obtained after 37 weeks of gestation at the time of cesarean section. The average CWR in cervical tissue samples from pregnant women was 18.7% (SD 7.5%), while in samples from non-pregnant women, it was 55.0% (SD 20.3%). There was a significantly higher CWR in the non-pregnant group compared to the pregnant group with a p-value <0.001. A subgroup analysis that compared the CWR in cervical samples from pregnant women and non-pregnant women ≤41 years of age (mean 46.3%, SD 23.1%) also showed a significantly higher CWR (p <0.01). Lower collagen content in the pregnancy group was confirmed by histological analysis, which revealed the loss of tissue composition, increased water content, and collagen degradation. Conclusion The proposed bimodal ultrasound and sPA imaging system can provide information on the biochemical composition of cervical tissue in pregnant and non-pregnant women. Photoacoustic imaging showed a higher collagen content in cervical samples from non-pregnant women as compared to those from pregnant women, which matched with the histological analysis. This novel imaging method envisions a new potential for a sensitive diagnostic tool in the evaluation of cervical tissue composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Maryam Basij
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Alpana Garg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Aneesha Varrey
- Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Ali Alhousseini
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Richard Hsu
- Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Edgar Hernandez-Andrade
- Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Roberto Romero
- Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland and Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Office of Women’s Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Mohammad Mehrmohammadi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Vink J, Yu V, Dahal S, Lohner J, Stern-Asher C, Mourad M, Davis G, Xue Z, Wang S, Myers K, Kitajewski J, Chen X, Wapner RJ, Ananth CV, Sheetz M, Gallos G. Extracellular Matrix Rigidity Modulates Human Cervical Smooth Muscle Contractility-New Insights into Premature Cervical Failure and Spontaneous Preterm Birth. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:237-251. [PMID: 32700284 PMCID: PMC9344974 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00268-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality, must involve premature cervical softening/dilation for a preterm vaginal delivery to occur. Yet, the mechanism behind premature cervical softening/dilation in humans remains unclear. We previously reported the non-pregnant human cervix contains considerably more cervical smooth muscle cells (CSMC) than historically appreciated and the CSMC organization resembles a sphincter. We hypothesize that premature cervical dilation leading to sPTB may be due to (1) an inherent CSMC contractility defect resulting in sphincter failure and/or (2) altered cervical extracellular matrix (ECM) rigidity which influences CSMC contractility. To test these hypotheses, we utilized immunohistochemistry to confirm this CSMC phenotype persists in the human pregnant cervix and then assessed in vitro arrays of contractility (F:G actin ratios, PDMS pillar arrays) using primary CSMC from pregnant women with and without premature cervical failure (PCF). We show that CSMC from pregnant women with PCF do not have an inherent CSMC contractility defect but that CSMC exhibit decreased contractility when exposed to soft ECM. Given this finding, we used UPLC-ESI-MS/MS to evaluate collagen cross-link profiles in the cervical tissue from non-pregnant women with and without PCF and found that women with PCF have decreased collagen cross-link maturity ratios, which correlates to softer cervical tissue. These findings suggest having soft cervical ECM may lead to decreased CSMC contractile tone and a predisposition to sphincter laxity that contributes to sPTB. Further studies are needed to explore the interaction between cervical ECM properties and CSMC cellular behavior when investigating the pathophysiology of sPTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Vink
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168th St. PH16-66, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- Preterm Birth Prevention Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Victoria Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168th St. PH16-66, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Sudip Dahal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168th St. PH16-66, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - James Lohner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Conrad Stern-Asher
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168th St. PH16-66, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Mirella Mourad
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168th St. PH16-66, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Preterm Birth Prevention Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - George Davis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Zenghui Xue
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shuang Wang
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristin Myers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jan Kitajewski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Xiaowei Chen
- Department of Pathology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ronald J Wapner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168th St. PH16-66, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Cande V Ananth
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Michael Sheetz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - George Gallos
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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Schönborn K, Willenborg S, Schulz JN, Imhof T, Eming SA, Quondamatteo F, Brinckmann J, Niehoff A, Paulsson M, Koch M, Eckes B, Krieg T. Role of collagen XII in skin homeostasis and repair. Matrix Biol 2020; 94:57-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Yo Y, Kotani Y, Shiro R, Yamamoto K, Fujishima R, Takaya H, Suzuki A, Shimaoka M, Matsumura N. Relationship between cervical elastography and spontaneous onset of labor. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19685. [PMID: 33184394 PMCID: PMC7661529 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76753-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical elastography might be an objective method for evaluating cervical ripening during pregnancy, but its usefulness has not been fully investigated. We examined the significance of cervical elastography in the last trimester of pregnancy. Cervical elastography was performed at weekly checkups after 36 weeks of gestation in 238 cases delivered at our hospital from 2017 to 2018. The correlation with the onset time of natural labor, which is an index for judging maternal delivery preparation status, was examined. A total of 765 examinations were conducted, and cervical stiffness determined by cervical elastography was positively correlated with the Bishop score (r = 0.46, p < 0.0001). When examined separately for each week, only the examinations performed at 39 weeks were associated with the onset of spontaneous labor up to 7 days later (p = 0.0004). Furthermore, when stratified and analyzed by the Bishop score at 39 weeks of gestation, cervical elastography was associated with the occurrence of spontaneous labor pain for up to seven days in the groups with Bishop scores of 3–5 and 6–8 (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.03, respectively). In conclusion, cervical elastography at 39 weeks of pregnancy is useful for judging the delivery time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshie Yo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2, Ohno-higashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasushi Kotani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2, Ohno-higashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Reona Shiro
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2, Ohno-higashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kiko Yamamoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2, Ohno-higashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
| | - Risa Fujishima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2, Ohno-higashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hisamitsu Takaya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2, Ohno-higashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ayako Suzuki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2, Ohno-higashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masao Shimaoka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2, Ohno-higashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
| | - Noriomi Matsumura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2, Ohno-higashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
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Gonzalez M, Montejo KA, Krupp K, Srinivas V, DeHoog E, Madhivanan P, Ramella-Roman JC. Design and implementation of a portable colposcope Mueller matrix polarimeter. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2020; 25:JBO-200109RR. [PMID: 33191686 PMCID: PMC7666868 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.25.11.116006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Mueller matrix polarimetry can provide useful information about the function and structure of the extracellular matrix. A portable and low-cost system could facilitate the clinical assessment of cervical anomalies in low-resource settings. AIM We introduce a low-cost snapshot Mueller matrix polarimeter that does not require external power, has no moving parts, and can acquire a full Mueller matrix in ∼1 s, to conduct a feasibility study for cervical imaging in the low-resource setting. APPROACH A snapshot system based on two sets of Savart plates, a ring illuminator with polarizing elements (generating four polarization states), and one camera is introduced. Stokes vectors are formulated to recover the polarization properties of the sample. Then, using Mueller matrix decomposition, the depolarization and retardance information is extracted. RESULTS We report the results on 16 healthy individuals (out of 22 patients imaged), whose Pap smear showed no malignant findings from mobile clinics in rural region of Mysore, India. The depolarization and retardance information was in agreement with previous reports. CONCLUSIONS We introduce an imaging system and conducted a feasibility study on healthy individuals. This work could futurely translate into diagnostic applications to provide a quantitative platform in the clinical environment (e.g., cervical cancer screening).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariacarla Gonzalez
- Florida International University, Biomedical Engineering Department, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Karla Alejandra Montejo
- Florida International University, Biomedical Engineering Department, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Karl Krupp
- Public Health Research Institute of India, Mysore, Karnataka, India
- University of Arizona, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Tucson, Arizona, United States
| | - Vijaya Srinivas
- Public Health Research Institute of India, Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Edward DeHoog
- Optical Engineering and Analysis, Long Beach, California, United States
| | - Purnima Madhivanan
- Public Health Research Institute of India, Mysore, Karnataka, India
- University of Arizona, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, United States
| | - Jessica C. Ramella-Roman
- Florida International University, Biomedical Engineering Department, Miami, Florida, United States
- Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Department of Ophthalmology, Miami, Florida, United States
- Address all correspondence to Jessica C. Ramella-Roman,
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40
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On collagen fiber morphoelasticity and homeostatic remodeling tone. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020; 113:104154. [PMID: 33158790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A variety of biochemical and physical processes participate in the creation and maintenance of collagen in biological tissue. Under mechanical stimuli these collagen fibers undergo continuous processes of morphoelastic change. The model presented here is motivated by experimental reports of stretch-stabilization of the collagen fibers to enzymatic degradation. The fiber structure is modeled in terms of a fiber density evolution that is regulated by means of a fixed creation rate and a mechano-sensitive dissolution rate. The theory accounts for the possibly different natural configurations of the fiber unit constituents and the ground substance matrix. It also generalizes previous theoretical descriptions so as to account for finite survival times of the individual fiber units. Special consideration is given to steady state fiber-remodeling processes in which fiber creation and dissolution are in balance. Fiber assembly processes that involve prestretching the fiber constituents yield a homeostatic stress response with a characteristic fiber tone. Fiber density returns to homeostasis after mechanical disruption when sufficient time has passed.
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Tantengco OAG, Menon R. Contractile function of the cervix plays a role in normal and pathological pregnancy and parturition. Med Hypotheses 2020; 145:110336. [PMID: 33049595 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The cervix plays an integral part in ensuring the proper timing of pregnancy and parturition. It maintains the fetus within the uterus and protects it from pathogens present in the vaginal canal. The cervix undergoes extensive remodeling during pregnancy and parturition. This process is associated with collagen degradation, an increase in immune cell response and inflammation in the cervix. However, our understanding of the role of cervical smooth muscles and their contribution to cervical remodeling is still lacking. In this paper, we propose that the active contractile function of the cervix influences cervical remodeling during pregnancy and parturition. Contraction of the cervical smooth muscles helps the cervix to remain firm and closed during early pregnancy, while relaxation of the cervical smooth muscles help facilitate cervical dilatation during labor. This contractile function of the cervix can be influenced by endocrine signals, such as estrogen, progesterone, and oxytocin; local paracrine signals, such as inflammatory chemokines and cytokines, as well as extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes and ectosomes; and by pharmacological agents used for cervical ripening and the induction of labor. A deeper understanding of the role of smooth muscles in cervical remodeling can help us elucidate the cellular processes in the cervix during pregnancy and parturition. This can also help in finding critical signaling pathways and therapeutic targets in the cervix that may decrease the rates of premature cervical ripening and preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ourlad Alzeus G Tantengco
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Ermita, Manila, Philippines
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA.
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Bielajew BJ, Hu JC, Athanasiou KA. Collagen: quantification, biomechanics, and role of minor subtypes in cartilage. NATURE REVIEWS. MATERIALS 2020; 5:730-747. [PMID: 33996147 PMCID: PMC8114887 DOI: 10.1038/s41578-020-0213-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Collagen is a ubiquitous biomaterial in vertebrate animals. Although each of its 28 subtypes contributes to the functions of many different tissues in the body, most studies on collagen or collagenous tissues have focussed on only one or two subtypes. With recent developments in analytical chemistry, especially mass spectrometry, significant advances have been made toward quantifying the different collagen subtypes in various tissues; however, high-throughput and low-cost methods for collagen subtype quantification do not yet exist. In this Review, we introduce the roles of collagen subtypes and crosslinks, and describe modern assays that enable a deep understanding of tissue physiology and disease states. Using cartilage as a model tissue, we describe the roles of major and minor collagen subtypes in detail; discuss known and unknown structure-function relationships; and show how tissue engineers may harness the functional characteristics of collagen to engineer robust neotissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J. Bielajew
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Jerry C. Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Kyriacos A. Athanasiou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
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43
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Tang VW. Collagen, stiffness, and adhesion: the evolutionary basis of vertebrate mechanobiology. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:1823-1834. [PMID: 32730166 PMCID: PMC7525820 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-12-0709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of collagen I in vertebrates resulted in a dramatic increase in the stiffness of the extracellular environment, supporting long-range force propagation and the development of low-compliant tissues necessary for the development of vertebrate traits including pressurized circulation and renal filtration. Vertebrates have also evolved integrins that can bind to collagens, resulting in the generation of higher tension and more efficient force transmission in the extracellular matrix. The stiffer environment provides an opportunity for the vertebrates to create new structures such as the stress fibers, new cell types such as endothelial cells, new developmental processes such as neural crest delamination, and new tissue organizations such as the blood-brain barrier. Molecular players found only in vertebrates allow the modification of conserved mechanisms as well as the design of novel strategies that can better serve the physiological needs of the vertebrates. These innovations collectively contribute to novel morphogenetic behaviors and unprecedented increases in the complexities of tissue mechanics and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian W. Tang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
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Yellon SM, Greaves E, Heuerman AC, Dobyns AE, Norman JE. Effects of macrophage depletion on characteristics of cervix remodeling and pregnancy in CD11b-dtr mice. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:1386-1394. [PMID: 30629144 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To test the hypothesis that macrophages are essential for remodeling the cervix in preparation for birth, pregnant homozygous CD11b-dtr mice were injected with diphtheria toxin (DT) on days 14 and 16 postbreeding. On day 15 postbreeding, macrophages (F4/80+) were depleted in cervix and kidney, but not in liver, ovary, or other non-reproductive tissues in DT-compared to saline-treated dtr mice or wild-type controls given DT or saline. Within 24 h of DT-treatment, the density of cell nuclei and macrophages declined in cervix stroma in dtr mice versus controls, but birefringence of collagen, as an indication of extracellular cross-linked structure, remained unchanged. Only in the cervix of DT-treated dtr mice was an apoptotic morphology evident in macrophages. DT-treatment did not alter the sparse presence or morphology of neutrophils. By day 18 postbreeding, macrophages repopulated the cervix in DT-treated dtr mice so that the numbers were comparable to that in controls. However, at term, evidence of fetal mortality without cervix ripening occurred in most dtr mice given DT-a possible consequence of treatment effects on placental function. These findings suggest that CD11b+ F4/80+ macrophages are important to sustain pregnancy and are required for processes that remodel the cervix in preparation for parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Yellon
- Longo Center for Perinatal Biology.,Division of Physiology, Departments of Basic Sciences, and Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - E Greaves
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - J E Norman
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
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Wietecha MS, Pensalfini M, Cangkrama M, Müller B, Jin J, Brinckmann J, Mazza E, Werner S. Activin-mediated alterations of the fibroblast transcriptome and matrisome control the biomechanical properties of skin wounds. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2604. [PMID: 32451392 PMCID: PMC7248062 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16409-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix deposition is essential for wound repair, but when excessive, leads to hypertrophic scars and fibrosis. The factors that control matrix deposition in skin wounds have only partially been identified and the consequences of matrix alterations for the mechanical properties of wounds are largely unknown. Here, we report how a single diffusible factor, activin A, affects the healing process across scales. Bioinformatics analysis of wound fibroblast transcriptome data combined with biochemical and histopathological analyses of wounds and functional in vitro studies identify that activin promotes pro-fibrotic gene expression signatures and processes, including glycoprotein and proteoglycan biosynthesis, collagen deposition, and altered collagen cross-linking. As a consequence, activin strongly reduces the wound and scar deformability, as identified by a non-invasive in vivo method for biomechanical analysis. These results provide mechanistic insight into the roles of activin in wound repair and fibrosis and identify the functional consequences of alterations in the wound matrisome at the biomechanical level. The relationship between histopathology, gene expression, and biochemical and mechanical properties of wounds is largely unknown. Here, the authors show that activin A alters wound healing at multiple levels by promoting pro-fibrotic gene expression and matrix deposition, thereby affecting biomechanical properties of skin wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz S Wietecha
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Pensalfini
- Institute for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Cangkrama
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bettina Müller
- Institute for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juyoung Jin
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Brinckmann
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.,Institute of Virology and Cell Biology, University of Lübeck, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Edoardo Mazza
- Institute for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland. .,EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
| | - Sabine Werner
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Duan H, Chaemsaithong P, Ju X, Ho SYS, Sun Q, Tai Y, Leung TY, Poon LC. Shear‐wave sonoelastographic assessment of cervix in pregnancy. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2020; 99:1458-1468. [DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Honglei Duan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Affiliated Drum Tower HospitalMedical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Piya Chaemsaithong
- Department of Obstetrics and gynecology The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR
| | - Xiaoqing Ju
- Department of Obstetrics and gynecology The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR
| | - Sin Yee Stella Ho
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR
| | - Qian Sun
- Department of Obstetrics The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University Kunming China
| | - Yi‐yun Tai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology National Taiwan University Hospital Taipei Taiwan
| | - Tak Yeung Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and gynecology The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR
| | - Liona C. Poon
- Department of Obstetrics and gynecology The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR
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Gou K, Topol H, Demirkoparan H, Pence TJ. Stress-Swelling Finite Element Modeling of Cervical Response With Homeostatic Collagen Fiber Distributions. J Biomech Eng 2020; 142:1072289. [PMID: 31891375 DOI: 10.1115/1.4045810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
During pregnancy, the cervix experiences significant mechanical property change due to tissue swelling, and to ongoing changes in the collagen content. In this paper, we model how these two effects contribute to cervical deformation as the pressure load on top of the cervix increases. The cervix and its surrounding supporting ligaments are taken into consideration in the resulting mechanical analysis. The cervix itself is treated as a multilayered tube-like structure, with layer-specific collagen orientation. The cervical tissue in each layer is treated in terms of a collagen constituent that remodels with time within a ground substance matrix that experiences swelling. The load and swelling are taken to change sufficiently slowly so that the collagen properties at any instant can be regarded as being in a state of homeostasis. Among other things, the simulations show how the luminal cross-sectional area varies along its length as a function of pressure and swelling. In general, an increase in pressure causes an overall shortening of the lumen while an increase in swelling has the opposite effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Gou
- Department of Science and Mathematics, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224
| | - Heiko Topol
- Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Education City, P.O. Box 24866, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hasan Demirkoparan
- Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Education City, P.O. Box 24866, Doha, Qatar
| | - Thomas J Pence
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
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Rokidi S, Bravenboer N, Gamsjaeger S, Misof B, Blouin S, Chavassieux P, Klaushofer K, Paschalis E, Papapoulos S, Appelman-Dijkstra N. Impact microindentation assesses subperiosteal bone material properties in humans. Bone 2020; 131:115110. [PMID: 31655220 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2019.115110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Impact microindentation (IMI) is a Reference Point Indentation technique measuring tissue-level properties of cortical bone in humans in vivo. The nature, however, of the properties that can affect bone strength is incompletely understood. In the present study we examined bone material properties in transiliac bone biopsies obtained concurrently with measurements of Bone Material Strength index (BMSi) by IMI in 12 patients with different skeletal disorders and a wide range of BMD, with or without fractures (8 males, 4 females, mean age 48±12.2 (SD) years, range 15-60 years). IMI was performed in the mid-shaft of the right tibia with a hand-held microindenter (OsteoProbe). Cancellous and cortical bone mineralization density distributions (BMDD) were measured in the entire biopsy bone area by quantitative backscattered electron imaging. Raman measurements were obtained right at the outer edge of the cortex, and 5, 50, 100, 500μm inwards. The calculated parameters were: i) Mineral and organic matrix content as well as the mineral / matrix ratio. ii) Nanoporosity. iii) Glycosaminoglycan content. iv) Pyridinoline content. v) Maturity/crystallinity of the apatite crystallites. There was no relationship between BMSi values with any measurement of mineral content of whole bone tissue (BMD, BMDD) or maturity/crystallinity of bone mineral. On the other hand, a positive correlation between BMSi and local mineral content, and an inverse correlation between BMSi and nanoporosity at the mineralized subperiosteal edge of the sample and at 5μm inwards was found. A positive correlation was also observed between BMSi and pyridinoline content at the same locations. These results indicate that local mineral content, nanoporosity and pyridinoline content at the subperiosteal site in the transiliac bone biopsy are linked to the BMSi values measured in the tibia. As both high porosity at the nano level and low pyridinoline content of the bone matrix can negatively impact bone strength, our findings suggest that BMSi most likely assesses subperiosteal bone material properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stamatia Rokidi
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at Hanusch Hospital of Viennese sickness insurance funds (WGKK) and Research funds of the Austrian workers compensation board (AUVA) Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department, Hanusch Hospital Vienna, Austria
| | - Natalie Bravenboer
- Leiden Center for Bone Quality, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sonja Gamsjaeger
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at Hanusch Hospital of Viennese sickness insurance funds (WGKK) and Research funds of the Austrian workers compensation board (AUVA) Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department, Hanusch Hospital Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Misof
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at Hanusch Hospital of Viennese sickness insurance funds (WGKK) and Research funds of the Austrian workers compensation board (AUVA) Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department, Hanusch Hospital Vienna, Austria
| | - Stéphane Blouin
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at Hanusch Hospital of Viennese sickness insurance funds (WGKK) and Research funds of the Austrian workers compensation board (AUVA) Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department, Hanusch Hospital Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Klaus Klaushofer
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at Hanusch Hospital of Viennese sickness insurance funds (WGKK) and Research funds of the Austrian workers compensation board (AUVA) Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department, Hanusch Hospital Vienna, Austria
| | - Eleftherios Paschalis
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at Hanusch Hospital of Viennese sickness insurance funds (WGKK) and Research funds of the Austrian workers compensation board (AUVA) Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department, Hanusch Hospital Vienna, Austria.
| | - Socrates Papapoulos
- Leiden Center for Bone Quality, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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50
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Yao X, Li D, Park HC, Chen D, Guan H, Mahendroo M, Li X. Ultra-sensitive optical coherence elastography using a high-dynamic-range force loading scheme for cervical rigidity assessment. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:688-698. [PMID: 32133219 PMCID: PMC7041475 DOI: 10.1364/boe.383720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
An ultra-sensitive, wide-range force loading scheme is proposed for compression optical coherence elastography (OCE) that allows for the quantitative analysis of cervical tissue elasticity ex vivo. We designed a force loading apparatus featuring a water sink for minuscule incremental loading through a volume-controlled water droplet, from which the Young's modulus can be calculated by fitting the stress-strain curve. We validated the performance of the proposed OCE system on homogenous agar phantoms, showing the Young's modulus can be accurately estimated using this scheme. We then measured the Young's modulus of rodent cervical tissues acquired at different gestational ages, showing that the cervical rigidity of rodents was significantly dropped when entering the third trimester of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwen Yao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 720 Rutland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- SERI-NTU Advanced Ocular Engineering (STANCE), 50 Nanyang Drive #04-13, Singapore 637553, Singapore
- These authors contribute equally to this work
| | - Dawei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 720 Rutland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- These authors contribute equally to this work
| | - Hyeon-Cheol Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 720 Rutland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Defu Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 720 Rutland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Honghua Guan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 720 Rutland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Mala Mahendroo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Xingde Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 720 Rutland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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