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Roudaut M, Caillaud A, Souguir Z, Bray L, Girardeau A, Rimbert A, Croyal M, Lambert G, Patitucci M, Delpouve G, Vandenhaute É, Le May C, Maubon N, Cariou B, Si‐Tayeb K. Human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived liver organoids grown on a Biomimesys® hyaluronic acid-based hydroscaffold as a new model for studying human lipoprotein metabolism. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10659. [PMID: 39036087 PMCID: PMC11256179 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The liver plays a key role in the metabolism of lipoproteins, controlling both production and catabolism. To accelerate the development of new lipid-lowering therapies in humans, it is essential to have a relevant in vitro study model available. The current hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) models derived from hiPSC can be used to model many genetically driven diseases but require further improvement to better recapitulate the complexity of liver functions. Here, we aimed to improve the maturation of HLCs using a three-dimensional (3D) approach using Biomimesys®, a hyaluronic acid-based hydroscaffold in which hiPSCs may directly form aggregates and differentiate toward a functional liver organoid model. After a 28-day differentiation 3D protocol, we showed that many hepatic genes were upregulated in the 3D model (liver organoids) in comparison with the 2D model (HLCs). Liver organoids, grown on Biomimesys®, exhibited an autonomous cell organization, were composed of different cell types and displayed enhanced cytochromes P450 activities compared to HLCs. Regarding the functional capacities of these organoids, we showed that they were able to accumulate lipids (hepatic steatosis), internalize low-density lipoprotein and secrete apolipoprotein B. Interestingly, we showed for the first time that this model was also able to produce apolipoprotein (a), the apolipoprotein (a) specific of Lp(a). This innovative hiPSC-derived liver organoid model may serve as a relevant model for studying human lipopoprotein metabolism, including Lp(a).
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryl Roudaut
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
- HCS PharmaLilleFrance
| | - Amandine Caillaud
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
| | | | - Lise Bray
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
| | - Aurore Girardeau
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
| | - Antoine Rimbert
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
| | - Mikaël Croyal
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
- CRNH‐Ouest Mass Spectrometry Core FacilityNantesFrance
| | - Gilles Lambert
- Inserm, UMR 1188 Diabète Athérothrombose Thérapies Réunion Océan Indien (DéTROI)Université de La RéunionSaint‐Denisde La RéunionFrance
| | - Murielle Patitucci
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
| | | | | | - Cédric Le May
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
| | | | - Bertrand Cariou
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
| | - Karim Si‐Tayeb
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, l'institut du thoraxNantesFrance
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2
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Bi Y, Jin J, Wang R, Liu Y, Zhu L, Wang J. Mechanical models and measurement methods of solid stress in tumors. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:363. [PMID: 38842572 PMCID: PMC11156757 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13211-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
In addition to genetic mutations, biomechanical factors also affect the structures and functions of the tumors during tumor growth, including solid stress, interstitial fluid pressure, stiffness, and microarchitecture. Solid stress affects tumors by compressing cancer and stromal cells and deforming blood and lymphatic vessels which reduce supply of oxygen, nutrients and drug delivery, making resistant to treatment. Researchers simulate the stress by creating mechanical models both in vitro and in vivo. Cell models in vitro are divided into two dimensions (2D) and three dimensions (3D). 2D models are simple to operate but exert pressure on apical surface of the cells. 3D models, the multicellular tumor spheres, are more consistent with the actual pathological state in human body. However, the models are more difficult to establish compared with the 2D models. Besides, the procedure of the animal models in vivo is even more complex and tougher to operate. Then, researchers challenged to quantify the solid stress through some measurement methods. We compared the advantages and limitations of these models and methods, which may help to explore new therapeutic targets for normalizing the tumor's physical microenvironment. KEY POINTS: •This is the first review to conclude the mechanical models and measurement methods in tumors. •The merit and demerit of these models and methods are compared. •Insights into further models are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingwei Bi
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Zhongshan Road 222, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Jiacheng Jin
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Zhongshan Road 222, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Zhongshan Road 222, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Yuxin Liu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Zhongshan Road 222, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Liang Zhu
- Dalian University of Technology, Linggong Road 2, Dalian, 116081, China.
- Dalian Medical University, Lvshun South Road 9, Dalian, 116041, China.
| | - Jianbo Wang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Zhongshan Road 222, Dalian, 116011, China.
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3
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Fan W, Adebowale K, Váncza L, Li Y, Rabbi MF, Kunimoto K, Chen D, Mozes G, Chiu DKC, Li Y, Tao J, Wei Y, Adeniji N, Brunsing RL, Dhanasekaran R, Singhi A, Geller D, Lo SH, Hodgson L, Engleman EG, Charville GW, Charu V, Monga SP, Kim T, Wells RG, Chaudhuri O, Török NJ. Matrix viscoelasticity promotes liver cancer progression in the pre-cirrhotic liver. Nature 2024; 626:635-642. [PMID: 38297127 PMCID: PMC10866704 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06991-9] [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: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanics contribute to cancer development1,2, and increased stiffness is known to promote HCC progression in cirrhotic conditions3,4. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by an accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in the ECM; however, how this affects HCC in non-cirrhotic conditions is unclear. Here we find that, in patients and animal models, AGEs promote changes in collagen architecture and enhance ECM viscoelasticity, with greater viscous dissipation and faster stress relaxation, but not changes in stiffness. High AGEs and viscoelasticity combined with oncogenic β-catenin signalling promote HCC induction, whereas inhibiting AGE production, reconstituting the AGE clearance receptor AGER1 or breaking AGE-mediated collagen cross-links reduces viscoelasticity and HCC growth. Matrix analysis and computational modelling demonstrate that lower interconnectivity of AGE-bundled collagen matrix, marked by shorter fibre length and greater heterogeneity, enhances viscoelasticity. Mechanistically, animal studies and 3D cell cultures show that enhanced viscoelasticity promotes HCC cell proliferation and invasion through an integrin-β1-tensin-1-YAP mechanotransductive pathway. These results reveal that AGE-mediated structural changes enhance ECM viscoelasticity, and that viscoelasticity can promote cancer progression in vivo, independent of stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiguo Fan
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kolade Adebowale
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lóránd Váncza
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Yuan Li
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Md Foysal Rabbi
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Koshi Kunimoto
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Dongning Chen
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Gergely Mozes
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - David Kung-Chun Chiu
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yisi Li
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Junyan Tao
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yi Wei
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Nia Adeniji
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ryan L Brunsing
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Renumathy Dhanasekaran
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Aatur Singhi
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David Geller
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Su Hao Lo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Louis Hodgson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Edgar G Engleman
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Vivek Charu
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Taeyoon Kim
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Rebecca G Wells
- Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Natalie J Török
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- VA, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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Kochanowski JA, Carroll B, Asp ME, Kaputa EC, Patteson AE. Bacteria Colonies Modify Their Shear and Compressive Mechanical Properties in Response to Different Growth Substrates. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024. [PMID: 38193703 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria build multicellular communities termed biofilms, which are often encased in a self-secreted extracellular matrix that gives the community mechanical strength and protection against harsh chemicals. How bacteria assemble distinct multicellular structures in response to different environmental conditions remains incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the connection between bacteria colony mechanics and the colony growth substrate by measuring the oscillatory shear and compressive rheology of bacteria colonies grown on agar substrates. We found that bacteria colonies modify their own mechanical properties in response to shear and uniaxial compression in a manner that depends on the concentration of agar in their growth substrate. These findings highlight that mechanical interactions between bacteria and their microenvironments are an important element in bacteria colony development, which can aid in developing strategies to disrupt or reduce biofilm growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub A Kochanowski
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Bobby Carroll
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Merrill E Asp
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Emma C Kaputa
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Alison E Patteson
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
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5
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Anders M, Meyer T, Warmuth C, Pfeuffer J, Tzschaetzsch H, Herthum H, Shahryari M, Degenhardt K, Wieben O, Schmitter S, Schulz-Menger J, Schaeffter T, Braun J, Sack I. Rapid MR elastography of the liver for subsecond stiffness sampling. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:312-324. [PMID: 37705467 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29859] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Depicting the stiffness of biological soft tissues, MR elastography (MRE) has a wide range of diagnostic applications. The purpose of this study was to improve the temporal resolution of 2D hepatic MRE in order to provide more rapid feedback on the quality of the wavefield and ensure better temporal sampling of respiration-induced stiffness changes. METHODS We developed a rapid MRE sequence that uses 2D segmented gradient-echo spiral readout to encode 40 Hz harmonic vibrations and generate stiffness maps within 625 ms. We demonstrate the use of this technique as a rapid test for shear wave amplitudes and overall MRE image quality and as a method for monitoring respiration-induced stiffness changes in the liver in comparison to 3D MRE and ultrasound-based time-harmonic elastography. RESULTS Subsecond MRE allowed monitoring of increasing shear wave amplitudes in the liver with increasing levels of external stimulation within a single breath-hold. Furthermore, the technique detected respiration-induced changes in liver stiffness with peak values (1.83 ± 0.22 m/s) at end-inspiration, followed by softer values during forced abdominal pressure (1.60 ± 0.22 m/s) and end-expiration (1.49 ± 0.22 m/s). The effects of inspiration and expiration were confirmed by time-harmonic elastography. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that subsecond MRE of the liver is useful for checking MRE driver settings and monitoring breathing-induced changes in liver stiffness in near real time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Anders
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tom Meyer
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Warmuth
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josef Pfeuffer
- Application Development, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Heiko Tzschaetzsch
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helge Herthum
- Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (BCAN), Berlin, Germany, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mehrgan Shahryari
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katja Degenhardt
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Wieben
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jeanette Schulz-Menger
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Working Group On CMR, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Cardiology and Nephrology, HELIOS Hospital Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Schaeffter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Medical Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Einstein Centre Digital Future, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juergen Braun
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingolf Sack
- Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Safraou Y, Krehl K, Meyer T, Mehrgan S, Jordan JEL, Tzschätzsch H, Fischer T, Asbach P, Braun J, Sack I, Guo J. The influence of static portal pressure on liver biophysical properties. Acta Biomater 2023; 169:118-129. [PMID: 37507032 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The liver is a highly vascularized organ where fluid properties, including vascular pressure, vessel integrity and fluid viscosity, play a critical role in gross mechanical properties. To study the effects of portal pressure, liver confinement, fluid viscosity, and tissue crosslinking on liver stiffness, water diffusion, and vessel size, we applied multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), including multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements, to ex vivo livers from healthy male rats (13.6±1.6 weeks) at room temperature. Four scenarios including altered liver confinement, tissue crosslinking, and vascular fluid viscosity were investigated with mpMRI at different portal pressure levels (0-17.5 cmH2O). Our experiments demonstrated that, with increasing portal pressure, rat livers showed higher water content, water diffusivity, and increased vessel sizes quantified by the vessel tissue volume fraction (VTVF). These effects were most pronounced in native, unconfined livers (VTVF: 300±120%, p<0.05, ADC: 88±29%, p<0.01), while still significant under confinement (confined: VTVF: 53±32%, p<0.01, ADC: 28±19%, p<0.05; confined-fixed: VTVF: 52±20%, p<0.001, ADC: 11±2%, p<0.01; confined-viscous: VTVF: 210±110%, p<0.01, ADC: 26±9%, p<0.001). Softening with elevated portal pressure (-12±5, p<0.05) occurred regardless of confinement and fixation. However, the liver stiffened when exposed to a more viscous inflow fluid (11±4%, p<0.001). Taken together, our results elucidate the complex relationship between macroscopic-biophysical parameters of liver tissue measured by mpMRI and vascular-fluid properties. Influenced by portal pressure, vascular permeability, and matrix crosslinking, liver stiffness is sensitive to intrinsic poroelastic properties, which, alongside vascular architecture and water diffusivity, may aid in the differential diagnosis of liver disease. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Using highly controllable ex vivo rat liver phantoms, hepatic biophysical properties such as tissue-vascular structure, stiffness, and water diffusivity were investigated using multiparametric MRI including multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Through elaborate tuning of the experimental conditions such as the static portal pressure, flow viscosity, amount and distribution of fluid content in the liver, we identified the contributions of the fluid component to the overall imaging-based biophysical properties of the liver. Our finding demonstrated the sensitivity of liver stiffness to the hepatic poroelastic properties, which may aid in the differential diagnosis of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Safraou
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karolina Krehl
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin
| | - Tom Meyer
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Shahryari Mehrgan
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jakob Ernst Luis Jordan
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heiko Tzschätzsch
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Fischer
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Asbach
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Braun
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingolf Sack
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
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7
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Asim S, Tabish TA, Liaqat U, Ozbolat IT, Rizwan M. Advances in Gelatin Bioinks to Optimize Bioprinted Cell Functions. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2203148. [PMID: 36802199 PMCID: PMC10330013 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202203148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Gelatin is a widely utilized bioprinting biomaterial due to its cell-adhesive and enzymatically cleavable properties, which improve cell adhesion and growth. Gelatin is often covalently cross-linked to stabilize bioprinted structures, yet the covalently cross-linked matrix is unable to recapitulate the dynamic microenvironment of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), thereby limiting the functions of bioprinted cells. To some extent, a double network bioink can provide a more ECM-mimetic, bioprinted niche for cell growth. More recently, gelatin matrices are being designed using reversible cross-linking methods that can emulate the dynamic mechanical properties of the ECM. This review analyzes the progress in developing gelatin bioink formulations for 3D cell culture, and critically analyzes the bioprinting and cross-linking techniques, with a focus on strategies to optimize the functions of bioprinted cells. This review discusses new cross-linking chemistries that recapitulate the viscoelastic, stress-relaxing microenvironment of the ECM, and enable advanced cell functions, yet are less explored in engineering the gelatin bioink. Finally, this work presents the perspective on the areas of future research and argues that the next generation of gelatin bioinks should be designed by considering cell-matrix interactions, and bioprinted constructs should be validated against currently established 3D cell culture standards to achieve improved therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad Asim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931 USA
| | - Tanveer A. Tabish
- Cardiovascular Division, Radcliff Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Usman Liaqat
- Department of Materials Engineering, School of Chemical and Materials Engineering (SCME), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Pakistan
| | - Ibrahim T. Ozbolat
- Engineering Science and Mechanics, Penn State, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State, Hershey, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cukurova University, Adana 01330, Turkey
| | - Muhammad Rizwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931 USA
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931 USA
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8
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Li D, Janmey PA, Wells RG. Local fat content determines global and local stiffness in livers with simple steatosis. FASEB Bioadv 2023; 5:251-261. [PMID: 37287868 PMCID: PMC10242205 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2022-00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Fat accumulation during liver steatosis precedes inflammation and fibrosis in fatty liver diseases, and is associated with disease progression. Despite a large body of evidence that liver mechanics play a major role in liver disease progression, the effect of fat accumulation by itself on liver mechanics remains unclear. Thus, we conducted ex vivo studies of liver mechanics in rodent models of simple steatosis to isolate and examine the mechanical effects of intrahepatic fat accumulation, and found that fat accumulation softens the liver. Using a novel adaptation of microindentation to permit association of local mechanics with microarchitectural features, we found evidence that the softening of fatty liver results from local softening of fatty regions rather than uniform softening of the liver. These results suggest that fat accumulation itself exerts a softening effect on liver tissue. This, along with the localized heterogeneity of softening within the liver, has implications in what mechanical mechanisms are involved in the progression of liver steatosis to more severe pathologies and disease. Finally, the ability to examine and associate local mechanics with microarchitectural features is potentially applicable to the study of the role of heterogeneous mechanical microenvironments in both other liver pathologies and other organ systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Li
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Paul A. Janmey
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Institute for Medicine and EngineeringUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of PhysiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Rebecca G. Wells
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
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9
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Sumey JL, Johnston PC, Harrell AM, Caliari SR. Hydrogel mechanics regulate fibroblast DNA methylation and chromatin condensation. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:2886-2897. [PMID: 36880435 PMCID: PMC10329270 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm02058k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Cellular mechanotransduction plays a central role in fibroblast activation during fibrotic disease progression, leading to increased tissue stiffness and reduced organ function. While the role of epigenetics in disease mechanotransduction has begun to be appreciated, little is known about how substrate mechanics, particularly the timing of mechanical inputs, regulate epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and chromatin reorganization during fibroblast activation. In this work, we engineered a hyaluronic acid hydrogel platform with independently tunable stiffness and viscoelasticity to model normal (storage modulus, G' ∼ 0.5 kPa, loss modulus, G'' ∼ 0.05 kPa) to increasingly fibrotic (G' ∼ 2.5 and 8 kPa, G'' ∼ 0.05 kPa) lung mechanics. Human lung fibroblasts exhibited increased spreading and nuclear localization of myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) with increasing substrate stiffness within 1 day, with these trends holding steady for longer cultures. However, fibroblasts displayed time-dependent changes in global DNA methylation and chromatin organization. Fibroblasts initially displayed increased DNA methylation and chromatin decondensation on stiffer hydrogels, but both of these measures decreased with longer culture times. To investigate how culture time affected the responsiveness of fibroblast nuclear remodeling to mechanical signals, we engineered hydrogels amenable to in situ secondary crosslinking, enabling a transition from a compliant substrate mimicking normal tissue to a stiffer substrate resembling fibrotic tissue. When stiffening was initiated after only 1 day of culture, fibroblasts rapidly responded and displayed increased DNA methylation and chromatin decondensation, similar to fibroblasts on static stiffer hydrogels. Conversely, when fibroblasts experienced later stiffening at day 7, they showed no changes in DNA methylation and chromatin condensation, suggesting the induction of a persistent fibroblast phenotype. These results highlight the time-dependent nuclear changes associated with fibroblast activation in response to dynamic mechanical perturbations and may provide mechanisms to target for controlling fibroblast activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna L Sumey
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA.
| | | | | | - Steven R Caliari
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, USA
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10
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Tran KA, DeOre BJ, Ikejiani D, Means K, Paone LS, De Marchi L, Suprewicz Ł, Koziol K, Bouyer J, Byfield FJ, Jin Y, Georges P, Fischer I, Janmey PA, Galie PA. Matching mechanical heterogeneity of the native spinal cord augments axon infiltration in 3D-printed scaffolds. Biomaterials 2023; 295:122061. [PMID: 36842339 PMCID: PMC10292106 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Scaffolds delivered to injured spinal cords to stimulate axon connectivity often match the anisotropy of native tissue using guidance cues along the rostral-caudal axis, but current approaches do not mimic the heterogeneity of host tissue mechanics. Although white and gray matter have different mechanical properties, it remains unclear whether tissue mechanics also vary along the length of the cord. Mechanical testing performed in this study indicates that bulk spinal cord mechanics do differ along anatomical level and that these differences are caused by variations in the ratio of white and gray matter. These results suggest that scaffolds recreating the heterogeneity of spinal cord tissue mechanics must account for the disparity between gray and white matter. Digital light processing (DLP) provides a means to mimic spinal cord topology, but has previously been limited to printing homogeneous mechanical properties. We describe a means to modify DLP to print scaffolds that mimic spinal cord mechanical heterogeneity caused by variation in the ratio of white and gray matter, which improves axon infiltration compared to controls exhibiting homogeneous mechanical properties. These results demonstrate that scaffolds matching the mechanical heterogeneity of white and gray matter improve the effectiveness of biomaterials transplanted within the injured spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiet A Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Brandon J DeOre
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - David Ikejiani
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kristen Means
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Louis S Paone
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Laura De Marchi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Łukasz Suprewicz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Katarina Koziol
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Julien Bouyer
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Fitzroy J Byfield
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ying Jin
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Penelope Georges
- Council on Science and Technology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Itzhak Fischer
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Paul A Janmey
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peter A Galie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA.
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11
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Liu L, Huang T, Xie Z, Ye Z, Zhang J, Liao H, Yang S, Yang K, Tu M. Liquid crystalline matrix-induced viscoelastic mechanical stimulation modulates activation and phenotypes of macrophage. J Biomater Appl 2023; 37:1568-1581. [PMID: 36917676 DOI: 10.1177/08853282221136580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that the mechanical microenvironment exerts profound influences on inflammation and immune modulation, which are likely to be key factors in successful tissue regeneration. The elastic modulus (Em) of the matrix may be a useful adjustable property to control macrophage activation and the overall inflammatory response. This study constituted a series of Em-tunable liquid crystalline cell model (HpCEs) resembling the viscoelastic characteristic of ECM and explored how mechanical microenvironment induced by liquid crystalline soft matter matrix affected macrophage activation and phenotypes. We have shown that HpCEs prepared in this work exhibited typical cholesteric liquid crystal phase and distinct viscoelastic rheological characteristics. All liquid crystalline HpCE matrices facilitated macrophages growth and maintained cell activity. Macrophages in lower-Em HpCE matrices were more likely to polarize toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype. Conversely, the higher-Em HpCEs induced macrophages into an elongated shape and upregulated M2-related markers. Furthermore, the higher-Em HpCEs (HpCE-O1, HpCE-H2, HpCE-H1) could coax sequential polarization states of RAW264.7 from a classically activated "M1" state toward alternatively activated "M2" state in middle and later stage of cell culture (within 3-7 days in this work), suggesting that the HpCE-based strategies could manipulate the local immune microenvironment and promote the dominance of the pro-inflammatory signals in early stages, while M2 macrophages in later stages. The liquid crystalline soft mode fabricated in this work maybe offer a new design guideline for in vitro cell models and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichu Liu
- Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, 593063Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Tao Huang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, 47885Jinan University, Huangpu Road 601, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Zheng Xie
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, 47885Jinan University, Huangpu Road 601, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Zhangyao Ye
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, 47885Jinan University, Huangpu Road 601, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Jiaqing Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Preclinical Medicine, 47885Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Honghong Liao
- Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, 593063Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Shenyu Yang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, 47885Jinan University, Huangpu Road 601, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
| | - Kuangyang Yang
- Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, 593063Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Mei Tu
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, 47885Jinan University, Huangpu Road 601, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
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12
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Jugé L, Foley P, Hatt A, Yeung J, Bilston LE. Ex vivo bovine liver nonlinear viscoelastic properties: MR elastography and rheological measurements. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 138:105638. [PMID: 36623403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105638] [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: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Knowledge of the nonlinear viscoelastic properties of the liver is important, but the complex tissue behavior outside the linear viscoelastic regime has impeded their characterization, particularly in vivo. Combining static compression with magnetic resonance (MR) elastography has the potential to be a useful imaging method for assessing large deformation mechanical properties of soft tissues in vivo. However, this remains to be verified. Therefore this study aims first to determine whether MR elastography can measure the nonlinear mechanical properties of ex vivo bovine liver tissue under varying levels of uniform and focal preloads (up to 30%), and second to compare MR elastography-derived complex shear modulus with standard rheological measurements. METHOD Nine fresh bovine livers were collected from a local abattoir, and experiments were conducted within 12hr of death. Two cubic samples (∼10 × 10 × 10 cm3) were dissected from each liver and imaged using MR elastography (60 Hz) under 4 levels of uniform and focal preload (1, 10, 20, and 30% of sample width) to investigate the relationship between MR elastography-derived complex shear modulus (G∗) and the maximum principal Right Cauchy Green Strain (C11). Three tissue samples from each of the same 9 livers underwent oscillatory rheometry under the same 4 preloads (1, 10, 20, and 30% strain). MR elastography-derived complex shear modulus (G∗) from the uniform preload was validated against rheometry by fitting the frequency dependence of G∗ with a power-law and extrapolating rheometry-derived G∗ to 60 Hz. RESULTS MR elastography-derived G∗ increased with increasing compressive large deformation strain, and followed a power-law curve (G∗ = 1.73 × C11-0.38, R2 = 0.96). Similarly, rheometry-derived G∗ at 1 Hz, increasing from 0.66 ± 1.03 kPa (1% strain) to 1.84 ± 1.65 kPa (30% strain, RM one-way ANOVA, P < 0.001), and the frequency dependence of G∗ followed a power-law with the exponent decreasing from 0.13 to 0.06 with increasing preload. MR elastography-derived G∗ was 1.4-3.1 times higher than the extrapolated rheometry-derived G∗ at 60 Hz, but the strain dependence was consistent between rheometry and MR elastography measurements. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that MR elastography can detect changes in ex vivo bovine liver complex shear modulus due to either uniform or focal preload and therefore can be a useful technique to characterize nonlinear viscoelastic properties of soft tissue, provided that strains applied to the tissue can be quantified. Although MR elastography could reliably characterize the strain dependence of the ex vivo bovine liver, MR elastography overestimated the complex shear modulus of the tissue compared to rheological measurements, particularly at lower preload (<10%). That is likely to be important in clinical hepatic MR elastography diagnosis studies if preload is not carefully considered. A limitation is the absence of overlapping frequency between rheometry and MR elastography for formal validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauriane Jugé
- Neuroscience Research Australia, PO Box 1165, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, 18 High St, Kensington NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Patrick Foley
- Neuroscience Research Australia, PO Box 1165, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Alice Hatt
- Neuroscience Research Australia, PO Box 1165, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Jade Yeung
- Neuroscience Research Australia, PO Box 1165, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Lynne E Bilston
- Neuroscience Research Australia, PO Box 1165, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney, 18 High St, Kensington NSW 2052, Australia.
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13
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Eivazi Zadeh Z, Eskandari F, Shafieian M, Solouk A, Haghbin Nazarpak M. The importance of polyurethane/carbon nanotubes composites fabrication method to mimic mechanical behavior of different types of soft tissues. Polym Bull (Berl) 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s00289-023-04672-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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14
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Leartprapun N, Adie SG. Recent advances in optical elastography and emerging opportunities in the basic sciences and translational medicine [Invited]. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:208-248. [PMID: 36698669 PMCID: PMC9842001 DOI: 10.1364/boe.468932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Optical elastography offers a rich body of imaging capabilities that can serve as a bridge between organ-level medical elastography and single-molecule biophysics. We review the methodologies and recent developments in optical coherence elastography, Brillouin microscopy, optical microrheology, and photoacoustic elastography. With an outlook toward maximizing the basic science and translational clinical impact of optical elastography technologies, we discuss potential ways that these techniques can integrate not only with each other, but also with supporting technologies and capabilities in other biomedical fields. By embracing cross-modality and cross-disciplinary interactions with these parallel fields, optical elastography can greatly increase its potential to drive new discoveries in the biomedical sciences as well as the development of novel biomechanics-based clinical diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichaluk Leartprapun
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Present affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Steven G. Adie
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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15
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Asp M, Jutzeler E, Kochanowski J, Kerr K, Song D, Gupta S, Carroll B, Patteson A. A Torsion-Based Rheometer for Measuring Viscoelastic Material Properties. BIOPHYSICIST (ROCKVILLE, MD.) 2022; 3:94-105. [PMID: 38098945 PMCID: PMC10720878 DOI: 10.35459/tbp.2020.000172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Rheology and the study of viscoelastic materials are an integral part of engineering and the study of biophysical systems. Tissue rheology is even used in the study of cancer and other diseases. However, the cost of a rheometer is feasible only for colleges, universities, and research laboratories. Even if a rheometer can be purchased, it is bulky and delicately calibrated, limiting its usefulness to the laboratory itself. The design presented here is less than a tenth of the cost of a professional rheometer. The design is also portable, making it the ideal solution to introduce viscoelasticity to high school students as well as for use in the field for obtaining rheological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merrill Asp
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Elise Jutzeler
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- Jamesville-Dewitt High School, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Jakub Kochanowski
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Katherine Kerr
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Dawei Song
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sarthak Gupta
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Bobby Carroll
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Alison Patteson
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
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16
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Łysik D, Deptuła P, Chmielewska S, Skłodowski K, Pogoda K, Chin L, Song D, Mystkowska J, Janmey PA, Bucki R. Modulation of Biofilm Mechanics by DNA Structure and Cell Type. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4921-4929. [PMID: 36301743 PMCID: PMC9667457 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA) evolved as a tool for storing and transmitting
genetic information within cells, but outside the cell, DNA can also
serve as “construction material” present in microbial
biofilms or various body fluids, such as cystic fibrosis, sputum,
and pus. In the present work, we investigate the mechanics of biofilms
formed from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Xen
5, Staphylococcus aureus Xen 30, and Candida albicans 1408 using oscillatory shear rheometry
at different levels of compression and recreate these mechanics in
systems of entangled DNA and cells. The results show that the compression-stiffening
and shear-softening effects observed in biofilms can be reproduced
in DNA networks with the addition of an appropriate number of microbial
cells. Additionally, we observe that these effects are cell-type dependent.
We also identify other mechanisms that may significantly impact the
viscoelastic behavior of biofilms, such as the compression-stiffening
effect of DNA cross-linking by bivalent cations (Mg2+,
Ca2+, and Cu2+) and the stiffness-increasing
interactions of P. aeruginosa Xen 5
biofilm with Pf1 bacteriophage produced by P. aeruginosa. This work extends the knowledge of biofilm mechanobiology and demonstrates
the possibility of modifying biopolymers toward obtaining the desired
biophysical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawid Łysik
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Piotr Deptuła
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Sylwia Chmielewska
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Karol Skłodowski
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Pogoda
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-342 Krakow, Poland
| | - LiKang Chin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania 19087, United States
| | - Dawei Song
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Joanna Mystkowska
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Paul A. Janmey
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Robert Bucki
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
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17
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Kraus EA, Mellenthin LE, Siwiecki SA, Song D, Yan J, Janmey PA, Sweeney AM. Rheology of marine sponges reveals anisotropic mechanics and tuned dynamics. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220476. [PMID: 36259170 PMCID: PMC9579767 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0476] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Sponges are animals that inhabit many aquatic environments while filtering small particles and ejecting metabolic wastes. They are composed of cells in a bulk extracellular matrix, often with an embedded scaffolding of stiff, siliceous spicules. We hypothesize that the mechanical response of this heterogeneous tissue to hydrodynamic flow influences cell proliferation in a manner that generates the body of a sponge. Towards a more complete picture of the emergence of sponge morphology, we dissected a set of species and subjected discs of living tissue to physiological shear and uniaxial deformations on a rheometer. Various species exhibited rheological properties such as anisotropic elasticity, shear softening and compression stiffening, negative normal stress, and non-monotonic dissipation as a function of both shear strain and frequency. Erect sponges possessed aligned, spicule-reinforced fibres which endowed three times greater stiffness axially compared with orthogonally. By contrast, tissue taken from shorter sponges was more isotropic but time-dependent, suggesting higher flow sensitivity in these compared with erect forms. We explore ecological and physiological implications of our results and speculate about flow-induced mechanical signalling in sponge cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emile A. Kraus
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lauren E. Mellenthin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sara A. Siwiecki
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dawei Song
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paul A. Janmey
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alison M. Sweeney
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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18
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Dooling LJ, Saini K, Anlaş AA, Discher DE. Tissue mechanics coevolves with fibrillar matrisomes in healthy and fibrotic tissues. Matrix Biol 2022; 111:153-188. [PMID: 35764212 PMCID: PMC9990088 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fibrillar proteins are principal components of extracellular matrix (ECM) that confer mechanical properties to tissues. Fibrosis can result from wound repair in nearly every tissue in adults, and it associates with increased ECM density and crosslinking as well as increased tissue stiffness. Such fibrotic tissues are a major biomedical challenge, and an emerging view posits that the altered mechanical environment supports both synthetic and contractile myofibroblasts in a state of persistent activation. Here, we review the matrisome in several fibrotic diseases, as well as normal tissues, with a focus on physicochemical properties. Stiffness generally increases with the abundance of fibrillar collagens, the major constituent of ECM, with similar mathematical trends for fibrosis as well as adult tissues from soft brain to stiff bone and heart development. Changes in expression of other core matrisome and matrisome-associated proteins or proteoglycans contribute to tissue stiffening in fibrosis by organizing collagen, crosslinking ECM, and facilitating adhesion of myofibroblasts. Understanding how ECM composition and mechanics coevolve during fibrosis can lead to better models and help with antifibrotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence J Dooling
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Karanvir Saini
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alişya A Anlaş
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dennis E Discher
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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19
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Pyka-Fościak G, Zemła J, Lekki J, Wójcik B, Lis GJ, Litwin JA, Lekka M. Biomechanical changes in the liver tissue induced by a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (EAE) and the effect of anti-VLA-4 mAb treatment. Arch Biochem Biophys 2022; 728:109356. [PMID: 35868535 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2022.109356] [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: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a mouse model of demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). MS can be accompanied by autoimmune hepatitis. In this study, nanomechanical, biorheological and histological examinations were carried out by atomic force microscopy (AFM), rheology, and immunofluorescence microscopy to investigate changes in the liver tissue of EAE mice and the effect of natalizumab, a monoclonal antibody against α4-integrin (VLA-4) cell adhesion molecule, used in MS therapy. Liver samples collected from EAE mice in three successive phases of the disease showed inflammatory changes manifested by leukocyte infiltrations and elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Liver stiffness and viscoelasticity increased in the onset phase of EAE, decreased in the peak phase and increased again in the chronic phase to reach the highest values. These changes were not associated with inflammation parameters which increased in the peak phase and decreased to the lowest values in the chronic phase. Moreover, anti-VLA treatment, which reduced the inflammation parameters, had an ambiguous effect on stiffness and viscoelasticity: it increased them in the peak phase but decreased in the chronic phase. The observed discrepancies can result from a complex network of interactions between inflammation and fibrosis, as well as between liver cells and the extracellular matrix influencing the biomechanical properties of the liver tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Pyka-Fościak
- Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034, Krakow, Poland.
| | - J Zemła
- Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Krakow, Poland
| | - J Lekki
- Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Krakow, Poland
| | - B Wójcik
- Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034, Krakow, Poland
| | - G J Lis
- Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034, Krakow, Poland
| | - J A Litwin
- Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034, Krakow, Poland
| | - M Lekka
- Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Krakow, Poland
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20
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Liu Z, Fu J, Yuan H, Ma B, Cao Z, Chen Y, Xing C, Niu X, Li N, Wang H, An H. Polyisocyanide hydrogels with tunable nonlinear elasticity mediate liver carcinoma cell functional response. Acta Biomater 2022; 148:152-162. [PMID: 35718101 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.06.022] [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: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma development is closely related to the changes in tissue mechanics induced by excess collagen deposition and crosslinking, which leads to liver fibrosis and malignant progression. The role of matrix stiffness has been widely assessed using various linearly elastic materials. However, the liver, like many soft tissues, also exhibits nonlinear elasticity by strain-stiffening, allowing cells to mechanically interact with their micromilieus which has attracted much attention in cellular processes recently. Here, we use a biomimetic hydrogel grafting of GRGDS peptide with tunable nonlinear mechanical properties, polyisocyanides (PIC), to investigate the influence of strain-stiffening on HepG2 liver cancer cell behavior by tuning PIC polymer length. Compared to short PIC polymer with lower critical stress, PIC hydrogels composed of long polymer with higher critical stress promote the motility and invasiveness of HepG2 cells, and induce more actin stress fibers and higher expression level of mechanotransducer YAP and its nuclear translocation. Strikingly, the expression of calcium-activated potassium channel KCa3.1, an important biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma, is also affected by the mechanical property of PIC hydrogels. It was also shown that downregulating the KCa3.1 channel can be achieved by inhibiting the formation of actin fibers. Our findings imply that the strain-stiffening property of PIC hydrogels affects the expression of KCa3.1 potassium channel via mediating cytoskeletal stress fiber formation, and ultimately influences the liver carcinoma cell functional response. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The effect of nonlinear elasticity by strain-stiffening, is assessed in HepG2 liver cancer cell behavior by using a biomimetic hydrogel with tunable mechanical properties, polyisocyanides (PIC). PIC gels with higher critical stress promote the motility and invasiveness of HepG2 cells and induce upregulated expression levels of KCa3.1 potassium channel and YAP, but which can be suppressed by inhibiting the formation of actin fibers. Our findings imply that the strain-stiffening property of PIC gels influences the expression of KCa3.1 potassium channel via mediating cytoskeletal stress fiber formation and, ultimately affects the liver carcinoma cell functional response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Jingxuan Fu
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China; College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, GuangRong Dao 8, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, PR China
| | - Hongbo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China; Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Chemistry Department, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Biao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Zhanshuo Cao
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Yafei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Chengfen Xing
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Xuezhi Niu
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China; College of Life Sciences and Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
| | - Hailong An
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, School of Science, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China.
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21
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Effective Viscoplastic-Softening Model Suitable for Brain Impact Modelling. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15062270. [PMID: 35329722 PMCID: PMC8949279 DOI: 10.3390/ma15062270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we address the numerical aspects and implementation of a nonlinear viscoplastic model of the mechanical behaviour of brain tissue to simulate the dynamic responses related to impact loads which may cause traumatic injury. Among the various viscoelastic models available, we deliberately considered modifying the Norton–Hoff model in order to introduce non-typical viscoplastic softening behaviour that imitates a brain’s response just several milliseconds after a rapid impact. We describe the discretisation and three dimensional implementation of the model, with the aim of obtaining accurate numerical results in a reasonable computational time. Due to the large scale and complexity of the problem, a parallel computation technique, using a space–time finite element method, was used to facilitate the computation boost. It is proven that, after calibrating, the introduced viscoplastic-softening model is better suited for modelling brain tissue behaviour for the specific case of rapid impact loading rather than the commonly used viscoelastic models.
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22
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Patteson AE, Asp ME, Janmey PA. Materials science and mechanosensitivity of living matter. APPLIED PHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 9:011320. [PMID: 35392267 PMCID: PMC8969880 DOI: 10.1063/5.0071648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Living systems are composed of molecules that are synthesized by cells that use energy sources within their surroundings to create fascinating materials that have mechanical properties optimized for their biological function. Their functionality is a ubiquitous aspect of our lives. We use wood to construct furniture, bacterial colonies to modify the texture of dairy products and other foods, intestines as violin strings, bladders in bagpipes, and so on. The mechanical properties of these biological materials differ from those of other simpler synthetic elastomers, glasses, and crystals. Reproducing their mechanical properties synthetically or from first principles is still often unattainable. The challenge is that biomaterials often exist far from equilibrium, either in a kinetically arrested state or in an energy consuming active state that is not yet possible to reproduce de novo. Also, the design principles that form biological materials often result in nonlinear responses of stress to strain, or force to displacement, and theoretical models to explain these nonlinear effects are in relatively early stages of development compared to the predictive models for rubberlike elastomers or metals. In this Review, we summarize some of the most common and striking mechanical features of biological materials and make comparisons among animal, plant, fungal, and bacterial systems. We also summarize some of the mechanisms by which living systems develop forces that shape biological matter and examine newly discovered mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to the forces they generate themselves, which are resisted by their environment, or that are exerted upon them by their environment. Within this framework, we discuss examples of how physical methods are being applied to cell biology and bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison E. Patteson
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY, 13244, USA
| | - Merrill E. Asp
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY, 13244, USA
| | - Paul A. Janmey
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering and Departments of Physiology and Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, 19104, USA
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23
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Swoger M, Gupta S, Charrier EE, Bates M, Hehnly H, Patteson AE. Vimentin Intermediate Filaments Mediate Cell Morphology on Viscoelastic Substrates. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:552-561. [PMID: 34995457 PMCID: PMC8864613 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c01046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The ability of cells to take and
change shape is a fundamental
feature underlying development, wound repair, and tissue maintenance.
Central to this process is physical and signaling interactions between
the three cytoskeletal polymeric networks: F-actin, microtubules,
and intermediate filaments (IFs). Vimentin is an IF protein that is
essential to the mechanical resilience of cells and regulates cross-talk
among the cytoskeleton, but its role in how cells sense and respond
to the surrounding extracellular matrix is largely unclear. To investigate
vimentin’s role in substrate sensing, we designed polyacrylamide
hydrogels that mimic the elastic and viscoelastic nature of in vivo tissues. Using wild-type and vimentin-null mouse
embryonic fibroblasts, we show that vimentin enhances cell spreading
on viscoelastic substrates, even though it has little effect in the
limit of purely elastic substrates. Our results provide compelling
evidence that vimentin modulates how cells sense and respond to their
environment and thus plays a key role in cell mechanosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxx Swoger
- Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States.,BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Sarthak Gupta
- Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States.,BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Elisabeth E Charrier
- Institute of Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 13210, United States
| | - Michael Bates
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Heidi Hehnly
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Alison E Patteson
- Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States.,BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
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The Combined Influence of Viscoelastic and Adhesive Cues on Fibroblast Spreading and Focal Adhesion Organization. Cell Mol Bioeng 2021; 14:427-440. [PMID: 34777602 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-021-00672-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Tissue fibrosis is characterized by progressive extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening and loss of viscoelasticity that ultimately impairs organ functionality. Cells bind to the ECM through integrins, where αv integrin engagement in particular has been correlated with fibroblast activation into contractile myofibroblasts that drive fibrosis progression. There is a significant unmet need for in vitro hydrogel systems that deconstruct the complexity of native tissues to better understand the individual and combined effects of stiffness, viscoelasticity, and integrin engagement on fibroblast behavior. Methods We developed hyaluronic acid hydrogels with independently tunable cell-instructive properties (stiffness, viscoelasticity, ligand presentation) to address this challenge. Hydrogels with mechanics matching normal or fibrotic lung tissue were synthesized using a combination of covalent crosslinks and supramolecular interactions to tune viscoelasticity. Cell adhesion was mediated through incorporation of either RGD peptide or engineered fibronectin fragments promoting preferential integrin engagement via αvβ3 or α5β1. Results On fibrosis-mimicking stiff elastic hydrogels, preferential αvβ3 engagement promoted increased spreading, actin stress fiber organization, and focal adhesion maturation as indicated by paxillin organization in human lung fibroblasts. In contrast, preferential α5β1 binding suppressed these metrics. Viscoelasticity, mimicking the mechanics of healthy tissue, largely curtailed fibroblast spreading and focal adhesion organization independent of adhesive ligand type, highlighting its role in reducing fibroblast-activating behaviors. Conclusions Together, these results provide new insights into how mechanical and adhesive cues collectively guide disease-relevant cell behaviors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-021-00672-1.
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Zemła J, Iyer PS, Pyka-Fościak G, Mermod N, Lekka M. Rheological properties of skeletal muscles in a Duchenne muscular dystrophy murine model before and after autologous cell therapy. J Biomech 2021; 128:110770. [PMID: 34628203 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is still an incurable muscle degenerative disease; thus, numerous studies focused on novel therapeutic approaches. However, a simple assay of muscle function restoration remains needed. Herein, we used an oscillatory shear rheometer to evaluate changes in rheological properties of mouse muscles (tibialis anterior, TA) and their restoration upon autologous cell therapy by comparing the viscoelastic properties of normal, diseased and treated muscles. Amplitude sweep tests of muscle samples were performed under 20% compression over a range of shear strain between 0.01 and 2% and frequency of 1 rad/s. The samples were tested in plane-plane geometry and horizontal myofiber alignment. Typical linear viscoelastic region (LVER) patterns were found for each muscle type. For healthy muscles, a broad LVER between shear deformations (γ) of 0.013-0.62% was observed. The LVER of DMD mdx/SCID muscles was found at 0.14% to 0.46% shear deformation, and no shear dependence of storage (G') and loss (G") moduli at γ range changing from 0.034% to 0.26% was found for transplanted tissues. G'LVER and G"LVER moduli of healthy muscles were significantly higher than G'LVER and G"LVER of dystrophic tissues. Additionally, muscle resistance assessment by rheometer indicated that muscles transplanted with stem cells restored elastic properties to levels close to those of healthy muscles. Interestingly, histological staining and rheological data indicate that the loss factor is strongly related to structural changes of examined muscles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Zemła
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Pavithra S Iyer
- Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grażyna Pyka-Fościak
- Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034 Krakow, Poland
| | - Nicolas Mermod
- Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Małgorzata Lekka
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Krakow, Poland
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26
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Hirota A, AlMusawi S, Nateri AS, Ordóñez-Morán P, Imajo M. Biomaterials for intestinal organoid technology and personalized disease modeling. Acta Biomater 2021; 132:272-287. [PMID: 34023456 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in intestinal organoid technologies have paved the way for in vitro recapitulation of the homeostatic renewal of adult tissues, tissue or organ morphogenesis during development, and pathogenesis of many disorders. In vitro modelling of individual patient diseases using organoid systems have been considered key in establishing rational design of personalized treatment strategies and in improving therapeutic outcomes. In addition, the transplantation of organoids into diseased tissues represents a novel approach to treat currently incurable diseases. Emerging evidence from intensive studies suggests that organoid systems' development and functional maturation depends on the presence of an extracellular matrix with suitable biophysical properties, where advanced synthetic hydrogels open new avenues for theoretical control of organoid phenotypes and potential applications of organoids in therapeutic purposes. In this review, we discuss the status, applications, challenges and perspectives of intestinal organoid systems emphasising on hydrogels and their properties suitable for intestinal organoid culture. We provide an overview of hydrogels used for intestinal organoid culture and key factors regulating their biological activity. The comparison of different hydrogels would be a theoretical basis for establishing design principles of synthetic niches directing intestinal cell fates and functions. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Intestinal organoid is an in vitro recapitulation of the gut, which self-organizes from intestinal stem cells and maintains many features of the native tissue. Since the development of this technology, intestinal organoid systems have made significant contribution to rapid progress in intestinal biology. Prevailing methodology for organoid culture, however, depends on animal-derived matrices and suffers from variability and potential risk for contamination of pathogens, limiting their therapeutic application. Synthetic scaffold matrices, hydrogels, might provide solutions to these issues and deepen our understanding on how intestinal cells sense and respond to key biophysical properties of the surrounding matrices. This review provides an overview of developing intestinal models and biomaterials, thereby leading to better understanding of current intestinal organoid systems for both biologists and materials scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Hirota
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, N15, W7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Shaikha AlMusawi
- Cancer Genetic and Stem Cell group, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Biodiscovery Institute, Centre for Cancer Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Stem Cell biology and Cancer group, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Biodiscovery Institute, Centre for Cancer Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Abdolrahman S Nateri
- Cancer Genetic and Stem Cell group, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Biodiscovery Institute, Centre for Cancer Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paloma Ordóñez-Morán
- Stem Cell biology and Cancer group, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Biodiscovery Institute, Centre for Cancer Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
| | - Masamichi Imajo
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, N15, W7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan.
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27
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Perspective: The Mechanobiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13174275. [PMID: 34503085 PMCID: PMC8428343 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most deadly primary cancer in the world and is thus a major global health challenge. HCC primarily develops in patients with an underlying chronic liver disease, the vast majority with advanced cirrhosis, characterized by increased matrix deposition and liver stiffness. Liver stiffness is highly associated with cancer development and poor patient outcome and is measured clinically to assess cancer risk; cirrhotic livers greatly exceed the threshold stiffness shown to alter hepatocyte cell behavior and to increase the malignancy of cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that cirrhotic liver cells have highly irregular nuclear morphologies and that nuclear deformation mediates mechanosensitive signaling. Separate research has shown that nuclear deformation can increase genetic instability and the accumulation of DNA damage in migrating cancer cells. We hypothesize that the mechanical changes associated with chronic liver disease are drivers of oncogenesis, activating mechanosensitive signaling pathways, increasing rates of DNA damage, and ultimately inducing malignant transformation.
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28
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Zhao J, Liao D, Wilkens R, Krogh K, Glerup H, Gregersen H. Bowel stiffness associated with histopathologic scoring of stenosis in patients with Crohn's disease. Acta Biomater 2021; 130:332-342. [PMID: 34119715 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Intestinal stenosis is a common complication of Crohn's Disease (CD). Stenosis is associated with alteration of bowel mechanical properties. This study aims to quantitate the mechanical properties of the intestinal stenosis and to explore associations between histology and mechanical remodeling at stenotic intestinal sites in CD patients. METHODS Intestinal segments from stenotic sites were studied in vitro from 19 CD patients. A luminal catheter with a bag was used to stepwise pressurize the intestinal segments from 0-100 cmH2O with 10 cmH2O increments. B-mode ultrasound images were obtained at the narrowest part of the stenosis at each pressure level and morphometric parameters were obtained from ultrasound images. The mechanical behavior of the stenotic tissue were characterized by using an isotropic three dimensional strain energy function in Demiray model form, the mechanical constants were obtained by fitting the model to the recorded intraluminal pressure and the inner radius of the stenotic segment of the small bowel. Grading scores were used for histological analysis of inflammation, fibrosis, muscular hypertrophy and adipocyte proliferation in the intestinal layers. The collagen area fraction in intestinal layers was also calculated. Associations between histological and the mechanical constants (stiffness) were analyzed. RESULTS Chronic inflammation was mainly located in mucosa whereas fibrosis was found in submucosa. The mechanical remodeling was performed with changed mechanical constants ranged between 0.35-13.68kPa. The mechanical properties changes were associated mainly with chronic inflammation, fibrosis and combination of inflammation and fibrosis (R>0.69, P<0.001). Furthermore, the mechanical properties correlated with the collagen fraction in submucosa and muscular layers (R>0.53, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS We quantitated the intestinal stenosis stiffness. Associations were found between bowel mechanical remodeling and histological changes at the stenotic site in CD patients. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Although intestinal ultrasonography, CT and MRI can be used to diagnose Crohn's Disease (CD)-associated bowel strictures, these techniques may not have sufficient accuracy and resolution to differentiate predominantly inflammatory strictures from predominantly fibrotic strictures. The present study aims to quantitate the mechanical remodeling of intestinal stenosis and to explore the associations between histological parameters and mechanical properties at the intestinal stenotic sites in CD patients. For the first time, we quantitatively demonstrated that the mechanical properties of the intestinal wall in CD stenosis are associated with the chronic inflammation, fibrosis and collagen fraction in the intestinal layers. The results of this study may facilitate design and development of artificial biomaterials for gastrointestinal organs. The potential clinical implication of this study is that the histological characteristics in patients with CD can be predicted clinically by means of inflammation and fibrosis assessment in conjunction with tissue stiffness measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingbo Zhao
- Standard (Chongqing) Pathological Diagnosis Center. No. 8 Xiyuan North Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, China; Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark; Giome Academia, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Donghua Liao
- Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark; Giome Academia, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Rune Wilkens
- Gastrounit, Division of Medicine, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Diagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Klaus Krogh
- Neurogastroenterology Unit, Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Henning Glerup
- Diagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, Silkeborg, Denmark
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Astral hydrogels mimic tissue mechanics by aster-aster interpenetration. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4277. [PMID: 34257316 PMCID: PMC8277779 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24663-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Many soft tissues are compression-stiffening and extension-softening in response to axial strains, but common hydrogels are either inert (for ideal chains) or tissue-opposite (for semiflexible polymers). Herein, we report a class of astral hydrogels that are structurally distinct from tissues but mechanically tissue-like. Specifically, hierarchical self-assembly of amphiphilic gemini molecules produces radial asters with a common core and divergently growing, semiflexible ribbons; adjacent asters moderately interpenetrate each other via interlacement of their peripheral ribbons to form a gel network. Resembling tissues, the astral gels stiffen in compression and soften in extension with all the experimental data across different gel compositions collapsing onto a single master curve. We put forward a minimal model to reproduce the master curve quantitatively, underlying the determinant role of aster-aster interpenetration. Compression significantly expands the interpenetration region, during which the number of effective crosslinks is increased and the network strengthened, while extension does the opposite. Looking forward, we expect this unique mechanism of interpenetration to provide a fresh perspective for designing and constructing mechanically tissue-like materials.
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30
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Berg IC, Mohagheghian E, Habing K, Wang N, Underhill GH. Microtissue Geometry and Cell-Generated Forces Drive Patterning of Liver Progenitor Cell Differentiation in 3D. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2100223. [PMID: 33890430 PMCID: PMC8222189 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202100223] [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: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
3D microenvironments provide a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of intrinsic mechanical signaling on progenitor cell differentiation. Using a hydrogel-based microwell platform, arrays of 3D, multicellular microtissues in constrained geometries, including toroids and cylinders are produced. These generated distinct mechanical profiles to investigate the impact of geometry and stress on early liver progenitor cell fate using a model liver development system. Image segmentation allows the tracking of individual cell fate and the characterization of distinct patterning of hepatocytic makers to the outer shell of the microtissues, and the exclusion from the inner diameter surface of the toroids. Biliary markers are distributed throughout the interior regions of micropatterned tissues and are increased in toroidal tissues when compared with those in cylindrical tissues. Finite element models of predicted stress distributions, combined with mechanical measurements, demonstrates that intercellular tension correlates with increased hepatocytic fate, while compression correlates with decreased hepatocytic and increased biliary fate. This system, which integrates microfabrication, imaging, mechanical modeling, and quantitative analysis, demonstrates how microtissue geometry can drive patterning of mechanical stresses that regulate cell differentiation trajectories. This approach may serve as a platform for further investigation of signaling mechanisms in the liver and other developmental systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C. Berg
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Bioengineering, 1102 Everitt Lab, MC-278, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Erfan Mohagheghian
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Building, 1206 W. Green St. MC 244, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Krista Habing
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Bioengineering, 1102 Everitt Lab, MC-278, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Ning Wang
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Building, 1206 W. Green St. MC 244, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Gregory H. Underhill
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Bioengineering, 1102 Everitt Lab, MC-278, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Behmer Hansen RA, Wang X, Kaw G, Pierre V, Senyo SE. Accounting for Material Changes in Decellularized Tissue with Underutilized Methodologies. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:6696295. [PMID: 34159202 PMCID: PMC8187050 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6696295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Tissue decellularization has rapidly developed to be a practical approach in tissue engineering research; biological tissue is cleared of cells resulting in a protein-rich husk as a natural scaffold for growing transplanted cells as a donor organ therapy. Minimally processed, acellular extracellular matrix reproduces natural interactions with cells in vitro and for tissue engineering applications in animal models. There are many decellularization techniques that achieve preservation of molecular profile (proteins and sugars), microstructure features such as organization of ECM layers (interstitial matrix and basement membrane) and organ level macrofeatures (vasculature and tissue compartments). While structural and molecular cues receive attention, mechanical and material properties of decellularized tissues are not often discussed. The effects of decellularization on an organ depend on the tissue properties, clearing mechanism, chemical interactions, solubility, temperature, and treatment duration. Physical characterization by a few labs including work from the authors provides evidence that decellularization protocols should be tailored to specific research questions. Physical characterization beyond histology and immunohistochemistry of the decellularized matrix (dECM) extends evaluation of retained functional features of the original tissue. We direct our attention to current technologies that can be employed for structure function analysis of dECM using underutilized tools such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), mass spectrometry, and rheometry. Structural imaging and mechanical functional testing combined with high-throughput molecular analyses opens a new approach for a deeper appreciation of how cellular behavior is influenced by the isolated microenvironment (specifically dECM). Additionally, the impact of these features with different decellularization techniques and generation of synthetic material scaffolds with desired attributes are informed. Ultimately, this mechanical profiling provides a new dimension to our understanding of decellularized matrix and its role in new applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A. Behmer Hansen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Xinming Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Gitanjali Kaw
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Valinteshley Pierre
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Samuel E. Senyo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Nanomechanical Hallmarks of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Pediatric Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115624. [PMID: 34070700 PMCID: PMC8198391 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: the molecular mechanism of gastric cancer development related to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has not been fully understood, and further studies are still needed. Information regarding nanomechanical aspects of pathophysiological events that occur during H. pylori infection can be crucial in the development of new prevention, treatment, and diagnostic measures against clinical consequences associated with H. pylori infection, including gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and gastric cancer. Methods: in this study, we assessed mechanical properties of children’s healthy and H. pylori positive stomach tissues and the mechanical response of human gastric cells exposed to heat-treated H. pylori cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM NanoWizard 4 BioScience JPK Instruments Bruker). Elastic modulus (i.e., the Young’s modulus) was derived from the Hertz–Sneddon model applied to force-indentation curves. Human tissue samples were evaluated using rapid urease tests to identify H. pylori positive samples, and the presence of H. pylori cells in those samples was confirmed using immunohistopathological staining. Results and conclusion: collected data suggest that nanomechanical properties of infected tissue might be considered as markers indicated H. pylori presence since infected tissues are softer than uninfected ones. At the cellular level, this mechanical response is at least partially mediated by cell cytoskeleton remodeling indicating that gastric cells are able to tune their mechanical properties when subjected to the presence of H. pylori products. Persistent fluctuations of tissue mechanical properties in response to H. pylori infection might, in the long-term, promote induction of cancer development.
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33
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Study on the Similarity of Biomechanical Behavior between Gelatin and Porcine Liver. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2020:7021636. [PMID: 32908907 PMCID: PMC7463373 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7021636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
As a natural polymer, gelatin is increasingly being used as a substitute for animals or humans for the simulation and testing of surgical procedures. In the current study, the similarity verification was neglected and a 10 wt.% or 20 wt.% gelatin sample was used directly. To compare the mechanical similarities between gelatin and biological tissues, different concentrations of gelatin samples were subjected to tensile, compression, and indentation tests and compared with porcine liver tissue. The loading rate in the three tests fully considered the surgical application conditions; notably, a loading speed up to 12 mm/s was applied in the indentation testing, the tensile test was performed at a speed of 1 mm/s until fracture, and the compression tests were compressed at a rate of 0.16 mm/s and 1 mm/s. A comparison of the results shows that the mechanical behaviors of low-concentration gelatin samples involved in the study are similar to the mechanical behavior of porcine liver tissue. The results of the gelatin material were mathematically expressed by the Mooney-Rivlin model and the Prony series. The results show that the material properties of gelatin can mimic the range of mechanical characteristics of porcine liver, and gelatin can be used as a matrix to further improve the similarity between substitute materials and biological tissues.
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34
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Pagé G, Tardieu M, Gennisson JL, Besret L, Garteiser P, Van Beers BE. Tumor Solid Stress: Assessment with MR Elastography under Compression of Patient-Derived Hepatocellular Carcinomas and Cholangiocarcinomas Xenografted in Mice. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081891. [PMID: 33920771 PMCID: PMC8071192 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant tumors have abnormal biomechanical characteristics, including high viscoelasticity, solid stress, and interstitial fluid pressure. Magnetic resonance (MR) elastography is increasingly used to non-invasively assess tissue viscoelasticity. However, solid stress and interstitial fluid pressure measurements are performed with invasive methods. We studied the feasibility and potential role of MR elastography at basal state and under controlled compression in assessing altered biomechanical features of malignant liver tumors. MR elastography was performed in mice with patient-derived, subcutaneously xenografted hepatocellular carcinomas or cholangiocarcinomas to measure the basal viscoelasticity and the compression stiffening rate, which corresponds to the slope of elasticity versus applied compression. MR elastography measurements were correlated with invasive pressure measurements and digital histological readings. Significant differences in MR elastography parameters, pressure, and histological measurements were observed between tumor models. In multivariate analysis, collagen content and interstitial fluid pressure were determinants of basal viscoelasticity, whereas solid stress, in addition to collagen content, cellularity, and tumor type, was an independent determinant of compression stiffening rate. Compression stiffening rate had high AUC (0.87 ± 0.08) for determining elevated solid stress, whereas basal elasticity had high AUC for tumor collagen content (AUC: 0.86 ± 0.08). Our results suggest that MR elastography compression stiffening rate, in contrast to basal viscoelasticity, is a potential marker of solid stress in malignant liver tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenaël Pagé
- Laboratory of Imaging Biomarkers, Center of Research on Inflammation, Université de Paris, UMR 1149, Inserm, F-75018 Paris, France; (P.G.); (B.E.V.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Marion Tardieu
- Montpellier Cancer Research Institute (IRCM), INSERM U1194, University of Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France;
- Montpellier Cancer Institute (ICM), 34298 Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Luc Gennisson
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, 91401 Orsay, France;
| | | | - Philippe Garteiser
- Laboratory of Imaging Biomarkers, Center of Research on Inflammation, Université de Paris, UMR 1149, Inserm, F-75018 Paris, France; (P.G.); (B.E.V.B.)
| | - Bernard E. Van Beers
- Laboratory of Imaging Biomarkers, Center of Research on Inflammation, Université de Paris, UMR 1149, Inserm, F-75018 Paris, France; (P.G.); (B.E.V.B.)
- Department of Radiology, AP-HP, Beaujon University Hospital Paris Nord, F-92110 Clichy, France
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35
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Fu T, Fan J, Liu D, Song H, Zhang C, Ai D, Cheng Z, Liang P, Yang J. Divergence-Free Fitting-Based Incompressible Deformation Quantification of Liver. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2021; 25:720-736. [PMID: 32750981 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2020.3013126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Liver is an incompressible organ that maintains its volume during the respiration-induced deformation. Quantifying this deformation with the incompressible constraint is significant for liver tracking. The constraint can be accomplished with retaining the divergence-free field obtained by the deformation decomposition. However, the decomposition process is time-consuming, and the removal of non-divergence-free field weakens the deformation. In this study, a divergence-free fitting-based registration method is proposed to quantify the incompressible deformation rapidly and accurately. First, the deformation to be estimated is mapped to the velocity in a diffeomorphic space. Then, this velocity is decomposed by a fast Fourier-based Hodge-Helmholtz decomposition to obtain the divergence-free, curl-free, and harmonic fields. The curl-free field is replaced and fitted by the obtained harmonic field with a translation field to generate a new divergence-free velocity. By optimizing this velocity, the final incompressible deformation is obtained. Moreover, a deep learning framework (DLF) is constructed to accelerate the incompressible deformation quantification. An incompressible respiratory motion model is built for the DLF by using the proposed registration method and is then used to augment the training data. An encoder-decoder network is introduced to learn appearance-velocity correlation at patch scale. In the experiment, we compare the proposed registration with three state-of-the-art methods. The results show that the proposed method can accurately achieve the incompressible registration of liver with a mean liver overlap ratio of 95.33%. Moreover, the time consumed by DLF is nearly 15 times shorter than that by other methods.
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36
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Hatami-Marbini H, Rohanifar M. Nonlinear Mechanical Properties of Prestressed Branched Fibrous Networks. Biophys J 2021; 120:527-538. [PMID: 33412143 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Random fiber networks constitute the solid skeleton of many biological materials such as the cytoskeleton of cells and extracellular matrix of soft tissues. These random networks show unique mechanical properties such as nonlinear shear strain-stiffening and strain softening when subjected to preextension and precompression, respectively. In this study, we perform numerical simulations to characterize the influence of axial prestress on the nonlinear mechanical response of random network structures as a function of their micromechanical and geometrical properties. We build our numerical network models using the microstructure of disordered hexagonal lattices and quantify their nonlinear shear response as a function of uniaxial prestress strain. We consider three different material models for individual fibers and fully characterize their influence on the mechanical response of prestressed networks. Moreover, we investigate both the influence of geometric disorder keeping the network connectivity constant and the influence of the randomness in the stiffness of individual fibers keeping their mean stiffness constant. The effects of network connectivity and bending rigidity of fibers are also determined. Several important conclusions are made, including that the tensile and compressive prestress strains, respectively, increase and decrease the initial network shear stiffness but have no effect on the maximal shear modulus. We discuss the findings in terms of microstructural properties such as the local strain energy distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Hatami-Marbini
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Milad Rohanifar
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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37
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Wang H, Xu X. Continuum elastic models for force transmission in biopolymer gels. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:10781-10808. [PMID: 33289764 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01451f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We review continuum elastic models for the transmission of both external forces and internal active cellular forces in biopolymer gels, and relate them to recent experiments. Rather than being exhaustive, we focus on continuum elastic models for small affine deformations and intend to provide a systematic continuum method and some analytical perspectives on the study of force transmission in biopolymer gels. We start from a very brief review of the nonlinear mechanics of individual biopolymers and a summary of constitutive models for the nonlinear elasticity of biopolymer gels. We next show that the simple 3-chain model can give predictions that fit well the shear experiments of some biopolymer gels, including the effects of strain-stiffening and negative normal stress. We then review continuum models for the transmission of internal active forces that are induced by a spherically contracting cell embedded in a three-dimensional biopolymer gel. Various scaling regimes for the decay of cell-induced displacements are identified for linear isotropic and anisotropic materials, and for biopolymer gels with nonlinear compressive-softening and strain-stiffening elasticity, respectively. After that, we present (using an energetic approach) the generic and unified continuum theory proposed in [D. Ben-Yaakov et al., Soft Matter, 2015, 11, 1412] about how the transmission of forces in the biogel matrix can mediate long-range interactions between cells with mechanical homeostasis. We show the predictions of the theory in a special hexagonal multicellular array, and relate them to recent experiments. Finally, we conclude this paper with comments on the limitations and outlook of continuum modeling, and highlight the need for complementary theoretical approaches, such as discrete network simulations, to force transmission in biopolymer gels and phenomenological active gel theories for multicellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqin Wang
- Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel.
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38
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Eskandari F, Shafieian M, Aghdam MM, Laksari K. Mind the gap: A mechanobiological hypothesis for the role of gap junctions in the mechanical properties of injured brain tissue. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020; 115:104240. [PMID: 33310267 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite more than half a century of work on the brain biomechanics, there are still significant unknowns about this tissue. Since the brain is highly susceptible to injury, damage biomechanics has been one of the main areas of interest to the researchers in the field of brain biomechanics. In many previous studies, mechanical properties of brain tissue under sub-injury and injury level loading conditions have been addressed; however, to the best of our knowledge, the role of cell-cell interactions in the mechanical behavior of brain tissue has not been well examined yet. This note introduces the hypothesis that gap junctions as the major type of cell-cell junctions in the brain tissue play a pivotal role in the mechanical properties of the tissue and their failure during injury leads to changes in brain's material properties. According to this hypothesis, during an injury, the gap junctions are damaged, leading to a decrease in tissue stiffness, whereas following the injury, new junction proteins are expressed, leading to an increase in tissue stiffness. We suggest that considering the mechanobiological effect of gap junctions in the material properties of brain tissue may help better understand the brain injury mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Eskandari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Shafieian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad M Aghdam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Laksari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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39
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Eskandari F, Shafieian M, Aghdam MM, Laksari K. Structural Anisotropy vs. Mechanical Anisotropy: The Contribution of Axonal Fibers to the Material Properties of Brain White Matter. Ann Biomed Eng 2020; 49:991-999. [PMID: 33025318 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02643-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Brain's micro-structure plays a critical role in its macro-structure material properties. Since the structural anisotropy in the brain white matter has been introduced due to axonal fibers, considering the direction of axons in the continuum models has been mediated to improve the results of computational simulations. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of fiber direction in the material properties of brain white matter and compare the mechanical behavior of the anisotropic white matter and the isotropic gray matter. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was employed to detect the direction of axons in white matter samples, and tensile stress-relaxation loads up to 20% strains were applied on bovine gray and white matter samples. In order to calculate the nonlinear and time-dependent properties of white matter and gray matter, a visco-hyperelastic model was used. The results indicated that the mechanical behavior of white matter in two orthogonal directions, parallel and perpendicular to axonal fibers, are significantly different. This difference indicates that brain white matter could be assumed as an anisotropic material and axons have contribution in the mechanical properties. Also, up to 15% strain, white matter samples with axons parallel to the force direction are significantly stiffer than both the gray matter samples and white matter samples with axons perpendicular to the force direction. Moreover, the elastic moduli of white matter samples with axons both parallel and perpendicular to the loading direction and gray matter samples at 15-20% strain are not significantly different. According to these observations, it is suggested that axons have negligible roles in the material properties of white matter when it is loaded in the direction perpendicular to the axon direction. Finally, this observation showed that the anisotropy of brain tissue not only has effects on the elastic behavior, but also has effects on the viscoelastic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Eskandari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Ave, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Shafieian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Ave, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad M Aghdam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Laksari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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40
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Ort C, Lee W, Kalashnikov N, Moraes C. Disentangling the fibrous microenvironment: designer culture models for improved drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 16:159-171. [PMID: 32988224 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1822815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Standard high-throughput screening (HTS) assays rarely identify clinically viable 'hits', likely because cells do not experience physiologically realistic culture conditions. The biophysical nature of the extracellular matrix has emerged as a critical driver of cell function and response and recreating these factors could be critically important in streamlining the drug discovery pipeline. AREAS COVERED The authors review recent design strategies to understand and manipulate biophysical features of three-dimensional fibrous tissues. The effects of architectural parameters of the extracellular matrix and their resulting mechanical behaviors are deconstructed; and their individual and combined impact on cell behavior is examined. The authors then illustrate the potential impact of these physical features on designing next-generation platforms to identify drugs effective against breast cancer. EXPERT OPINION Progression toward increased culture complexity must be balanced against the demanding technical requirements for high-throughput screening; and strategies to identify the minimal set of microenvironmental parameters needed to recreate disease-relevant responses must be specifically tailored to the disease stage and organ system being studied. Although challenging, this can be achieved through integrative and multidisciplinary technologies that span microfabrication, cell biology, and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carley Ort
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University , Montreal, Canada
| | - Wontae Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University , Montreal, Canada
| | - Nikita Kalashnikov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University , Montreal, Canada
| | - Christopher Moraes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University , Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University , Montreal, Canada.,Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University , Montreal, Canada
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41
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Deptuła P, Łysik D, Pogoda K, Cieśluk M, Namiot A, Mystkowska J, Król G, Głuszek S, Janmey PA, Bucki R. Tissue Rheology as a Possible Complementary Procedure to Advance Histological Diagnosis of Colon Cancer. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:5620-5631. [PMID: 33062848 PMCID: PMC7549092 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
![]()
In recent years,
rheological measurements of cells and tissues
at physiological and pathological stages have become an essential
method to determine how forces and changes in mechanical properties
contribute to disease development and progression, but there is no
standardization of this procedure so far. In this study, we evaluate
the potential of nanoscale atomic force microscopy (AFM) and macroscopic
shear rheometry to assess the mechanical properties of healthy and
cancerous human colon tissues. The direct comparison of tissue mechanical
behavior under uniaxial and shear deformation shows that cancerous
tissues not only are stiffer compared to healthy tissue but also respond
differently when shear and compressive stresses are applied. These
results suggest that rheological parameters can be useful measures
of colon cancer mechanopathology. Additionally, we extend the list
of biological materials exhibiting compressional stiffening and shear
weakening effects to human colon tumors. These mechanical responses
might be promising mechanomarkers and become part of the new procedures
in colon cancer diagnosis. Enrichment of histopathological grading
with rheological assessment of tissue mechanical properties will potentially
allow more accurate colon cancer diagnosis and improve prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Deptuła
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Dawid Łysik
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Pogoda
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Krakow, Poland
| | - Mateusz Cieśluk
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Andrzej Namiot
- Department of Human Anatomy, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-230 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Joanna Mystkowska
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Król
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-516 Kielce, Poland
| | - Stanisław Głuszek
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-369 Kielce, Poland.,Clinic for General, Oncologic and Endocrine Surgery, Regional Hospital, 25-736 Kielce, Poland
| | - Paul A Janmey
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Departments of Physiology and Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Robert Bucki
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
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42
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Charrier EE, Pogoda K, Li R, Park CY, Fredberg JJ, Janmey PA. A novel method to make viscoelastic polyacrylamide gels for cell culture and traction force microscopy. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:036104. [PMID: 32666015 PMCID: PMC7334032 DOI: 10.1063/5.0002750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyacrylamide hydrogels are commonly used in cell biology, notably to cultivate cells on soft surfaces. Polyacrylamide gels are purely elastic and well adapted to cell culture as they are inert and can be conjugated with adhesion proteins. Here, we report a method to make viscoelastic polyacrylamide gels with mechanical properties more closely resembling biological tissues and suitable for cell culture in vitro. We demonstrate that these gels can be used for traction force microscopy experiments. We also show that multiple cell types respond to the viscoelasticity of their substrate and that viscous dissipation has an influence on cell spreading, contractility, and motility. This new material provides new opportunities for investigating how normal or malignant cells sense and respond to viscous dissipation within the extra-cellular matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Robin Li
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Chan Young Park
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Jeffrey J. Fredberg
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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43
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Effects of extracellular matrix viscoelasticity on cellular behaviour. Nature 2020; 584:535-546. [PMID: 32848221 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2612-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 869] [Impact Index Per Article: 217.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Substantial research over the past two decades has established that extracellular matrix (ECM) elasticity, or stiffness, affects fundamental cellular processes, including spreading, growth, proliferation, migration, differentiation and organoid formation. Linearly elastic polyacrylamide hydrogels and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers coated with ECM proteins are widely used to assess the role of stiffness, and results from such experiments are often assumed to reproduce the effect of the mechanical environment experienced by cells in vivo. However, tissues and ECMs are not linearly elastic materials-they exhibit far more complex mechanical behaviours, including viscoelasticity (a time-dependent response to loading or deformation), as well as mechanical plasticity and nonlinear elasticity. Here we review the complex mechanical behaviours of tissues and ECMs, discuss the effect of ECM viscoelasticity on cells, and describe the potential use of viscoelastic biomaterials in regenerative medicine. Recent work has revealed that matrix viscoelasticity regulates these same fundamental cell processes, and can promote behaviours that are not observed with elastic hydrogels in both two- and three-dimensional culture microenvironments. These findings have provided insights into cell-matrix interactions and how these interactions differentially modulate mechano-sensitive molecular pathways in cells. Moreover, these results suggest design guidelines for the next generation of biomaterials, with the goal of matching tissue and ECM mechanics for in vitro tissue models and applications in regenerative medicine.
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Abstract
Tissues commonly consist of cells embedded within a fibrous biopolymer network. Whereas cell-free reconstituted biopolymer networks typically soften under applied uniaxial compression, various tissues, including liver, brain, and fat, have been observed to instead stiffen when compressed. The mechanism for this compression-stiffening effect is not yet clear. Here, we demonstrate that when a material composed of stiff inclusions embedded in a fibrous network is compressed, heterogeneous rearrangement of the inclusions can induce tension within the interstitial network, leading to a macroscopic crossover from an initial bending-dominated softening regime to a stretching-dominated stiffening regime, which occurs before and independently of jamming of the inclusions. Using a coarse-grained particle-network model, we first establish a phase diagram for compression-driven, stretching-dominated stress propagation and jamming in uniaxially compressed two- and three-dimensional systems. Then, we demonstrate that a more detailed computational model of stiff inclusions in a subisostatic semiflexible fiber network exhibits quantitative agreement with the predictions of our coarse-grained model as well as qualitative agreement with experiments.
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45
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Elasticity-dependent response of malignant cells to viscous dissipation. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2020; 20:145-154. [PMID: 32785801 PMCID: PMC7892690 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-020-01374-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The stiffness of the cellular environment controls malignant cell phenotype and proliferation. However, the effect of viscous dissipation on these parameters has not yet been investigated, in part due to the lack of in vitro cell substrates reproducing the mechanical properties of normal tissues and tumors. In this article, we use a newly reported viscoelastic polyacrylamide gel cell substrate, and we characterize the impact of viscous dissipation on three malignant cell lines: DU145 and PC3 derived from prostate and LN229 from brain. The spreading, motility and proliferation rates of these cells were analyzed on 1 kPa and 5 kPa elastic and viscoelastic gels. Surprisingly, the effect of substrate viscous dissipation on cell behavior depended on substrate stiffness for the three cell types tested. We conclude that viscoelasticity controls the spreading, proliferation and migration of malignant cells in vitro. These results highlight the critical role of viscous dissipation in the phenotype and proliferation of malignant cells, especially in stiff tumor environments.
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Chin L, Theise ND, Loneker AE, Janmey PA, Wells RG. Lipid droplets disrupt mechanosensing in human hepatocytes. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2020; 319:G11-G22. [PMID: 32463334 PMCID: PMC7468756 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00098.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the world. Although most cases occur in stiff, cirrhotic livers, and stiffness is a significant risk factor, HCC can also arise in noncirrhotic livers in the setting of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesized that lipid droplets in NAFLD might apply mechanical forces to the nucleus, functioning as mechanical stressors akin to stiffness. We investigated the effect of lipid droplets on cellular mechanosensing and found that primary human hepatocytes loaded with the fatty acids oleate and linoleate exhibited decreased stiffness-induced cell spreading and disrupted focal adhesions and stress fibers. The presence of large lipid droplets in hepatocytes resulted in increased nuclear localization of the mechano-sensor Yes-associated protein (YAP). In cirrhotic livers from patients with NAFLD, hepatocytes filled with large lipid droplets showed significantly higher nuclear localization of YAP as compared with cells with small lipid droplets. This work suggests that lipid droplets induce a mechanical signal that disrupts the ability of the hepatocyte to sense its underlying matrix stiffness and that the presence of lipid droplets can induce intracellular mechanical stresses.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This work examines the impact of lipid loading on mechanosensing by human hepatocytes. In cirrhotic livers, the presence of large (although not small) lipid droplets increased nuclear localization of the mechanotransducer YAP. In primary hepatocytes in culture, lipid droplets led to decreased stiffness-induced cell spreading and disrupted focal adhesions and stress fibers; the presence of large lipid droplets resulted in increased YAP nuclear localization. Collectively, the data suggest that lipid droplets induce intracellular mechanical stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- LiKang Chin
- 1Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,2Physical Sciences in Oncology Center at Penn, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Neil D. Theise
- 3Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Abigail E. Loneker
- 4Bioengineering Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Paul A. Janmey
- 2Physical Sciences in Oncology Center at Penn, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,5Institute for Medicine and Engineering and Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rebecca G. Wells
- 1Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,2Physical Sciences in Oncology Center at Penn, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Eskandari F, Shafieian M, Aghdam MM, Laksari K. Tension Strain-Softening and Compression Strain-Stiffening Behavior of Brain White Matter. Ann Biomed Eng 2020; 49:276-286. [PMID: 32494967 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02541-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Brain, the most important component of the central nervous system (CNS), is a soft tissue with a complex structure. Understanding the role of brain tissue microstructure in mechanical properties is essential to have a more profound knowledge of how brain development, disease, and injury occur. While many studies have investigated the mechanical behavior of brain tissue under various loading conditions, there has not been a clear explanation for variation reported for material properties of brain tissue. The current study compares the ex-vivo mechanical properties of brain tissue under two loading modes, namely compression and tension, and aims to explain the differences observed by closely examining the microstructure under loading. We tested bovine brain samples under uniaxial tension and compression loading conditions, and fitted hyperelastic material parameters. At 20% strain, we observed that the shear modulus of brain tissue in compression is about 6 times higher than in tension. In addition, we observed that brain tissue exhibited strain-stiffening in compression and strain-softening in tension. In order to investigate the effect of loading modes on the tissue microstructure, we fixed the samples using a novel method that enabled keeping the samples at the loaded stage during the fixation process. Based on the results of histology, we hypothesize that during compressive loading, the strain-stiffening behavior of the tissue could be attributed to glial cell bodies being pushed against surroundings, contacting each other and resisting compression, while during tension, cell connections are detached and the tissue displays softening behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Eskandari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Shafieian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad M Aghdam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Laksari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Gandikota MC, Pogoda K, van Oosten A, Engstrom TA, Patteson AE, Janmey PA, Schwarz JM. Loops versus lines and the compression stiffening of cells. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:4389-4406. [PMID: 32249282 PMCID: PMC7225031 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01627a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Both animal and plant tissue exhibit a nonlinear rheological phenomenon known as compression stiffening, or an increase in moduli with increasing uniaxial compressive strain. Does such a phenomenon exist in single cells, which are the building blocks of tissues? One expects an individual cell to compression soften since the semiflexible biopolymer-based cytoskeletal network maintains the mechanical integrity of the cell and in vitro semiflexible biopolymer networks typically compression soften. To the contrary, we find that mouse embryonic fibroblasts (mEFs) compression stiffen under uniaxial compression via atomic force microscopy studies. To understand this finding, we uncover several potential mechanisms for compression stiffening. First, we study a single semiflexible polymer loop modeling the actomyosin cortex enclosing a viscous medium modeled as an incompressible fluid. Second, we study a two-dimensional semiflexible polymer/fiber network interspersed with area-conserving loops, which are a proxy for vesicles and fluid-based organelles. Third, we study two-dimensional fiber networks with angular-constraining crosslinks, i.e. semiflexible loops on the mesh scale. In the latter two cases, the loops act as geometric constraints on the fiber network to help stiffen it via increased angular interactions. We find that the single semiflexible polymer loop model agrees well with the experimental cell compression stiffening finding until approximately 35% compressive strain after which bulk fiber network effects may contribute. We also find for the fiber network with area-conserving loops model that the stress-strain curves are sensitive to the packing fraction and size distribution of the area-conserving loops, thereby creating a mechanical fingerprint across different cell types. Finally, we make comparisons between this model and experiments on fibrin networks interlaced with beads as well as discuss implications for single cell compression stiffening at the tissue scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Gandikota
- Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA.
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On the mechanical response of the actomyosin cortex during cell indentations. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2020; 19:2061-2079. [PMID: 32356071 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-020-01324-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A mechanical model is presented to analyze the mechanics and dynamics of the cell cortex during indentation. We investigate the impact of active contraction on the cross-linked actin network for different probe sizes and indentation rates. The essential molecular mechanisms of filament stretching, cross-linking and motor activity, are represented by an active and viscous mechanical continuum. The filaments behave as worm-like chains linked either by passive rigid linkers or by myosin motors. In the first example, the effects of probe size and loading rate are evaluated using the model for an idealized rounded cell shape in which properties are based on the results of parallel-plate rheometry available in the literature. Extreme cases of probe size and indentation rate are taken into account. Afterward, AFM experiments were done by engaging smooth muscle cells with both sharp and spherical probes. By inverse analysis with finite element software, our simulations mimicking the experimental conditions show the model is capable of fitting the AFM data. The results provide spatiotemporal dependence on the size and rate of the mechanical stimuli. The model captures the general features of the cell response. It characterizes the actomyosin cortex as an active solid at short timescales and as a fluid at longer timescales by showing (1) higher levels of contraction in the zones of high curvature; (2) larger indentation forces as the probe size increases; and (3) increase in the apparent modulus with the indentation depth but no dependence on the rate of the mechanical stimuli. The methodology presented in this work can be used to address and predict microstructural dependence on the force generation of living cells, which can contribute to understanding the broad spectrum of results in cell experiments.
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Davidson MD, Burdick JA, Wells RG. Engineered Biomaterial Platforms to Study Fibrosis. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e1901682. [PMID: 32181987 PMCID: PMC7274888 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201901682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Many pathologic conditions lead to the development of tissue scarring and fibrosis, which are characterized by the accumulation of abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) and changes in tissue mechanical properties. Cells within fibrotic tissues are exposed to dynamic microenvironments that may promote or prolong fibrosis, which makes it difficult to treat. Biomaterials have proved indispensable to better understand how cells sense their extracellular environment and are now being employed to study fibrosis in many tissues. As mechanical testing of tissues becomes more routine and biomaterial tools become more advanced, the impact of biophysical factors in fibrosis are beginning to be understood. Herein, fibrosis from a materials perspective is reviewed, including the role and mechanical properties of ECM components, the spatiotemporal mechanical changes that occur during fibrosis, current biomaterial systems to study fibrosis, and emerging biomaterial systems and tools that can further the understanding of fibrosis initiation and progression. This review concludes by highlighting considerations in promoting wide-spread use of biomaterials for fibrosis investigations and by suggesting future in vivo studies that it is hoped will inspire the development of even more advanced biomaterial systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Davidson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jason A Burdick
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Rebecca G Wells
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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