1
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Morales EA, Wang S. Salivary gland developmental mechanics. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 160:1-30. [PMID: 38937029 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.05.002] [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] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The salivary gland undergoes branching morphogenesis to elaborate into a tree-like structure with numerous saliva-secreting acinar units, all joined by a hierarchical ductal system. The expansive epithelial surface generated by branching morphogenesis serves as the structural basis for the efficient production and delivery of saliva. Here, we elucidate the process of salivary gland morphogenesis, emphasizing the role of mechanics. Structurally, the developing salivary gland is characterized by a stratified epithelium tightly encased by the basement membrane, which is in turn surrounded by a mesenchyme consisting of a dense network of interstitial matrix and mesenchymal cells. Diverse cell types and extracellular matrices bestow this developing organ with organized, yet spatially varied mechanical properties. For instance, the surface epithelial sheet of the bud is highly fluidic due to its high cell motility and weak cell-cell adhesion, rendering it highly pliable. In contrast, the inner core of the bud is more rigid, characterized by reduced cell motility and strong cell-cell adhesion, which likely provide structural support for the tissue. The interactions between the surface epithelial sheet and the inner core give rise to budding morphogenesis. Furthermore, the basement membrane and the mesenchyme offer mechanical constraints that could play a pivotal role in determining the higher-order architecture of a fully mature salivary gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Angelo Morales
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, United States
| | - Shaohe Wang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, United States.
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2
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Lan Q, Trela E, Lindström R, Satta JP, Kaczyńska B, Christensen MM, Holzenberger M, Jernvall J, Mikkola ML. Mesenchyme instructs growth while epithelium directs branching in the mouse mammary gland. eLife 2024; 13:e93326. [PMID: 38441552 PMCID: PMC10959526 DOI: 10.7554/elife.93326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammary gland is a unique organ that undergoes dynamic alterations throughout a female's reproductive life, making it an ideal model for developmental, stem cell and cancer biology research. Mammary gland development begins in utero and proceeds via a quiescent bud stage before the initial outgrowth and subsequent branching morphogenesis. How mammary epithelial cells transit from quiescence to an actively proliferating and branching tissue during embryogenesis and, importantly, how the branch pattern is determined remain largely unknown. Here, we provide evidence indicating that epithelial cell proliferation and onset of branching are independent processes, yet partially coordinated by the Eda signaling pathway. Through heterotypic and heterochronic epithelial-mesenchymal recombination experiments between mouse mammary and salivary gland tissues and ex vivo live imaging, we demonstrate that unlike previously concluded, the mode of branching is an intrinsic property of the mammary epithelium whereas the pace of growth and the density of ductal tree are determined by the mesenchyme. Transcriptomic profiling and ex vivo and in vivo functional studies in mice disclose that mesenchymal Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, and in particular IGF-1 downstream of it critically regulate mammary gland growth. These results underscore the general need to carefully deconstruct the different developmental processes producing branched organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Lan
- Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Ewelina Trela
- Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Riitta Lindström
- Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Jyoti Prabha Satta
- Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Beata Kaczyńska
- Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Mona M Christensen
- Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Jukka Jernvall
- Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Marja L Mikkola
- Cell and Tissue Dynamics Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
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3
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Darrigrand JF, Salowka A, Torres-Cano A, Tapia-Rojo R, Zhu T, Garcia-Manyes S, Spagnoli FM. Acinar-ductal cell rearrangement drives branching morphogenesis of the murine pancreas in an IGF/PI3K-dependent manner. Dev Cell 2024; 59:326-338.e5. [PMID: 38237591 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.12.011] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
During organ formation, progenitor cells need to acquire different cell identities and organize themselves into distinct structural units. How these processes are coordinated and how tissue architecture(s) is preserved despite the dramatic cell rearrangements occurring in developing organs remain unclear. Here, we identified cellular rearrangements between acinar and ductal progenitors as a mechanism to drive branching morphogenesis in the pancreas while preserving the integrity of the acinar-ductal functional unit. Using ex vivo and in vivo mouse models, we found that pancreatic ductal cells form clefts by protruding and pulling on the acinar basement membrane, which leads to acini splitting. Newly formed acini remain connected to the bifurcated branches generated by ductal cell rearrangement. Insulin growth factor (IGF)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway finely regulates this process by controlling pancreatic ductal tissue fluidity, with a simultaneous impact on branching and cell fate acquisition. Together, our results explain how acinar structure multiplication and branch bifurcation are synchronized during pancreas organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Francois Darrigrand
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, Great Maze Pond, SE1 9RT London, UK
| | - Anna Salowka
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, Great Maze Pond, SE1 9RT London, UK
| | - Alejo Torres-Cano
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, Great Maze Pond, SE1 9RT London, UK
| | - Rafael Tapia-Rojo
- Department of Physics, London Centre for Nanotechnology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tong Zhu
- Department of Physics, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Centre for the Physical Science of Life and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King's College London, London, UK; Single-Molecule Mechanobiology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Sergi Garcia-Manyes
- Department of Physics, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Centre for the Physical Science of Life and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King's College London, London, UK; Single-Molecule Mechanobiology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Francesca M Spagnoli
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, Great Maze Pond, SE1 9RT London, UK.
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4
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Zhang K, Aung T, Yao E, Chuang PT. Lung patterning: Is a distal-to-proximal gradient of cell allocation and fate decision a general paradigm?: A gradient of distal-to-proximal distribution and differentiation of tip progenitors produces distinct compartments in the lung. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300083. [PMID: 38010492 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies support a model in which the progeny of SOX9+ epithelial progenitors at the distal tip of lung branches undergo cell allocation and differentiation sequentially along the distal-to-proximal axis. Concomitant with the elongation and ramification of lung branches, the descendants of the distal SOX9+ progenitors are distributed proximally, express SOX2, and differentiate into cell types in the conducting airways. Amid subsequent sacculation, the distal SOX9+ progenitors generate alveolar epithelial cells to form alveoli. Sequential cell allocation and differentiation are integrated with the branching process to generate a functional branching organ. This review focuses on the roles of SOX9+ cells as precursors for new branches, as the source of various cell types in the conducting airways, and as progenitors of the alveolar epithelium. All of these processes are controlled by multiple signaling pathways. Many mouse mutants with defective lung branching contain underlying defects in one or more steps of cell allocation and differentiation of SOX9+ progenitors. This model provides a framework to understand the molecular basis of lung phenotypes and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of lung patterning. It builds a foundation on which comparing and contrasting the mechanisms employed by different branching organs in diverse species can be made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Zhang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Thin Aung
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Erica Yao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Pao-Tien Chuang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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5
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Myllymäki SM, Kaczyńska B, Lan Q, Mikkola ML. Spatially coordinated cell cycle activity and motility govern bifurcation of mammary branches. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202209005. [PMID: 37367826 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202209005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Branching morphogenesis is an evolutionary solution to maximize epithelial function in a compact organ. It involves successive rounds of branch elongation and branch point formation to generate a tubular network. In all organs, branch points can form by tip splitting, but it is unclear how tip cells coordinate elongation and branching. Here, we addressed these questions in the embryonic mammary gland. Live imaging revealed that tips advance by directional cell migration and elongation relies upon differential cell motility that feeds a retrograde flow of lagging cells into the trailing duct, supported by tip proliferation. Tip bifurcation involved localized repression of cell cycle and cell motility at the branch point. Cells in the nascent daughter tips remained proliferative but changed their direction to elongate new branches. We also report the fundamental importance of epithelial cell contractility for mammary branching morphogenesis. The co-localization of cell motility, non-muscle myosin II, and ERK activities at the tip front suggests coordination/cooperation between these functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satu-Marja Myllymäki
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, Finland
| | - Beata Kaczyńska
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, Finland
| | - Qiang Lan
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marja L Mikkola
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, Finland
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6
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Bordeu I, Chatzeli L, Simons BD. Inflationary theory of branching morphogenesis in the mouse salivary gland. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3422. [PMID: 37296120 PMCID: PMC10256724 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39124-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms that regulate the patterning of branched epithelia remain a subject of long-standing debate. Recently, it has been proposed that the statistical organization of multiple ductal tissues can be explained through a local self-organizing principle based on the branching-annihilating random walk (BARW) in which proliferating tips drive a process of ductal elongation and stochastic bifurcation that terminates when tips encounter maturing ducts. Here, applied to mouse salivary gland, we show the BARW model struggles to explain the large-scale organization of tissue. Instead, we propose that the gland develops as a tip-driven branching-delayed random walk (BDRW). In this framework, a generalization of the BARW, tips inhibited through steric interaction with proximate ducts may continue their branching program as constraints become alleviated through the persistent expansion of the surrounding tissue. This inflationary BDRW model presents a general paradigm for branching morphogenesis when the ductal epithelium grows cooperatively with the domain into which it expands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Bordeu
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physics, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lemonia Chatzeli
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Benjamin D Simons
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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7
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Prahl LS, Porter CM, Liu J, Viola JM, Hughes AJ. Independent control over cell patterning and adhesion on hydrogel substrates for tissue interface mechanobiology. iScience 2023; 26:106657. [PMID: 37168559 PMCID: PMC10164898 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue boundaries and interfaces are engines of morphogenesis in vivo. However, despite a wealth of micropatterning approaches available to control tissue size, shape, and mechanical environment in vitro, fine-scale spatial control of cell positioning within tissue constructs remains an engineering challenge. To address this, we augment DNA "velcro" technology for selective patterning of ssDNA-labeled cells on mechanically defined photoactive polyacrylamide hydrogels. Hydrogels bearing photopatterned single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) features for cell capture are then co-functionalized with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to support subsequent adhesion of patterned tissues. ECM protein co-functionalization does not alter ssDNA pattern fidelity, cell capture, or hydrogel elastic stiffness. This approach enables mechanobiology studies and measurements of signaling activity at dynamic cell interfaces with precise initial patterning. Combining DNA velcro patterning and ECM functionalization provides independent control of initial cell placement, adhesion, and mechanics, constituting a new tool for studying biological interfaces and for programming multicellular interactions in engineered tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis S. Prahl
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Catherine M. Porter
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jiageng Liu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - John M. Viola
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alex J. Hughes
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Corresponding author
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8
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Li Q, Qiao Y, Wang F, Zhao J, Wu L, Ge H, Xu S. Prenatal triclosan exposure impairs mammalian lung branching morphogenesis through activating Bmp4 signaling. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 256:114896. [PMID: 37054474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Triclosan (TCS) is a commonly used antibacterial agent present in personal care and household products. Recently, there have been increasing concerns about the association between children's health and TCS exposure during gestation, but the toxicological effects of TCS exposure on embryonic lung development remain undetermined. In this study, through using an ex vivo lung explant culture system, we found that prenatal exposure to TCS resulted in impaired lung branching morphogenesis and altered proximal-distal airway patterning. These TCS-induced dysplasias are accompanied by significantly reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis within the developing lung, as a consequence of activated Bmp4 signaling. Inhibition of Bmp4 signaling by Noggin partially rescues the lung branching morphogenesis and cellular defects in TCS-exposed lung explants. In addition, we provided in vivo evidence that administration of TCS during gestation leads to compromised branching formation and enlarged airspace in the lung of offspring. Thus, this study provides novel toxicological information on TCS and indicated a strong/possible association between TCS exposure during pregnancy and lung dysplasia in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuling Li
- Institute of Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.
| | - Yulong Qiao
- Institute of Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- Institute of Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Institute of Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Lijun Wu
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Honghua Ge
- Institute of Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Shengmin Xu
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.
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9
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Matejčić M, Trepat X. Mechanobiological approaches to synthetic morphogenesis: learning by building. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:95-111. [PMID: 35879149 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.06.013] [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: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Tissue morphogenesis occurs in a complex physicochemical microenvironment with limited experimental accessibility. This often prevents a clear identification of the processes that govern the formation of a given functional shape. By applying state-of-the-art methods to minimal tissue systems, synthetic morphogenesis aims to engineer the discrete events that are necessary and sufficient to build specific tissue shapes. Here, we review recent advances in synthetic morphogenesis, highlighting how a combination of microfabrication and mechanobiology is fostering our understanding of how tissues are built.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Matejčić
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Xavier Trepat
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Barcelona, Spain.
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10
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Zhang J, Reinhart-King CA. Analysis of Energy-Driven Leader-Follower Hierarchy During Collective Cancer Cell Invasion. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2608:247-262. [PMID: 36653712 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2887-4_15] [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: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Many solid tumors can invade the surrounding three-dimensional (3D) tissue in a collective manner, and increasing evidence suggests that collective migration makes cancer cell clusters more invasive and metastatic than individual cells. A cohesive cohort of cancer cells can have many advantages over individual cells, including more efficient bioenergetics that have been recently identified. Minimization of bioenergetic costs during collective cell migration drives leader-follower dynamics and contributes to enhanced cancer invasion. Hence, it is critical to understand the migratory and bioenergetic dynamics of cancer collective invasion. While analysis of structures and dynamics in a 3D space has been a challenging task, here we describe a widely applicable method to analyze the energy-driven leader-follower hierarchy during cancer collective invasion. An in vitro tumor spheroid model is employed to reproduce the in vivo collective behaviors of cancer cells while allowing high spatiotemporal resolution imaging, where the leader-follower dynamics can be analyzed by tracking nuclear positions. As glucose is one of the main energy sources that fuel cancer cell migration, the quantification of glucose uptake along the invading strands provides an estimate of the energy demand associated with collective invasion. Finally, we describe a method to quantify the dynamics of intracellular energy level using the PercevalHR ATP:ADP ratio biosensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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11
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Spatiotemporal dynamics of self-organized branching in pancreas-derived organoids. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5219. [PMID: 36064947 PMCID: PMC9445099 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32806-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The development dynamics and self-organization of glandular branched epithelia is of utmost importance for our understanding of diverse processes ranging from normal tissue growth to the growth of cancerous tissues. Using single primary murine pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells embedded in a collagen matrix and adapted media supplementation, we generate organoids that self-organize into highly branched structures displaying a seamless lumen connecting terminal end buds, replicating in vivo PDAC architecture. We identify distinct morphogenesis phases, each characterized by a unique pattern of cell invasion, matrix deformation, protein expression, and respective molecular dependencies. We propose a minimal theoretical model of a branching and proliferating tissue, capturing the dynamics of the first phases. Observing the interaction of morphogenesis, mechanical environment and gene expression in vitro sets a benchmark for the understanding of self-organization processes governing complex organoid structure formation processes and branching morphogenesis. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) exhibit complex morphologies challenging to capture in organoid models. Here, the authors develop PDAC organoids that can recreate branched structures and, with the use of a minimal mathematical model, shed light to pathways and processes directing the dynamics of self-organization and branching morphogenesis.
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12
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Zhang K, Yao E, Chuang E, Chen B, Chuang EY, Volk RF, Hofmann KL, Zaro B, Chuang PT. Wnt5a-Vangl1/2 signaling regulates the position and direction of lung branching through the cytoskeleton and focal adhesions. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001759. [PMID: 36026468 PMCID: PMC9469998 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung branching morphogenesis requires reciprocal interactions between the epithelium and mesenchyme. How the lung branches are generated at a defined location and projected toward a specific direction remains a major unresolved issue. In this study, we investigated the function of Wnt signaling in lung branching in mice. We discovered that Wnt5a in both the epithelium and the mesenchyme plays an essential role in controlling the position and direction of lung branching. The Wnt5a signal is mediated by Vangl1/2 to trigger a cascade of noncanonical or planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling. In response to noncanonical Wnt signaling, lung cells undergo cytoskeletal reorganization and change focal adhesions. Perturbed focal adhesions in lung explants are associated with defective branching. Moreover, we observed changes in the shape and orientation of the epithelial sheet and the underlying mesenchymal layer in regions of defective branching in the mutant lungs. Thus, PCP signaling helps define the position and orientation of the lung branches. We propose that mechanical force induced by noncanonical Wnt signaling mediates a coordinated alteration in the shape and orientation of a group of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. These results provide a new framework for understanding the molecular mechanisms by which a stereotypic branching pattern is generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Zhang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Erica Yao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Ethan Chuang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Biao Chen
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Evelyn Y. Chuang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Regan F. Volk
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Katherine L. Hofmann
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Balyn Zaro
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Pao-Tien Chuang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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