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Zaidi S, Asalla S, Muturi HT, Russo L, Abdolahipour R, Belew GD, Iglesias MB, Feraudo M, Leon L, Kuo E, Liu X, Kumarasamy S, Ghadieh HE, Gatto-Weis C, Zarrinpar A, Duarte S, Najjar SM. Loss of CEACAM1 in hepatocytes causes hepatic fibrosis. Eur J Clin Invest 2024; 54:e14177. [PMID: 38381498 PMCID: PMC11153018 DOI: 10.1111/eci.14177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of insulin resistance in hepatic fibrosis in Metabolic dysfunction-Associated SteatoHepatitis (MASH) remains unclear. Carcinoembryonic Antigen-related Cell Adhesion Molecule1 protein (CEACAM1) promotes insulin clearance to maintain insulin sensitivity and repress de novo lipogenesis, as bolstered by the development of insulin resistance and steatohepatitis in AlbuminCre + Cc1fl/fl mice with liver-specific mouse gene encoding CEACAM1 protein (Ceacam1) deletion. We herein investigated whether these mice also developed hepatic fibrosis and whether hepatic CEACAM1 is reduced in patients with MASH at different fibrosis stages. METHODS AlbuminCre + Cc1fl/fl mice were fed a regular or a high-fat diet before their insulin metabolism and action were assessed during IPGTT, and their livers excised for histochemical, immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis. Sirius red staining was used to assess fibrosis, and media transfer was employed to examine whether mutant hepatocytes activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Hepatic CEACAM1 protein levels in patients with varying disease stages were assessed by ELISA. RESULTS Hepatocytic deletion of Ceacam1 caused hyperinsulinemia-driven insulin resistance emanating from reduced hepatic insulin clearance. AlbuminCre + Cc1fl/fl livers showed inflammation, fibrosis and hepatic injury, with more advanced bridging and chicken-wire hepatic fibrosis under high-fat conditions. Media transferred from hepatocytes isolated from mutant mice activated control HSCs, likely owing to their elevated endothelin1 content. Interestingly, hepatic CEACAM1 levels were lower in the livers of patients with MASH and declined gradually with advanced fibrosis stage. CONCLUSIONS Hepatic CEACAM1 levels declined with progression of MASH in humans. The phenotype of AlbuminCre + Cc1fl/fl mice assigned a key role to CEACAM1 loss from hepatocytes in hepatic fibrosis independently of other liver cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sobia Zaidi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Suman Asalla
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Harrison T. Muturi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Lucia Russo
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research (CeDER), College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Raziyeh Abdolahipour
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Getachew Debas Belew
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Maria Benitez Iglesias
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Mary Feraudo
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lensay Leon
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Enoch Kuo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Xiuli Liu
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sivarajan Kumarasamy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
- Diabetes Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Hilda E. Ghadieh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Balamand, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al-Koura, Lebanon
| | - Cara Gatto-Weis
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research (CeDER), College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ali Zarrinpar
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sergio Duarte
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sonia M. Najjar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
- Diabetes Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
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Sinha S, Hassan N, Schwartz RE. Organelle stress and alterations in interorganelle crosstalk during liver fibrosis. Hepatology 2024; 79:482-501. [PMID: 36626634 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The synchronous functioning and quality control of organelles ensure cell survival and function and are essential for maintaining homeostasis. Prolonged exposure to stressors (viruses, bacteria, parasitic infections, alcohol, drugs) or genetic mutations often disrupt the functional integrity of organelles which plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of several diseases including chronic liver diseases. One of the most important pathologic consequences of chronic liver diseases is liver fibrosis, characterized by tissue scarring due to the progressive accumulation of extracellular matrix components. Left untreated, fibrosis may advance to life-threatening complications such as cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and HCC, which collectively accounts for ∼1 million deaths per year worldwide. Owing to the lack of treatment options that can regress or reverse cirrhosis, liver transplantation is currently the only available treatment for end-stage liver disease. However, the limited supply of usable donor organs, adverse effects of lifelong immunosuppressive regimes, and financial considerations pose major challenges and limit its application. Hence, effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. An improved understanding of the organelle-level regulation of fibrosis can help devise effective antifibrotic therapies focused on reducing organelle stress, limiting organelle damage, improving interorganelle crosstalk, and restoring organelle homeostasis; and could be a potential clinical option to avoid transplantation. This review provides a timely update on the recent findings and mechanisms covering organelle-specific dysfunctions in liver fibrosis, highlights how correction of organelle functions opens new treatment avenues and discusses the potential challenges to clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saloni Sinha
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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Antwi MB, Dumitriu G, Simón-Santamaria J, Romano JS, Li R, Smedsrød B, Vik A, Eskild W, Sørensen KK. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells show reduced scavenger function and downregulation of Fc gamma receptor IIb, yet maintain a preserved fenestration in the Glmpgt/gt mouse model of slowly progressing liver fibrosis. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293526. [PMID: 37910485 PMCID: PMC10619817 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are fenestrated endothelial cells with a unique, high endocytic clearance capacity for blood-borne waste macromolecules and colloids. This LSEC scavenger function has been insufficiently characterized in liver disease. The Glmpgt/gt mouse lacks expression of a subunit of the MFSD1/GLMP lysosomal membrane protein transporter complex, is born normal, but soon develops chronic, mild hepatocyte injury, leading to slowly progressing periportal liver fibrosis, and splenomegaly. This study examined how LSEC scavenger function and morphology are affected in the Glmpgt/gt model. FITC-labelled formaldehyde-treated serum albumin (FITC-FSA), a model ligand for LSEC scavenger receptors was administered intravenously into Glmpgt/gt mice, aged 4 months (peak of liver inflammation), 9-10 month, and age-matched Glmpwt/wt mice. Organs were harvested for light and electron microscopy, quantitative image analysis of ligand uptake, collagen accumulation, LSEC ultrastructure, and endocytosis receptor expression (also examined by qPCR and western blot). In both age groups, the Glmpgt/gt mice showed multifocal liver injury and fibrosis. The uptake of FITC-FSA in LSECs was significantly reduced in Glmpgt/gt compared to wild-type mice. Expression of LSEC receptors stabilin-1 (Stab1), and mannose receptor (Mcr1) was almost similar in liver of Glmpgt/gt mice and age-matched controls. At the same time, immunostaining revealed differences in the stabilin-1 expression pattern in sinusoids and accumulation of stabilin-1-positive macrophages in Glmpgt/gt liver. FcγRIIb (Fcgr2b), which mediates LSEC endocytosis of soluble immune complexes was widely and significantly downregulated in Glmpgt/gt liver. Despite increased collagen in space of Disse, LSECs of Glmpgt/gt mice showed well-preserved fenestrae organized in sieve plates but the frequency of holes >400 nm in diameter was increased, especially in areas with hepatocyte damage. In both genotypes, FITC-FSA also distributed to endothelial cells of spleen and bone marrow sinusoids, suggesting that these locations may function as possible compensatory sites of clearance of blood-borne scavenger receptor ligands in liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milton Boaheng Antwi
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Section of Haematology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Gianina Dumitriu
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | | | - Ruomei Li
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bård Smedsrød
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anders Vik
- Section of Haematology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Winnie Eskild
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Li R, Bhandari S, Martinez-Zubiaurre I, Bruun JA, Urbarova I, Smedsrød B, Simón-Santamaría J, Sørensen KK. Changes in the proteome and secretome of rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells during early primary culture and effects of dexamethasone. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273843. [PMID: 36054185 PMCID: PMC9439253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273843] [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: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are specialized fenestrated scavenger endothelial cells involved in the elimination of modified plasma proteins and tissue turnover waste macromolecules from blood. LSECs also participate in liver immune responses. A challenge when studying LSEC biology is the rapid loss of the in vivo phenotype in culture. In this study, we have examined biological processes and pathways affected during early-stage primary culture of rat LSECs and checked for cell responses to the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone. Methods LSECs from male Sprague Dawley rats were cultured on type I collagen in 5% oxygen atmosphere in DMEM with serum-free supplements for 2 and 24 h. Quantitative proteomics using tandem mass tag technology was used to examine proteins in cells and supernatants. Validation was done with qPCR, ELISA, multiplex immunoassay, and caspase 3/7 assay. Cell ultrastructure was examined by scanning electron microscopy, and scavenger function by quantitative endocytosis assays. Results LSECs cultured for 24 h showed a characteristic pro-inflammatory phenotype both in the presence and absence of IL-1β, with upregulation of cellular responses to cytokines and interferon-γ, cell-cell adhesion, and glycolysis, increased expression of fatty acid binding proteins (FABP4, FABP5), and downregulation of several membrane receptors (STAB1, STAB2, LYVE1, CLEC4G) and proteins in pyruvate metabolism, citric acid cycle, fatty acid elongation, amino acid metabolism, and oxidation-reduction processes. Dexamethasone inhibited apoptosis and improved LSEC viability in culture, repressed inflammatory and immune regulatory pathways and secretion of IL-1β and IL-6, and further upregulated FABP4 and FABP5 compared to time-matched controls. The LSEC porosity and endocytic activity were reduced at 24 h both with and without dexamethasone but the dexamethasone-treated cells showed a less stressed phenotype. Conclusion Rat LSECs become activated towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype during early culture. Dexamethasone represses LSEC activation, inhibits apoptosis, and improves cell viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruomei Li
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sabin Bhandari
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Jack-Ansgar Bruun
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ilona Urbarova
- Department of Community Medicine, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bård Smedsrød
- Department of Medical Biology, UiT–The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Nasiri-Ansari N, Androutsakos T, Flessa CM, Kyrou I, Siasos G, Randeva HS, Kassi E, Papavassiliou AG. Endothelial Cell Dysfunction and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): A Concise Review. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162511. [PMID: 36010588 PMCID: PMC9407007 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide. It is strongly associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and other metabolic syndrome features. Reflecting the underlying pathogenesis and the cardiometabolic disorders associated with NAFLD, the term metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has recently been proposed. Indeed, over the past few years, growing evidence supports a strong correlation between NAFLD and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, independent of the presence of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. This implies that NAFLD may also be directly involved in the pathogenesis of CVD. Notably, liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC) dysfunction appears to be implicated in the progression of NAFLD via numerous mechanisms, including the regulation of the inflammatory process, hepatic stellate activation, augmented vascular resistance, and the distortion of microcirculation, resulting in the progression of NAFLD. Vice versa, the liver secretes inflammatory molecules that are considered pro-atherogenic and may contribute to vascular endothelial dysfunction, resulting in atherosclerosis and CVD. In this review, we provide current evidence supporting the role of endothelial cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and NAFLD-associated atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells could thus represent a "golden target" for the development of new treatment strategies for NAFLD and its comorbid CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narjes Nasiri-Ansari
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Androutsakos
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christina-Maria Flessa
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK
| | - Ioannis Kyrou
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Laboratory of Dietetics and Quality of Life, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Siasos
- Third Department of Cardiology, ‘Sotiria’ Thoracic Diseases General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Harpal S. Randeva
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Eva Kassi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Endocrine Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, ‘Laiko’ General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: (E.K.); (A.G.P.)
| | - Athanasios G. Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: (E.K.); (A.G.P.)
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Gifre-Renom L, Daems M, Luttun A, Jones EAV. Organ-Specific Endothelial Cell Differentiation and Impact of Microenvironmental Cues on Endothelial Heterogeneity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031477. [PMID: 35163400 PMCID: PMC8836165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells throughout the body are heterogeneous, and this is tightly linked to the specific functions of organs and tissues. Heterogeneity is already determined from development onwards and ranges from arterial/venous specification to microvascular fate determination in organ-specific differentiation. Acknowledging the different phenotypes of endothelial cells and the implications of this diversity is key for the development of more specialized tissue engineering and vascular repair approaches. However, although novel technologies in transcriptomics and proteomics are facilitating the unraveling of vascular bed-specific endothelial cell signatures, still much research is based on the use of insufficiently specialized endothelial cells. Endothelial cells are not only heterogeneous, but their specialized phenotypes are also dynamic and adapt to changes in their microenvironment. During the last decades, strong collaborations between molecular biology, mechanobiology, and computational disciplines have led to a better understanding of how endothelial cells are modulated by their mechanical and biochemical contexts. Yet, because of the use of insufficiently specialized endothelial cells, there is still a huge lack of knowledge in how tissue-specific biomechanical factors determine organ-specific phenotypes. With this review, we want to put the focus on how organ-specific endothelial cell signatures are determined from development onwards and conditioned by their microenvironments during adulthood. We discuss the latest research performed on endothelial cells, pointing out the important implications of mimicking tissue-specific biomechanical cues in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Gifre-Renom
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Margo Daems
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Aernout Luttun
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Elizabeth A. V. Jones
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
- Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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Whiteford J, Arokiasamy S, Thompson CL, Dufton NP. Novel application of live imaging to determine the functional cell biology of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) within a liver-on-a-chip platform. IN VITRO MODELS 2022; 1:413-421. [PMID: 36570669 PMCID: PMC9767233 DOI: 10.1007/s44164-022-00034-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Objective Imaging endothelial cell behaviour under physiological conditions, particularly those associated with chronic fibrotic pathologies, is an incredibly challenging endeavour. While short-term assessments (hours) can be achieved with techniques such as intravital microscopy, vascular changes often occur over days and weeks which is unfeasible with current imaging techniques. These challenges are exemplified within the liver where liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are known to undergo dramatic changes termed endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) during fibrotic liver disease. Despite the established presence of EndMT in liver disease, the inaccessibility of viable liver tissue, and simplicity of 2D culture techniques has meant, the role of EndMT during disease progression remains largely undetermined. This study describes the development of novel fluorescent EndMT reporters to identify, track, and characterise the migratory behaviour of EndMT cells. We show that liver-on-a-chip (LOAC) platforms provide a flexible, optically accessible, and physiologically relevant microenvironment to study the vascular dynamics of EndMT during liver disease. Methods Identification, creation, and application of an EndMT-specific fluorescent reporter construct (EndMT-Rep). Transduction of EC using lentiviral packaged CNN1-eGFP construct as an inducible EndMT-Rep (CNN1-Rep) to 2D, 3D, and 4D imaging techniques for fixed and live cell imaging. Combined application of live and fixed imaging technologies to measure EndMT using CNN1-Rep on LOAC platform under physiological conditions. Demonstration of the high-resolution single-cell EndMT tracking by live cell time-lapse microscopy and with post-acquisition processing to perform a comparative study of CNN1-Rep and healthy LSECs within a NASH-like LOAC microenvironment. Conclusions LOAC enables prolonged, multi-platform imaging of endothelial cell sub-populations such as those undergoing EndMT in 2D and 3D cultures. Our study highlights the application of EndMT reporters, such as CNN1-Rep, to provide high-resolution imaging of EndMT behaviour for the first time under physiologically relevant liver microenvironment. Overall, these methods reveal the adaptability and impact of live-cell imaging on uncovering vascular behaviours, such as EndMT, that are unattainable in viable tissue or conventional 2D in vitro experiments. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44164-022-00034-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Whiteford
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Samantha Arokiasamy
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Clare L. Thompson
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Neil P. Dufton
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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