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Piszker W, Simunovic M. The fusion of physics and biology in early mammalian embryogenesis. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 160:31-64. [PMID: 38937030 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.05.001] [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
Biomechanics in embryogenesis is a dynamic field intertwining the physical forces and biological processes that shape the first days of a mammalian embryo. From the first cell fate bifurcation during blastulation to the complex symmetry breaking and tissue remodeling in gastrulation, mechanical cues appear critical in cell fate decisions and tissue patterning. Recent strides in mouse and human embryo culture, stem cell modeling of mammalian embryos, and biomaterial design have shed light on the role of cellular forces, cell polarization, and the extracellular matrix in influencing cell differentiation and morphogenesis. This chapter highlights the essential functions of biophysical mechanisms in blastocyst formation, embryo implantation, and early gastrulation where the interplay between the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix stiffness orchestrates the intricacies of embryogenesis and placenta specification. The advancement of in vitro models like blastoids, gastruloids, and other types of embryoids, has begun to faithfully recapitulate human development stages, offering new avenues for exploring the biophysical underpinnings of early development. The integration of synthetic biology and advanced biomaterials is enhancing the precision with which we can mimic and study these processes. Looking ahead, we emphasize the potential of CRISPR-mediated genomic perturbations coupled with live imaging to uncover new mechanosensitive pathways and the application of engineered biomaterials to fine-tune the mechanical conditions conducive to embryonic development. This synthesis not only bridges the gap between experimental models and in vivo conditions to advancing fundamental developmental biology of mammalian embryogenesis, but also sets the stage for leveraging biomechanical insights to inform regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Piszker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mijo Simunovic
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States; Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.
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2
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Ramírez Martínez C, Gómez-Pérez LS, Ordaz A, Torres-Huerta AL, Antonio-Perez A. Current Trends of Bacterial and Fungal Optoproteins for Novel Optical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14741. [PMID: 37834188 PMCID: PMC10572898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914741] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoproteins, luminescent proteins or optoproteins are a kind of light-response protein responsible for the conversion of light into biochemical energy that is used by some bacteria or fungi to regulate specific biological processes. Within these specific proteins, there are groups such as the photoreceptors that respond to a given light wavelength and generate reactions susceptible to being used for the development of high-novel applications, such as the optocontrol of metabolic pathways. Photoswitchable proteins play important roles during the development of new materials due to their capacity to change their conformational structure by providing/eliminating a specific light stimulus. Additionally, there are bioluminescent proteins that produce light during a heatless chemical reaction and are useful to be employed as biomarkers in several fields such as imaging, cell biology, disease tracking and pollutant detection. The classification of these optoproteins from bacteria and fungi as photoreceptors or photoresponse elements according to the excitation-emission spectrum (UV-Vis-IR), as well as their potential use in novel applications, is addressed in this article by providing a structured scheme for this broad area of knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Aurora Antonio-Perez
- Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Estado de México, Av. Lago de Guadalupe KM 3.5, Margarita Maza de Juárez, Ciudad López Mateos, Atizapán de Zaragoza 52926, Estado de México, Mexico; (C.R.M.); (L.S.G.-P.); (A.O.); (A.L.T.-H.)
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Neghab HK, Djavid GE, Azadeh SS, Soheilifar MH. Osteogenic Differentiation of Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cells by Optogenetics. J Med Biol Eng 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40846-022-00714-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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Zhu D, Johnson HJ, Chen J, Schaffer DV. Optogenetic Application to Investigating Cell Behavior and Neurological Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:811493. [PMID: 35273478 PMCID: PMC8902366 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.811493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells reside in a dynamic microenvironment that presents them with regulatory signals that vary in time, space, and amplitude. The cell, in turn, interprets these signals and accordingly initiates downstream processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and self-organization. Conventional approaches to perturb and investigate signaling pathways (e.g., agonist/antagonist addition, overexpression, silencing, knockouts) are often binary perturbations that do not offer precise control over signaling levels, and/or provide limited spatial or temporal control. In contrast, optogenetics leverages light-sensitive proteins to control cellular signaling dynamics and target gene expression and, by virtue of precise hardware control over illumination, offers the capacity to interrogate how spatiotemporally varying signals modulate gene regulatory networks and cellular behaviors. Recent studies have employed various optogenetic systems in stem cell, embryonic, and somatic cell patterning studies, which have addressed fundamental questions of how cell-cell communication, subcellular protein localization, and signal integration affect cell fate. Other efforts have explored how alteration of signaling dynamics may contribute to neurological diseases and have in the process created physiologically relevant models that could inform new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on emerging applications within the expanding field of optogenetics to study gene regulation, cell signaling, neurodevelopment, and neurological disorders, and we comment on current limitations and future directions for the growth of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danqing Zhu
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Hunter J. Johnson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Jun Chen
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - David V. Schaffer
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: David V. Schaffer
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5
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Abdollahiyan P, Oroojalian F, Baradaran B, de la Guardia M, Mokhtarzadeh A. Advanced mechanotherapy: Biotensegrity for governing metastatic tumor cell fate via modulating the extracellular matrix. J Control Release 2021; 335:596-618. [PMID: 34097925 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mechano-transduction is the procedure of mechanical stimulus translation via cells, among substrate shear flow, topography, and stiffness into a biochemical answer. TAZ and YAP are transcriptional coactivators which are recognized as relay proteins that promote mechano-transduction within the Hippo pathway. With regard to healthy cells in homeostasis, mechano-transduction regularly restricts proliferation, and TAZ and YAP are totally inactive. During cancer development a YAP/TAZ - stimulating positive response loop is formed between the growing tumor and the stiffening ECM. As tumor developments, local stromal and cancerous cells take advantage of mechanotransduction to enhance proliferation, induce their migratory into remote tissues, and promote chemotherapeutic resistance. As a newly progresses paradigm, nanoparticle-conjunctions (such as magnetic nanoparticles, and graphene derivatives nanoparticles) hold significant promises for remote regulation of cells and their relevant events at molecular scale. Despite outstanding developments in employing nanoparticles for drug targeting studies, the role of nanoparticles on cellular behaviors (proliferation, migration, and differentiation) has still required more evaluations in the field of mechanotherapy. In this paper, the in-depth contribution of mechano-transduction is discussed during tumor progression, and how these consequences can be evaluated in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatemeh Oroojalian
- Department of Advanced Sciences and Technologies in Medicine, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran; Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Miguel de la Guardia
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Abstract
The electromechanical function of the heart involves complex, coordinated activity over time and space. Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias arise from asynchrony in these space-time events; therefore, therapies for prevention and treatment require fundamental understanding and the ability to visualize, perturb and control cardiac activity. Optogenetics combines optical and molecular biology (genetic) approaches for light-enabled sensing and actuation of electrical activity with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution and parallelism. The year 2020 marks a decade of developments in cardiac optogenetics since this technology was adopted from neuroscience and applied to the heart. In this Review, we appraise a decade of advances that define near-term (immediate) translation based on all-optical electrophysiology, including high-throughput screening, cardiotoxicity testing and personalized medicine assays, and long-term (aspirational) prospects for clinical translation of cardiac optogenetics, including new optical therapies for rhythm control. The main translational opportunities and challenges for optogenetics to be fully embraced in cardiology are also discussed.
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Next-generation stem cells - ushering in a new era of cell-based therapies. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2020; 19:463-479. [PMID: 32612263 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-020-0064-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Naturally occurring stem cells isolated from humans have been used therapeutically for decades. This has primarily involved the transplantation of primary cells such as haematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells and, more recently, derivatives of pluripotent stem cells. However, the advent of cell-engineering approaches is ushering in a new generation of stem cell-based therapies, greatly expanding their therapeutic utility. These next-generation stem cells are being used as 'Trojan horses' to improve the delivery of drugs and oncolytic viruses to intractable tumours and are also being engineered with angiogenic, neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory molecules to accelerate the repair of injured or diseased tissues. Moreover, gene therapy and gene editing technologies are being used to create stem cell derivatives with improved functionality, specificity and responsiveness compared with their natural counterparts. Here, we review these engineering approaches and areas in which they will help broaden the utility and clinical applicability of stem cells.
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Wang W, Huang D, Ren J, Li R, Feng Z, Guan C, Bao B, Cai B, Ling J, Zhou C. Optogenetic control of mesenchymal cell fate towards precise bone regeneration. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:8196-8205. [PMID: 31754390 PMCID: PMC6857041 DOI: 10.7150/thno.36455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Spatial-temporal control of cell fate in vivo is of great importance for regenerative medicine. Currently, there remain no practical strategies to tune cell-fate spatial-temporally. Optogenetics is a biological technique that widely used to control cell activity in genetically defined neurons in a spatiotemporal-specific manner by light. In this study, optogenetics was repurposed for precise bone tissue regeneration. Methods: Lhx8 and BMP2 genes, which are considered as the master genes for mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation respectively, were recombined into a customized optogenetic control system. In the system, Lhx8 was constitutively expressed, while BMP2 together with shLhx8 expression was driven by blue light. Results: As expected, blue light induced BMP2 expression and inactivated Lhx8 expression in cells infected with the optogenetic control system. Optogenetic control of BMP2 and Lhx8 expression inversely regulates MSC fate in vitro. By animal study, we found that blue light could fine-tune the regeneration in vivo. Blue light illumination significantly promotes bone regeneration when the scaffold was loaded with MSCs infected with adeno-Lhx8, GI-Gal4DBD, LOV-VP16, and BMP2-shLhx8. Conclusions: Together, our study revealed that optogenetic control of the master genes for mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation would be such a candidate strategy for precise regenerative medicine.
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Frank JA, Antonini MJ, Anikeeva P. Next-generation interfaces for studying neural function. Nat Biotechnol 2019; 37:1013-1023. [PMID: 31406326 PMCID: PMC7243676 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-019-0198-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring and modulating the diversity of signals used by neurons and glia in a closed-loop fashion is necessary to establish causative links between biochemical processes within the nervous system and observed behaviors. As developments in neural-interface hardware strive to keep pace with rapid progress in genetically encoded and synthetic reporters and modulators of neural activity, the integration of multiple functional features becomes a key requirement and a pressing challenge in the field of neural engineering. Electrical, optical and chemical approaches have been used to manipulate and record neuronal activity in vivo, with a recent focus on technologies that both integrate multiple modes of interaction with neurons into a single device and enable bidirectional communication with neural circuits with enhanced spatiotemporal precision. These technologies not only are facilitating a greater understanding of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral circuits in the context of health and disease, but also are informing the development of future closed-loop therapies for neurological, neuro-immune and neuroendocrine conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Frank
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marc-Joseph Antonini
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard/MIT Health Science & Technology Graduate Program, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Polina Anikeeva
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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11
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Lodola F, Rosti V, Tullii G, Desii A, Tapella L, Catarsi P, Lim D, Moccia F, Antognazza MR. Conjugated polymers optically regulate the fate of endothelial colony-forming cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaav4620. [PMID: 31598549 PMCID: PMC6764832 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav4620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The control of stem and progenitor cell fate is emerging as a compelling urgency for regenerative medicine. Here, we propose a innovative strategy to gain optical control of endothelial colony-forming cell fate, which represents the only known truly endothelial precursor showing robust in vitro proliferation and overwhelming vessel formation in vivo. We combine conjugated polymers, used as photo-actuators, with the advantages offered by optical stimulation over current electromechanical and chemical stimulation approaches. Light modulation provides unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution, permitting at the same time lower invasiveness and higher selectivity. We demonstrate that polymer-mediated optical excitation induces a robust enhancement of proliferation and lumen formation in vitro. We identify the underlying biophysical pathway as due to light-induced activation of TRPV1 channel. Altogether, our results represent an effective way to induce angiogenesis in vitro, which represents the proof of principle to improve the outcome of autologous cell-based therapy in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Lodola
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Corresponding author. (F.L.); (M.R.A.)
| | - V. Rosti
- Center for the Study of Myelofibrosis, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Advanced Diagnosis, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - G. Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - A. Desii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - L. Tapella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro,” Novara, Italy
| | - P. Catarsi
- Center for the Study of Myelofibrosis, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Advanced Diagnosis, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - D. Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro,” Novara, Italy
| | - F. Moccia
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani,” University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - M. R. Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Corresponding author. (F.L.); (M.R.A.)
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12
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Wang J, Khodabukus A, Rao L, Vandusen K, Abutaleb N, Bursac N. Engineered skeletal muscles for disease modeling and drug discovery. Biomaterials 2019; 221:119416. [PMID: 31419653 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle is the largest organ of human body with several important roles in everyday movement and metabolic homeostasis. The limited ability of small animal models of muscle disease to accurately predict drug efficacy and toxicity in humans has prompted the development in vitro models of human skeletal muscle that fatefully recapitulate cell and tissue level functions and drug responses. We first review methods for development of three-dimensional engineered muscle tissues and organ-on-a-chip microphysiological systems and discuss their potential utility in drug discovery research and development of new regenerative therapies. Furthermore, we describe strategies to increase the functional maturation of engineered muscle, and motivate the importance of incorporating multiple tissue types on the same chip to model organ cross-talk and generate more predictive drug development platforms. Finally, we review the ability of available in vitro systems to model diseases such as type II diabetes, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Pompe disease, and dysferlinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Lingjun Rao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Keith Vandusen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nadia Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nenad Bursac
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Nguyen HX, Bursac N. Ion channel engineering for modulation and de novo generation of electrical excitability. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 58:100-107. [PMID: 30776744 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ion channels play essential roles in regulating electrical properties of excitable tissues. By leveraging various ion channel gating mechanisms, scientists have developed a versatile set of genetically encoded tools to modulate intrinsic tissue excitability under different experimental settings. In this article, we will review how ion channels activated by voltage, light, small chemicals, stretch, and temperature have been customized to enable control of tissue excitability both in vitro and in vivo. Advantages and limitations of each of these ion channel-engineering platforms will be discussed and notable applications will be highlighted. Furthermore, we will describe recent progress on de novo generation of excitable tissues via expression of appropriate sets of engineered voltage-gated ion channels and discuss potential therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung X Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Nenad Bursac
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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Jackman C, Li H, Bursac N. Long-term contractile activity and thyroid hormone supplementation produce engineered rat myocardium with adult-like structure and function. Acta Biomater 2018; 78:98-110. [PMID: 30086384 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The field of cardiac tissue engineering has developed rapidly, but structural and functional immaturity of engineered heart tissues hinder their widespread use. Here, we show that a combination of low-rate (0.2 Hz) contractile activity and thyroid hormone (T3) supplementation significantly promote structural and functional maturation of engineered rat cardiac tissues ("cardiobundles"). The progressive maturation of cardiobundles during first 2 weeks of culture resulted in cell cycle exit and loss of spontaneous activity, which in longer culture yielded decreased contractile function. Maintaining a low level of contractile activity by 0.2 Hz pacing between culture weeks 3 and 5, combined with T3 treatment, yielded significant growth of cardiobundle and myocyte cross-sectional areas (by 68% and 32%, respectively), increased nuclei numbers (by 22%), improved twitch force (by 39%), shortened action potential duration (by 32%), polarized N-cadherin distribution, and switch from immature (slow skeletal) to mature (fast) cardiac troponin I isoform expression. Along with advanced functional output (conduction velocity 53.7 ± 0.8 cm/s, specific force 70.1 ± 5.8 mN/mm2), quantitative ultrastructural analyses revealed similar metrics and abundance of sarcomeres, T-tubules, M-bands, and intercalated disks compared to native age-matched (5-week) and adult (3-month) ventricular myocytes. Unlike 0.2 Hz regime, chronic 1 Hz pacing resulted in significant cardiomyocyte loss and formation of necrotic core despite the use of dynamic culture. Overall, our results demonstrate remarkable ultrastructural and functional maturation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in 3D culture and reveal importance of combined biophysical and hormonal inputs for in vitro engineering of adult-like myocardium. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Compared to human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, neonatal rat ventricular myocytes show advanced maturation state which makes them suitable for in vitro studies of postnatal cardiac development. Still, maturation process from a neonatal to an adult cardiomyocyte has not been recapitulated in rodent cell cultures. Here, we show that low-frequency pacing and thyroid hormone supplementation of 3D engineered neonatal rat cardiac tissues synergistically yield significant increase in cell and tissue volume, robust formation of T-tubules and M-lines, improved sarcomere organization, and faster and more forceful contractions. To the best of our knowledge, 5-week old engineered cardiac tissues described in this study are the first that exhibit both ultrastructural and functional characteristics approaching or matching those of adult ventricular myocardium.
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Polesskaya O, Baranova A, Bui S, Kondratev N, Kananykhina E, Nazarenko O, Shapiro T, Nardia FB, Kornienko V, Chandhoke V, Stadler I, Lanzafame R, Myakishev-Rempel M. Optogenetic regulation of transcription. BMC Neurosci 2018; 19:12. [PMID: 29745855 PMCID: PMC5998900 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-018-0411-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics has become widely recognized for its success in real-time control of brain neurons by utilizing non-mammalian photosensitive proteins to open or close membrane channels. Here we review a less well known type of optogenetic constructs that employs photosensitive proteins to transduce the signal to regulate gene transcription, and its possible use in medicine. One of the problems with existing gene therapies is that they could remain active indefinitely while not allowing regulated transgene production on demand. Optogenetic regulation of transcription (ORT) could potentially be used to regulate the production of a biological drug in situ, by repeatedly applying light to the tissue, and inducing expression of therapeutic transgenes when needed. Red and near infrared wavelengths, which are capable of penetration into tissues, have potential for therapeutic applications. Existing ORT systems are reviewed herein with these considerations in mind.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ancha Baranova
- Research Center for Medical Genetics RAMS, Moscow, Russia.,Center for the Study of Chronic Metabolic and Rare Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.,Atlas Biomed Group, Moscow, Russia.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Sarah Bui
- Center for the Study of Chronic Metabolic and Rare Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vikas Chandhoke
- Center for the Study of Chronic Metabolic and Rare Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Max Myakishev-Rempel
- Localized Therapeutics, LLC, San Diego, CA, USA. .,Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
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