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Ebrahim NA, Mwizerwa ON, Ekwueme EC, Muss TE, Ersland EE, Oba T, Oku K, Nishino M, Hikimoto D, Miyoshi H, Tomotoshi K, Neville CM, Sundback CA. Porous honeycomb film membranes enhance endothelial barrier integrity in human vascular wall bilayer model compared to standard track-etched membranes. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:701-713. [PMID: 36807502 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
In vitro vascular wall bilayer models for drug testing and disease modeling must emulate the physical and biological properties of healthy vascular tissue and its endothelial barrier function. Both endothelial cell (EC)-vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) interaction across the internal elastic lamina (IEL) and blood vessel stiffness impact endothelial barrier integrity. Polymeric porous track-etched membranes (TEM) typically represent the IEL in laboratory vascular bilayer models. However, TEM stiffness exceeds that of diseased blood vessels, and the membrane pore architecture limits EC-SMC interaction. The mechanical properties of compliant honeycomb film (HCF) membranes better simulate the Young's modulus of healthy blood vessels, and HCFs are thinner (4 vs. 10 μm) and more porous (57 vs. 6.5%) than TEMs. We compared endothelial barrier integrity in vascular wall bilayer models with human ECs and SMCs statically cultured on opposite sides of HCFs and TEMs (5 μm pores) for up to 12 days. Highly segregated localization of tight junction (ZO-1) and adherens junction (VE-cadherin) proteins and quiescent F-actin cytoskeletons demonstrated superior and earlier maturation of interendothelial junctions. Quantifying barrier integrity based on transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), membranes showed only minor but significant TEER differences despite enhanced junctional protein localization on HCF. Elongated ECs on HCF likely experienced greater paracellular diffusion than blocky ECs on TEM. Also, larger populations of plaques of connexin 43 subunit-containing gap junctions suggested enhanced EC-SMC communication across the more porous, thinner HCF. Compared with standard TEMs, engineered vascular wall bilayers cultured on HCFs better replicate physiologic endothelial barrier integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neven A Ebrahim
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Olive N Mwizerwa
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emmanuel C Ekwueme
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tessa E Muss
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Erik E Ersland
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Takahiro Oba
- Bioscience & Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Keisuke Oku
- Bioscience & Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masafumi Nishino
- Bioscience & Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Daichi Hikimoto
- Bioscience & Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hayato Miyoshi
- Bioscience & Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kimihiko Tomotoshi
- Bioscience & Engineering Laboratories, FUJIFILM Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Craig M Neville
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cathryn A Sundback
- Department of Surgery, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Ekwueme EC, Rao R, Mohiuddin M, Pellegrini M, Lee YS, Reiter MP, Jackson J, Freeman JW. Single-walled carbon nanohorns modulate tenocyte cellular response and tendon biomechanics. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2019; 108:1907-1914. [PMID: 31785088 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.34532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Subfailure ligament and tendon injury remain a significant burden to global healthcare. Here, we present the use of biocompatible single-walled carbon nanohorns (CNH) as a potential treatment for the repair of sub-failure injury in tendons. First, in vitro exposure of CNH to human tenocytes revealed no change in collagen deposition but a significant decrease in cell metabolic activity after 14 days. Additionally, gene expression studies revealed significant downregulation of collagen Types I and III mRNA at 7 days with some recovery after 14 days of exposure. Biomechanical tests with explanted porcine digitorum tendons showed the ability of CNH suspensions to modulate tendon biomechanics, most notably elastic moduli immediately after treatment. in vivo experiments demonstrated the ability of CNH to persist in the damaged matrix of stretch-injured Sprague Dawley rat Achilles tendon but not significantly modify tendon biomechanics after 7 days of treatment. Although these results demonstrate the early feasibility of utility of CNH as a potential modality for tendon subfailure injury, additional work is needed to further validate and ensure clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel C Ekwueme
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Rohit Rao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Mahir Mohiuddin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Michael Pellegrini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Yong S Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Mary P Reiter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - James Jackson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Joseph W Freeman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
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Faulknor RA, Olekson MA, Ekwueme EC, Krzyszczyk P, Freeman JW, Berthiaume F. Hypoxia Impairs Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Induced Macrophage M1 to M2 Transition. Technology (Singap World Sci) 2017; 5:81-86. [PMID: 29552603 PMCID: PMC5854485 DOI: 10.1142/s2339547817500042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The transition of macrophages from the pro-inflammatory M1 to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype is crucial for the progression of normal wound healing. Persistent M1 macrophages within the injury site may lead to an uncontrolled macrophage-mediated inflammatory response and ultimately a failure of the wound healing cascade, leading to chronic wounds. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been widely reported to promote M1 to M2 macrophage transition; however, it is unclear whether MSCs can drive this transition in the hypoxic environment typically observed in chronic wounds. Here we report on the effect of hypoxia (1% O2) on MSCs' ability to transition macrophages from the M1 to the M2 phenotype. While hypoxia had no effect on MSC secretion, it inhibited MSC-induced M1 to M2 macrophage transition, and suppressed macrophage expression and production of the anti-inflammatory mediator interleukin-10 (IL-10). These results suggest that hypoxic environments may impede the therapeutic effects of MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renea A. Faulknor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Melissa A. Olekson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Emmanuel C. Ekwueme
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Paulina Krzyszczyk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Joseph W. Freeman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - François Berthiaume
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Correspondence should be addressed to F.B. ()
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Cronce MJ, Faulknor RA, Pomerantseva I, Liu XH, Goldman SM, Ekwueme EC, Mwizerwa O, Neville CM, Sundback CA. In vivo response to decellularized mesothelium scaffolds. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2017; 106:716-725. [PMID: 28323397 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.33879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Biological surgical scaffolds are used in plastic and reconstructive surgery to support structural reinforcement and regeneration of soft tissue defects. Macrophage and fibroblast cell populations heavily regulate scaffold integration into host tissue following implantation. In the present study, the biological host response to a commercially available surgical scaffold (Meso BioMatrix Surgical Mesh (MBM)) was investigated for up to 9 weeks after subcutaneous implantation; this scaffold promoted superior cell migration and infiltration previously in in vitro studies relative to other commercially available scaffolds. Infiltrating macrophages and fibroblasts phenotypes were assessed for evidence of inflammation and remodeling. At week 1, macrophages were the dominant cell population, but fibroblasts were most abundant at subsequent time points. At week 4, the scaffold supported inflammation modulation as indicated by M1 to M2 macrophage polarization; the foreign body giant cell response resolved by week 9. Unexpectedly, a fibroblast subpopulation expressed macrophage phenotypic markers, following a similar trend in transitioning from a proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotype. Also, α-smooth muscle actin-expressing myofibroblasts were abundant at weeks 4 and 9, mirroring collagen expression and remodeling activity. MBM supported physiologic responses observed during normal wound healing, including cellular infiltration, host tissue ingrowth, remodeling of matrix proteins, and immune modulation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 716-725, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Cronce
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
| | - Renea A Faulknor
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115
| | - Irina Pomerantseva
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115
| | | | | | - Emmanuel C Ekwueme
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115
| | - Olive Mwizerwa
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
| | - Craig M Neville
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115
| | - Cathryn A Sundback
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115
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Ekwueme EC, Shah JV, Mohiuddin M, Ghebes CA, Crispim JF, Saris DBF, Fernandes HAM, Freeman JW. Cross-Talk Between Human Tenocytes and Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Potentiates Extracellular Matrix Remodeling In Vitro. J Cell Biochem 2015; 117:684-93. [PMID: 26308651 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Tendon and ligament (T/L) pathologies account for a significant portion of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Tissue engineering has emerged as a promising solution in the regeneration of both tissues. Specifically, the use of multipotent human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) has shown great promise to serve as both a suitable cell source for tenogenic regeneration and a source of trophic factors to induce tenogenesis. Using four donor sets, we investigated the bidirectional paracrine tenogenic response between human hamstring tenocytes (hHT) and bone marrow-derived hMSC. Cell metabolic assays showed that only one hHT donor experienced sustained notable increases in cell metabolic activity during co-culture. Histological staining confirmed that co-culture induced elevated collagen protein levels in both cell types at varying time-points in two of four donor sets assessed. Gene expression analysis using qPCR showed the varied up-regulation of anabolic and catabolic markers involved in extracellular matrix maintenance for hMSC and hHT. Furthermore, analysis of hMSC/hHT co-culture secretome using a reporter cell line for TGF-β, a potent inducer of tenogenesis, revealed a trend of higher TGF-β bioactivity in hMSC secretome compared to hHT. Finally, hHT cytoskeletal immunostaining confirmed that both cell types released soluble factors capable of inducing favorable tenogenic morphology, comparable to control levels of soluble TGF-β1. These results suggest a potential for TGF-β-mediated signaling mechanism that is involved during the paracrine interplay between the two cell types that is reminiscent of T/L matrix remodeling/turnover. These findings have significant implications in the clinical use of hMSC for common T/L pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel C Ekwueme
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey.,MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Department of Tissue Regeneration, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Jay V Shah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Mahir Mohiuddin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Corina A Ghebes
- MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Department of Tissue Regeneration, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - João F Crispim
- MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Department of Tissue Regeneration, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Daniël B F Saris
- MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Department of Tissue Regeneration, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.,Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hugo A M Fernandes
- MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Department of Tissue Regeneration, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.,CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,UC-Biotech-Cantanhede, Cantanhede, Portugal
| | - Joseph W Freeman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
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Freeman JW, Empson YM, Ekwueme EC, Paynter DM, Brolinson PG. Effect of prolotherapy on cellular proliferation and collagen deposition in MC3T3-E1 and patellar tendon fibroblast populations. Transl Res 2011; 158:132-9. [PMID: 21867978 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2011.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2010] [Revised: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Proliferative therapy, or prolotherapy, is a treatment for damaged connective tissues involving the injection of a solution (proliferant) which causes local cell death and triggers the body's wound healing cascade. Physicians vary in their use of this technique; it is employed for ligaments but has also been investigated for tissues such as cartilage. Physicians also vary in treatment regiments using different dosses of the proliferant. This study evaluates several proliferant dosages develop an optimal dosage that maximizes cell and collagen regeneration. This study also looks at cell and collagen regeneration in response to proliferant exposure outside of the healing cascade. MC3T3-E1 cells and patellar tendon fibroblasts were exposed to various amounts of the proliferant P2G and monitored over several weeks. The results showed an inverse relationship between proliferant concentration and cell viability and collagen production in MC3T3-E1 cells. Following exposure, cell populations experienced an initial decrease in cell number followed by increased proliferation. Trichrome staining over 4 weeks showed an increase in collagen production after proliferant exposure. However the cell numbers and amounts of collagen from the treated groups never surpassed those of the untreated groups, although collagen production was comparable in fibroblasts. The results of this basic study show that there is an effective proliferant dosage and point to a local response to the proliferant that increases cell proliferation and collagen production separate from the wound healing cascade. This local response may not be adequate for complete healing and assistance from the body's healing cascade may be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W Freeman
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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Freeman JW, Woods MD, Cromer DA, Ekwueme EC, Andric T, Atiemo EA, Bijoux CH, Laurencin CT. Evaluation of a hydrogel-fiber composite for ACL tissue engineering. J Biomech 2010; 44:694-9. [PMID: 21111422 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.10.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2010] [Revised: 10/27/2010] [Accepted: 10/27/2010] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is necessary for normal knee stability and movement. Unfortunately the ACL is also the most frequently injured ligament of the knee with severe disruptions requiring surgical intervention. In response to this, tissue engineering has emerged as an option for ACL replacement and repair. In this study we present a novel hydrogel-fibrous scaffold as a potential option for ACL replacement. The scaffold was composed of PLLA fibers, in a previously evaluated braid-twist structure, combined with a polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel to improve viscoelastic properties. Both hydrogel concentration (10%, 15%, and 20%) and amount of hydrogel (soaking the fibrous scaffold in hydrogel solution or encasing the scaffold in a block of hydrogel) were evaluated. It was found that the braid-twist scaffold had a greater porosity and larger number of pores above 100 μm than braided scaffolds with the same braiding angle. After testing for their effects on swelling, fiber degradation, and protein release, as well as viscoelastic and tensile testing (when combined with fibrous scaffolds), it was found that the composite scaffold soaked in 10% hydrogel had the best chemical release and mechanical properties. The optimized structure behaved similarly to natural ligament in tension with the addition of the hydrogel decreasing the ultimate tensile stress (UTS), but the UTS was still comparable to natural ACL. In addition, cellular studies showed that the hydrogel-PLLA fiber composite supported fibroblast growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W Freeman
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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