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Fang Y, Chen L, Imoukhuede PI. Toward Blood-Based Precision Medicine: Identifying Age-Sex-Specific Vascular Biomarker Quantities on Circulating Vascular Cells. Cell Mol Bioeng 2023; 16:189-204. [PMID: 37456786 PMCID: PMC10338416 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-023-00771-1] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Abnormal angiogenesis is central to vascular disease and cancer, and noninvasive biomarkers of vascular origin are needed to evaluate patients and therapies. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) are often dysregulated in these diseases, making them promising biomarkers, but the need for an invasive biopsy has limited biomarker research on VEGFRs. Here, we pioneer a blood biopsy approach to quantify VEGFR plasma membrane localization on two circulating vascular proxies: circulating endothelial cells (cECs) and circulating progenitor cells (cPCs). Methods Using quantitative flow cytometry, we examined VEGFR expression on cECs and cPCs in four age-sex groups: peri/premenopausal females (aged < 50 years), menopausal/postmenopausal females (≥ 50 years), and younger and older males with the same age cut-off (50 years). Results cECs in peri/premenopausal females consisted of two VEGFR populations: VEGFR-low (~ 55% of population: population medians ~ 3000 VEGFR1 and 3000 VEGFR2/cell) and VEGFR-high (~ 45%: 138,000 VEGFR1 and 39,000-236,000 VEGFR2/cell), while the menopausal/postmenopausal group only possessed the VEGFR-low cEC population; and 27% of cECs in males exhibited high plasma membrane VEGFR expression (206,000 VEGFR1 and 155,000 VEGFR2/cell). The absence of VEGFR-high cEC subpopulations in menopausal/postmenopausal females suggests that their high-VEGFR cECs are associated with menstruation and could be noninvasive proxies for studying the intersection of age-sex in angiogenesis. VEGFR1 plasma membrane localization in cPCs was detected only in menopausal/postmenopausal females, suggesting a menopause-specific regenerative mechanism. Conclusions Overall, our quantitative, noninvasive approach targeting cECs and cPCs has provided the first insights into how sex and age influence VEGFR plasma membrane localization in vascular cells. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-023-00771-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingye Fang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Ling Chen
- Division of Biostatistics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - P. I. Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
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2
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Fang Y, Malik M, England SK, Imoukhuede PI. Absolute Quantification of Plasma Membrane Receptors Via Quantitative Flow Cytometry. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2475:61-77. [PMID: 35451749 PMCID: PMC9261967 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2217-9_4] [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] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Plasma membrane receptors are transmembrane proteins that initiate cellular response following the binding of specific ligands (e.g., growth factors, hormones, and cytokines). The abundance of plasma membrane receptors can be a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in many human diseases. One of the best techniques for measuring plasma membrane receptors is quantitative flow cytometry (qFlow). qFlow employs fluorophore-conjugated antibodies against the receptors of interest and corresponding fluorophore-loaded calibration beads offers standardized and reproducible measurements of plasma membrane receptors. More importantly, qFlow can achieve absolute quantification of plasma membrane receptors when phycoerythrin (PE) is the fluorophore of choice. Here we describe a detailed qFlow protocol to obtain absolute receptor quantities on the basis of PE calibration. This protocol is foundational for many previous and ongoing studies in quantifying tyrosine kinase receptors and G-protein-coupled receptors with in vitro cell models and ex vivo cell samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingye Fang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- University of Washington, Department of Bioengineering, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Manasi Malik
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sarah K England
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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3
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Stevens KR, Masters KS, Imoukhuede PI, Haynes KA, Setton LA, Cosgriff-Hernandez E, Lediju Bell MA, Rangamani P, Sakiyama-Elbert SE, Finley SD, Willits RK, Koppes AN, Chesler NC, Christman KL, Allen JB, Wong JY, El-Samad H, Desai TA, Eniola-Adefeso O. Fund Black scientists. Cell 2021; 184:561-565. [PMID: 33503447 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Our nationwide network of BME women faculty collectively argue that racial funding disparity by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) remains the most insidious barrier to success of Black faculty in our profession. We thus refocus attention on this critical barrier and suggest solutions on how it can be dismantled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly R Stevens
- Departments of Bioengineering, Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Kristyn S Masters
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Karmella A Haynes
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lori A Setton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Muyinatu A Lediju Bell
- Departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Padmini Rangamani
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Stacey D Finley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca K Willits
- Departments of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abigail N Koppes
- Departments of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Naomi C Chesler
- Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology and Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Karen L Christman
- Department of Bioengineering and Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Josephine B Allen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Joyce Y Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hana El-Samad
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tejal A Desai
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and its binding to VEGFRs is an important angiogenesis regulator, especially the earliest-known isoform, VEGF-A165a. Yet several additional splice variants play prominent roles in regulating angiogenesis in health and in vascular disease, including VEGF-A121 and an anti-angiogenic variant, VEGF-A165b. Few studies have attempted to distinguish these forms from their angiogenic counterparts, experimentally. Previous studies of VEGF-A:VEGFR binding have measured binding kinetics for VEGFA165 and VEGF-A121, but binding kinetics of the other two pro- and all anti-angiogenic splice variants are not known. We measured the binding kinetics for VEGF-A165, -A165b, and -A121 with VEGFR1 and VEGF-R2 using surface plasmon resonance. We validated our methods by reproducing the known affinities between VEGF-A165a:VEGFR1 and VEGF-A165a:VEGFR2, 1.0 pM and 10 pM respectively, and validated the known affinity VEGF-A121:VEGFR2 as KD = 0.66 nM. We found that VEGF-A121 also binds VEGFR1 with an affinity KD = 3.7 nM. We further demonstrated that the anti-angiogenic variant, VEGF-A165b selectively prefers VEGFR2 binding at an affinity = 0.67 pM while binding VEGFR1 with a weaker affinity-KD = 1.4 nM. These results suggest that the - A165b anti-angiogenic variant would preferentially bind VEGFR2. These discoveries offer a new paradigm for understanding VEGF-A, while further stressing the need to take care in differentiating the splice variants in all future VEGF-A studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer B Mamer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Ashley Wittenkeller
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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5
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Abstract
Healthy adipose tissue expansion and metabolism during weight gain require coordinated angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. These vascular growth processes rely on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of ligands and receptors (VEGFRs). Several studies have shown that controlling vascular growth by regulating VEGF:VEGFR signaling can be beneficial for treating obesity; however, dysregulated angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are associated with several chronic tissue inflammation symptoms, including hypoxia, immune cell accumulation, and fibrosis, leading to obesity-related metabolic disorders. An ideal obesity treatment should minimize adipose tissue expansion and the advent of adverse metabolic consequences, which could be achieved by normalizing VEGF:VEGFR signaling. Toward this goal, a systematic investigation of the interdependency of vascular and metabolic systems in obesity and tools to predict personalized treatment ranges are necessary to improve patient outcomes through vascular-targeted therapies. Systems biology can identify the critical VEGF:VEGFR signaling mechanisms that can be targeted to regress adipose tissue expansion and can predict the metabolic consequences of different vascular-targeted approaches. Establishing a predictive, biologically faithful platform requires appropriate computational models and quantitative tissue-specific data. Here, we discuss the involvement of VEGF:VEGFR signaling in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, adipogenesis, and macrophage specification – key mechanisms that regulate adipose tissue expansion and metabolism. We then provide useful computational approaches for simulating these mechanisms, and detail quantitative techniques for acquiring tissue-specific parameters. Systems biology, through computational models and quantitative data, will enable an accurate representation of obese adipose tissue that can be used to direct the development of vascular-targeted therapies for obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingye Fang
- Imoukhuede Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Tomasz Kaszuba
- Imoukhuede Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Imoukhuede Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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6
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Mamer SB, Page P, Murphy M, Wang J, Gallerne P, Ansari A, Imoukhuede PI. The Convergence of Cell-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance and Biomaterials: The Future of Quantifying Bio-molecular Interactions-A Review. Ann Biomed Eng 2020; 48:2078-2089. [PMID: 31811474 PMCID: PMC8637426 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-019-02429-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cell biology is driven by complex networks of biomolecular interactions. Characterizing the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of these interactions is crucial to understanding their role in different physiological processes. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based approaches have become a key tool in quantifying biomolecular interactions, however conventional approaches require isolating the interacting components from the cellular system. Cell-based SPR approaches have recently emerged, promising to enable precise measurements of biomolecular interactions within their normal biological context. Two major approaches have been developed, offering their own advantages and limitations. These approaches currently lack a systematic exploration of 'best practices' like those existing for traditional SPR experiments. Toward this end, we describe the two major approaches, and identify the experimental parameters that require exploration, and discuss the experimental considerations constraining the optimization of each. In particular, we discuss the requirements of future biomaterial development needed to advance the cell-based SPR technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer B Mamer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Jiaojiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Pierrick Gallerne
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Ecole Centrale de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, Hauts-De-France, France
| | - Ali Ansari
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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7
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Mamer SB, Chen S, Weddell JC, Palasz A, Wittenkeller A, Kumar M, Imoukhuede PI. Author Correction: Discovery of High-Affinity PDGF-VEGFR Interactions: Redefining RTK Dynamics. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11001. [PMID: 32601287 PMCID: PMC7324393 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63864-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Spencer B Mamer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jared C Weddell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Alexandra Palasz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ashley Wittenkeller
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Manu Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
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8
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Ansari A, Schultheis K, Patel R, Al‐Qadi KI, Chen S, Jensen CR, Schad SR, Weddell JC, Vanka SP, Imoukhuede PI. Cell isolation via spiral microfluidics and the secondary anchor targeted cell release system. AIChE J 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.16844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ansari
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
| | - Kinsey Schultheis
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
| | - Reema Patel
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
| | - Kareem I. Al‐Qadi
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
| | - Si Chen
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
| | - Cassandra R. Jensen
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
| | - Samantha R. Schad
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
| | - Jared C. Weddell
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
| | - Surya P. Vanka
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
| | - P. I. Imoukhuede
- Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - P. I. Imoukhuede
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
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10
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Chen S, Le T, Harley BAC, Imoukhuede PI. Characterizing Glioblastoma Heterogeneity via Single-Cell Receptor Quantification. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2018; 6:92. [PMID: 30050899 PMCID: PMC6050407 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of tyrosine kinase receptor (RTK) signaling pathways play important roles in glioblastoma (GBM). However, therapies targeting these signaling pathways have not been successful, partially because of drug resistance. Increasing evidence suggests that tumor heterogeneity, more specifically, GBM-associated stem and endothelial cell heterogeneity, may contribute to drug resistance. In this perspective article, we introduce a high-throughput, quantitative approach to profile plasma membrane RTKs on single cells. First, we review the roles of RTKs in cancer. Then, we discuss the sources of cell heterogeneity in GBM, providing context to the key cells directing resistance to drugs. Finally, we present our provisionally patented qFlow cytometry approach, and report results of a "proof of concept" patient-derived xenograft GBM study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Thien Le
- Department of Mathematics and Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Brendan A. C. Harley
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - P. I. Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
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11
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Weddell JC, Chen S, Imoukhuede PI. VEGFR1 promotes cell migration and proliferation through PLCγ and PI3K pathways. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2017; 4:1. [PMID: 29263797 PMCID: PMC5736688 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-017-0037-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to control vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling offers promising therapeutic potential for vascular diseases and cancer. Despite this promise, VEGF-targeted therapies are not clinically effective for many pathologies, such as breast cancer. VEGFR1 has recently emerged as a predictive biomarker for anti-VEGF efficacy, implying a functional VEGFR1 role beyond its classically defined decoy receptor status. Here we introduce a computational approach that accurately predicts cellular responses elicited via VEGFR1 signaling. Aligned with our model prediction, we show empirically that VEGFR1 promotes macrophage migration through PLCγ and PI3K pathways and promotes macrophage proliferation through a PLCγ pathway. These results provide new insight into the basic function of VEGFR1 signaling while offering a computational platform to quantify signaling of any receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared C. Weddell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - P. I. Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
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12
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Ansari A, Patel R, Schultheis K, Naumovski V, Imoukhuede PI. A Method of Targeted Cell Isolation via Glass Surface Functionalization. J Vis Exp 2016:54315. [PMID: 27684992 PMCID: PMC5092063 DOI: 10.3791/54315] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the limiting factors to the adoption and advancement of personalized medicine is the inability to develop diagnostic tools to probe individual nuances in expression from patient to patient. Current methodologies that try to separate cells to fill this niche result in disruption of physiological expression, making the separation technique useless as a diagnostic tool. In this protocol, we describe the functionalization and optimization of a surface for the cellular capture and release. This functionalized surface integrates biotinylated antibodies with a glass surface functionalized with an aminosilane (APTES), desthiobiotin and streptavidin. Cell release is facilitated through the introduction of biotin, allowing the recollection and purification of cells captured by the surface. This release is done through the targeting of the secondary moiety desthiobiotin, which results in a much more gentle release paradigm. This reduction in harsh reagents and shear forces reduces changes in cellular expression. The functionalized surface captures up to 80% of cells in a single cell mixture and has demonstrated 50% capture in a dual-cell mixture. Applications of this technology to xenografts and cancer separation studies are investigated. Quantification techniques for surface verification such as plate reader and ImageJ analyses are described as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ansari
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | - Reema Patel
- Department of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | - Kinsey Schultheis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | - Vesna Naumovski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
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13
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Rosch DM, Imoukhuede PI. Improving Bioengineering Student Leadership Identity Via Training and Practice within the Core-Course. Ann Biomed Eng 2016; 44:3606-3618. [PMID: 27364627 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-016-1684-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The development of a leadership identity has become significant in bioengineering education as a result of an increasing emphasis on teamwork within the profession and corresponding shifts in accreditation criteria. Unsurprisingly, placing bioengineering students in teams to complete classroom-based projects has become a dominant pedagogical tool. However, recent research indicates that engineering students may not develop a leadership identity, much less increased leadership capacity, as a result of such efforts. Within this study, we assessed two similar sections of an introductory course in bioengineering; each placed students in teams, while one also included leadership training and leadership practice. Results suggest that students in the leadership intervention section developed a strong self-image of themselves as leaders compared to students in the control section. These data suggest that creating mechanisms for bioengineering students to be trained in leadership and to practice leadership behaviors within a classroom team may be keys for unlocking leadership development.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Rosch
- Agricultural Education Program, College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 1304W. Springfield Ave, 3235 DCL, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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Abstract
The profiling of cellular heterogeneity has wide-reaching importance for our understanding of how cells function and react to their environments in healthy and diseased states. Our ability to interpret and model cell behavior has been limited by the difficulties of measuring cell differences, for example, comparing tumor and non-tumor cells, particularly at the individual cell level. This demonstrates a clear need for a generalizable approach to profile fluorophore sites on cells or molecular assemblies on beads. Here, a multiplex immunoassay for simultaneous detection of five different angiogenic markers was developed. We targeted angiogenic receptors in the vascular endothelial growth factor family (VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3) and Neuropilin (NRP) family (NRP1 and NRP2), using multicolor quantum dots (Qdots). Copper-free click based chemistry was used to conjugate the monoclonal antibodies with 525, 565, 605, 655 and 705 nm CdSe/ZnS Qdots. We tested and performed colocalization analysis of our nanoprobes using the Pearson correlation coefficient statistical analysis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were tested. The ability to easily monitor the molecular indicators of angiogenesis that are a precursor to cancer in a fast and cost effective system is an important step towards personalized nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe T Lee-Montiel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
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15
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Ansari A, Lee-Montiel FT, Amos JR, Imoukhuede PI. Secondary anchor targeted cell release. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 112:2214-27. [PMID: 26010879 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Personalized medicine offers the promise of tailoring therapy to patients, based on their cellular biomarkers. To achieve this goal, cellular profiling systems are needed that can quickly and efficiently isolate specific cell types without disrupting cellular biomarkers. Here we describe the development of a unique platform that facilitates gentle cell capture via a secondary, surface-anchoring moiety, and cell release. The cellular capture system consists of a glass surface functionalized with APTES, d-desthiobiotin, and streptavidin. Biotinylated mCD11b and hIgG antibodies are used to capture mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7) and human breast cancer (MCF7-GFP) cell lines, respectively. The surface functionalization is optimized by altering assay components, such as streptavidin, d-desthiobiotin, and APTES, to achieve cell capture on 80% of the functionalized surface and cell release upon biotin treatment. We also demonstrate an ability to capture 50% of target cells within a dual-cell mixture. This engineering advancement is a critical step towards achieving cell isolation platforms for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jennifer R Amos
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 61801
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 61801.
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16
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Chen S, Guo X, Imarenezor O, Imoukhuede PI. Quantification of VEGFRs, NRP1, and PDGFRs on Endothelial Cells and Fibroblasts Reveals Serum, Intra-Family Ligand, and Cross-Family Ligand Regulation. Cell Mol Bioeng 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s12195-015-0411-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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Weddell JC, Kwack J, Imoukhuede PI, Masud A. Hemodynamic analysis in an idealized artery tree: differences in wall shear stress between Newtonian and non-Newtonian blood models. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124575. [PMID: 25897758 PMCID: PMC4405589 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of many conditions and disorders, such as atherosclerosis and stroke, are dependent upon hemodynamic forces. To accurately predict and prevent these conditions and disorders hemodynamic forces must be properly mapped. Here we compare a shear-rate dependent fluid (SDF) constitutive model, based on the works by Yasuda et al in 1981, against a Newtonian model of blood. We verify our stabilized finite element numerical method with the benchmark lid-driven cavity flow problem. Numerical simulations show that the Newtonian model gives similar velocity profiles in the 2-dimensional cavity given different height and width dimensions, given the same Reynolds number. Conversely, the SDF model gave dissimilar velocity profiles, differing from the Newtonian velocity profiles by up to 25% in velocity magnitudes. This difference can affect estimation in platelet distribution within blood vessels or magnetic nanoparticle delivery. Wall shear stress (WSS) is an important quantity involved in vascular remodeling through integrin and adhesion molecule mechanotransduction. The SDF model gave a 7.3-fold greater WSS than the Newtonian model at the top of the 3-dimensional cavity. The SDF model gave a 37.7-fold greater WSS than the Newtonian model at artery walls located immediately after bifurcations in the idealized femoral artery tree. The pressure drop across arteries reveals arterial sections highly resistive to flow which correlates with stenosis formation. Numerical simulations give the pressure drop across the idealized femoral artery tree with the SDF model which is approximately 2.3-fold higher than with the Newtonian model. In atherosclerotic lesion models, the SDF model gives over 1 Pa higher WSS than the Newtonian model, a difference correlated with over twice as many adherent monocytes to endothelial cells from the Newtonian model compared to the SDF model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared C. Weddell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - JaeHyuk Kwack
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States of America
| | - P. I. Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States of America
| | - Arif Masud
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States of America
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Weddell JC, Imoukhuede PI. Quantitative characterization of cellular membrane-receptor heterogeneity through statistical and computational modeling. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97271. [PMID: 24827582 PMCID: PMC4020774 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell population heterogeneity can affect cellular response and is a major factor in drug resistance. However, there are few techniques available to represent and explore how heterogeneity is linked to population response. Recent high-throughput genomic, proteomic, and cellomic approaches offer opportunities for profiling heterogeneity on several scales. We have recently examined heterogeneity in vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) membrane localization in endothelial cells. We and others processed the heterogeneous data through ensemble averaging and integrated the data into computational models of anti-angiogenic drug effects in breast cancer. Here we show that additional modeling insight can be gained when cellular heterogeneity is considered. We present comprehensive statistical and computational methods for analyzing cellomic data sets and integrating them into deterministic models. We present a novel method for optimizing the fit of statistical distributions to heterogeneous data sets to preserve important data and exclude outliers. We compare methods of representing heterogeneous data and show methodology can affect model predictions up to 3.9-fold. We find that VEGF levels, a target for tuning angiogenesis, are more sensitive to VEGFR1 cell surface levels than VEGFR2; updating VEGFR1 levels in the tumor model gave a 64% change in free VEGF levels in the blood compartment, whereas updating VEGFR2 levels gave a 17% change. Furthermore, we find that subpopulations of tumor cells and tumor endothelial cells (tEC) expressing high levels of VEGFR (>35,000 VEGFR/cell) negate anti-VEGF treatments. We show that lowering the VEGFR membrane insertion rate for these subpopulations recovers the anti-angiogenic effect of anti-VEGF treatment, revealing new treatment targets for specific tumor cell subpopulations. This novel method of characterizing heterogeneous distributions shows for the first time how different representations of the same data set lead to different predictions of drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared C. Weddell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - P. I. Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
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Imoukhuede PI, Dokun AO, Annex BH, Popel AS. Endothelial cell-by-cell profiling reveals the temporal dynamics of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 membrane localization after murine hindlimb ischemia. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2013; 304:H1085-93. [PMID: 23376830 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00514.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
VEGF receptor (VEGFR) cell surface localization plays a critical role in transducing VEGF signaling toward angiogenic outcomes, and quantitative characterization of these parameters is critical to advancing computational models for predictive medicine. However, studies to this point have largely examined intact muscle; thus, essential data on the cellular localization of the receptors within the tissue are currently unknown. Therefore, our aims were to quantitatively analyze VEGFR localization on endothelial cells (ECs) from mouse hindlimb skeletal muscles after the induction of hindlimb ischemia, an established model for human peripheral artery disease. Flow cytometry was used to measure and compare the ex vivo surface localization of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 on CD31(+)/CD34(+) ECs 3 and 10 days after unilateral ligation of the femoral artery. We determined that 3 days after hindlimb ischemia, VEGFR2 surface levels were decreased by 80% compared with ECs from the nonischemic limb; 10 days after ischemia, we observed a twofold increase in surface levels of the modulatory receptor, VEGFR1, along with increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen, urokinase plasminogen activator, and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor mRNA expression compared with the nonischemic limb. The significant upregulation of VEGFR1 surface levels indicates that VEGFR1 indeed plays a critical role in the ischemia-induced perfusion recovery process, a process that includes both angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. The quantification of these dissimilarities, for the first time ex vivo, provides insights into the balance of modulatory (VEGFR1) and proangiogenic (VEGFR2) receptors in ischemia and lays the foundation for systems biology approaches toward therapeutic angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
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Lee-Montiel FT, Imoukhuede PI. Engineering quantum dot calibration standards for quantitative fluorescent profiling. J Mater Chem B 2013; 1:6434-6441. [DOI: 10.1039/c3tb20904k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Moss FJ, Imoukhuede PI, Scott K, Hu J, Jankowsky JL, Quick MW, Lester HA. GABA transporter function, oligomerization state, and anchoring: correlates with subcellularly resolved FRET. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 134:489-521. [PMID: 19948998 PMCID: PMC2806419 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.200910314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The mouse gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter mGAT1 was expressed in neuroblastoma 2a cells. 19 mGAT1 designs incorporating fluorescent proteins were functionally characterized by [(3)H]GABA uptake in assays that responded to several experimental variables, including the mutations and pharmacological manipulation of the cytoskeleton. Oligomerization and subsequent trafficking of mGAT1 were studied in several subcellular regions of live cells using localized fluorescence, acceptor photobleach Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), and pixel-by-pixel analysis of normalized FRET (NFRET) images. Nine constructs were functionally indistinguishable from wild-type mGAT1 and provided information about normal mGAT1 assembly and trafficking. The remainder had compromised [(3)H]GABA uptake due to observable oligomerization and/or trafficking deficits; the data help to determine regions of mGAT1 sequence involved in these processes. Acceptor photobleach FRET detected mGAT1 oligomerization, but richer information was obtained from analyzing the distribution of all-pixel NFRET amplitudes. We also analyzed such distributions restricted to cellular subregions. Distributions were fit to either two or three Gaussian components. Two of the components, present for all mGAT1 constructs that oligomerized, may represent dimers and high-order oligomers (probably tetramers), respectively. Only wild-type functioning constructs displayed three components; the additional component apparently had the highest mean NFRET amplitude. Near the cell periphery, wild-type functioning constructs displayed the highest NFRET. In this subregion, the highest NFRET component represented approximately 30% of all pixels, similar to the percentage of mGAT1 from the acutely recycling pool resident in the plasma membrane in the basal state. Blocking the mGAT1 C terminus postsynaptic density 95/discs large/zona occludens 1 (PDZ)-interacting domain abolished the highest amplitude component from the NFRET distributions. Disrupting the actin cytoskeleton in cells expressing wild-type functioning transporters moved the highest amplitude component from the cell periphery to perinuclear regions. Thus, pixel-by-pixel NFRET analysis resolved three distinct forms of GAT1: dimers, high-order oligomers, and transporters associated via PDZ-mediated interactions with the actin cytoskeleton and/or with the exocyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fraser J Moss
- Division of Biology and 1,2 Program in Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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