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Farré R, Rodríguez-Lázaro MA, Otero J, Gavara N, Sunyer R, Farré N, Gozal D, Almendros I. Low-cost, open-source device for simultaneously subjecting rodents to different circadian cycles of light, food, and temperature. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1356787. [PMID: 38434139 PMCID: PMC10904513 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1356787] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Exposure of experimental rodents to controlled cycles of light, food, and temperature is important when investigating alterations in circadian cycles that profoundly influence health and disease. However, applying such stimuli simultaneously is difficult in practice. We aimed to design, build, test, and open-source describe a simple device that subjects a conventional mouse cage to independent cycles of physiologically relevant environmental variables. The device is based on a box enclosing the rodent cage to modify the light, feeding, and temperature environments. The device provides temperature-controlled air conditioning (heating or cooling) by a Peltier module and includes programmable feeding and illumination. All functions are set by a user-friendly front panel for independent cycle programming. Bench testing with a model simulating the CO2 production of mice in the cage showed: a) suitable air renewal (by measuring actual ambient CO2), b) controlled realistic illumination at the mouse enclosure (measured by a photometer), c) stable temperature control, and d) correct cycling of light, feeding, and temperature. The cost of all the supplies (retail purchased by e-commerce) was <300 US$. Detailed technical information is open-source provided, allowing for any user to reliably reproduce or modify the device. This approach can considerably facilitate circadian research since using one of the described low-cost devices for any mouse group with a given light-food-temperature paradigm allows for all the experiments to be performed simultaneously, thereby requiring no changes in the light/temperature of a general-use laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Farré
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Rodríguez-Lázaro
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Otero
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Gavara
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sunyer
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Farré
- Discipline of Cardiology, Saolta University Healthcare Group, Galway, Ireland
- School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - David Gozal
- Office of the Dean, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Isaac Almendros
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
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2
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Sanz-Fraile H, Herranz-Diez C, Ulldemolins A, Falcones B, Almendros I, Gavara N, Sunyer R, Farré R, Otero J. Characterization of Bioinks Prepared via Gelifying Extracellular Matrix from Decellularized Porcine Myocardia. Gels 2023; 9:745. [PMID: 37754426 PMCID: PMC10530680 DOI: 10.3390/gels9090745] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the emergence of 3D bioprinting technology, both synthetic and natural materials have been used to develop bioinks for producing cell-laden cardiac grafts. To this end, extracellular-matrix (ECM)-derived hydrogels can be used to develop scaffolds that closely mimic the complex 3D environments for cell culture. This study presents a novel cardiac bioink based on hydrogels exclusively derived from decellularized porcine myocardium loaded with human-bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. Hence, the hydrogel can be used to develop cell-laden cardiac patches without the need to add other biomaterials or use additional crosslinkers. The scaffold ultrastructure and mechanical properties of the bioink were characterized to optimize its production, specifically focusing on the matrix enzymatic digestion time. The cells were cultured in 3D within the developed hydrogels to assess their response. The results indicate that the hydrogels fostered inter-cell and cell-matrix crosstalk after 1 week of culture. In conclusion, the bioink developed and presented in this study holds great potential for developing cell-laden customized patches for cardiac repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Sanz-Fraile
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (H.S.-F.); (C.H.-D.); (A.U.); (B.F.); (I.A.); (N.G.); (R.S.); (R.F.)
| | - Carolina Herranz-Diez
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (H.S.-F.); (C.H.-D.); (A.U.); (B.F.); (I.A.); (N.G.); (R.S.); (R.F.)
| | - Anna Ulldemolins
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (H.S.-F.); (C.H.-D.); (A.U.); (B.F.); (I.A.); (N.G.); (R.S.); (R.F.)
| | - Bryan Falcones
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (H.S.-F.); (C.H.-D.); (A.U.); (B.F.); (I.A.); (N.G.); (R.S.); (R.F.)
| | - Isaac Almendros
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (H.S.-F.); (C.H.-D.); (A.U.); (B.F.); (I.A.); (N.G.); (R.S.); (R.F.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Gavara
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (H.S.-F.); (C.H.-D.); (A.U.); (B.F.); (I.A.); (N.G.); (R.S.); (R.F.)
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sunyer
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (H.S.-F.); (C.H.-D.); (A.U.); (B.F.); (I.A.); (N.G.); (R.S.); (R.F.)
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramon Farré
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (H.S.-F.); (C.H.-D.); (A.U.); (B.F.); (I.A.); (N.G.); (R.S.); (R.F.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Otero
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (H.S.-F.); (C.H.-D.); (A.U.); (B.F.); (I.A.); (N.G.); (R.S.); (R.F.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Marín-Llauradó A, Kale S, Ouzeri A, Golde T, Sunyer R, Torres-Sánchez A, Latorre E, Gómez-González M, Roca-Cusachs P, Arroyo M, Trepat X. Mapping mechanical stress in curved epithelia of designed size and shape. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4014. [PMID: 37419987 PMCID: PMC10329037 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38879-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The function of organs such as lungs, kidneys and mammary glands relies on the three-dimensional geometry of their epithelium. To adopt shapes such as spheres, tubes and ellipsoids, epithelia generate mechanical stresses that are generally unknown. Here we engineer curved epithelial monolayers of controlled size and shape and map their state of stress. We design pressurized epithelia with circular, rectangular and ellipsoidal footprints. We develop a computational method, called curved monolayer stress microscopy, to map the stress tensor in these epithelia. This method establishes a correspondence between epithelial shape and mechanical stress without assumptions of material properties. In epithelia with spherical geometry we show that stress weakly increases with areal strain in a size-independent manner. In epithelia with rectangular and ellipsoidal cross-section we find pronounced stress anisotropies that impact cell alignment. Our approach enables a systematic study of how geometry and stress influence epithelial fate and function in three-dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariadna Marín-Llauradó
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sohan Kale
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
- Center for Soft Matter and Biological Physics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Adam Ouzeri
- LaCàN, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tom Golde
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sunyer
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Torres-Sánchez
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- LaCàN, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ernest Latorre
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Gómez-González
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Roca-Cusachs
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marino Arroyo
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- LaCàN, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numèrics en Enginyeria (CIMNE), 08034, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Xavier Trepat
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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4
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Jurado A, Ulldemolins A, Lluís H, Gasull X, Gavara N, Sunyer R, Otero J, Gozal D, Almendros I, Farré R. Fast cycling of intermittent hypoxia in a physiomimetic 3D environment: A novel tool for the study of the parenchymal effects of sleep apnea. Front Pharmacol 2023; 13:1081345. [PMID: 36712654 PMCID: PMC9879064 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1081345] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience recurrent hypoxemic events with a frequency sometimes exceeding 60 events/h. These episodic events induce downstream transient hypoxia in the parenchymal tissue of all organs, thereby eliciting the pathological consequences of OSA. Whereas experimental models currently apply intermittent hypoxia to cells conventionally cultured in 2D plates, there is no well-characterized setting that will subject cells to well-controlled intermittent hypoxia in a 3D environment and enable the study of the effects of OSA on the cells of interest while preserving the underlying tissue environment. Aim: To design and characterize an experimental approach that exposes cells to high-frequency intermittent hypoxia mimicking OSA in 3D (hydrogels or tissue slices). Methods: Hydrogels made from lung extracellular matrix (L-ECM) or brain tissue slices (300-800-μm thickness) were placed on a well whose bottom consisted of a permeable silicone membrane. The chamber beneath the membrane was subjected to a square wave of hypoxic/normoxic air. The oxygen concentration at different depths within the hydrogel/tissue slice was measured with an oxygen microsensor. Results: 3D-seeded cells could be subjected to well-controlled and realistic intermittent hypoxia patterns mimicking 60 apneas/h when cultured in L-ECM hydrogels ≈500 μm-thick or ex-vivo in brain slices 300-500 μm-thick. Conclusion: This novel approach will facilitate the investigation of the effects of intermittent hypoxia simulating OSA in 3D-residing cells within the parenchyma of different tissues/organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Jurado
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Ulldemolins
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Helena Lluís
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Gasull
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Gavara
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sunyer
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Otero
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain,CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Gozal
- Department of Child Health, The University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, KY, United States
| | - Isaac Almendros
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain,CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramon Farré
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain,CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain,*Correspondence: Ramon Farré,
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5
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López-Mengual A, Segura-Feliu M, Sunyer R, Sanz-Fraile H, Otero J, Mesquida-Veny F, Gil V, Hervera A, Ferrer I, Soriano J, Trepat X, Farré R, Navajas D, Del Río JA. Involvement of Mechanical Cues in the Migration of Cajal-Retzius Cells in the Marginal Zone During Neocortical Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:886110. [PMID: 35652101 PMCID: PMC9150848 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.886110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence points to coordinated action of chemical and mechanical cues during brain development. At early stages of neocortical development, angiogenic factors and chemokines such as CXCL12, ephrins, and semaphorins assume crucial roles in orchestrating neuronal migration and axon elongation of postmitotic neurons. Here we explore the intrinsic mechanical properties of the developing marginal zone of the pallium in the migratory pathways and brain distribution of the pioneer Cajal-Retzius cells. These neurons are generated in several proliferative regions in the developing brain (e.g., the cortical hem and the pallial subpallial boundary) and migrate tangentially in the preplate/marginal zone covering the upper portion of the developing cortex. These cells play crucial roles in correct neocortical layer formation by secreting several molecules such as Reelin. Our results indicate that the motogenic properties of Cajal-Retzius cells and their perinatal distribution in the marginal zone are modulated by both chemical and mechanical factors, by the specific mechanical properties of Cajal-Retzius cells, and by the differential stiffness of the migratory routes. Indeed, cells originating in the cortical hem display higher migratory capacities than those generated in the pallial subpallial boundary which may be involved in the differential distribution of these cells in the dorsal-lateral axis in the developing marginal zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana López-Mengual
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam Segura-Feliu
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sunyer
- Unitat de Biofísica I Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Héctor Sanz-Fraile
- Unitat de Biofísica I Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Otero
- Unitat de Biofísica I Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francina Mesquida-Veny
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vanessa Gil
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arnau Hervera
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Senior Consultant, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Soriano
- Departament de Física de La Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,University of Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Trepat
- Unitat de Biofísica I Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Integrative Cell and Tissue Dynamics, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Farré
- Unitat de Biofísica I Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain.,Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Navajas
- Unitat de Biofísica I Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain.,Cellular and Respiratory Biomechanics, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Antonio Del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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6
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Sehgal P, Kong X, Wu J, Sunyer R, Trepat X, Leckband D. Epidermal growth factor receptor and integrins control force-dependent vinculin recruitment to E-cadherin junctions. J Cell Sci 2018; 131:jcs206656. [PMID: 29487179 PMCID: PMC5897709 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.206656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This study reports novel findings that link E-cadherin (also known as CDH1)-mediated force-transduction signaling to vinculin targeting to intercellular junctions via epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and integrins. These results build on previous findings that demonstrated that mechanically perturbed E-cadherin receptors activate phosphoinositide 3-kinase and downstream integrins in an EGFR-dependent manner. Results of this study show that this EGFR-mediated kinase cascade controls the force-dependent recruitment of vinculin to stressed E-cadherin complexes - a key early signature of cadherin-based mechanotransduction. Vinculin targeting requires its phosphorylation at tyrosine 822 by Abl family kinases (hereafter Abl), but the origin of force-dependent Abl activation had not been identified. We now present evidence that integrin activation, which is downstream of EGFR signaling, controls Abl activation, thus linking E-cadherin to Abl through a mechanosensitive signaling network. These findings place EGFR and integrins at the center of a positive-feedback loop, through which force-activated E-cadherin signals regulate vinculin recruitment to cadherin complexes in response to increased intercellular tension.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Sehgal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Xinyu Kong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Raimon Sunyer
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain 08028
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Barcelona, Spain 08028
| | - Xavier Trepat
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain 08028
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Barcelona, Spain 08028
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain 08028
| | - Deborah Leckband
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
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7
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Rodríguez-Franco P, Brugués A, Marín-Llauradó A, Conte V, Solanas G, Batlle E, Fredberg JJ, Roca-Cusachs P, Sunyer R, Trepat X. Long-lived force patterns and deformation waves at repulsive epithelial boundaries. Nat Mater 2017; 16:1029-1037. [PMID: 28892054 PMCID: PMC5657559 DOI: 10.1038/nmat4972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
For an organism to develop and maintain homeostasis, cell types with distinct functions must often be separated by physical boundaries. The formation and maintenance of such boundaries are commonly attributed to mechanisms restricted to the cells lining the boundary. Here we show that, besides these local subcellular mechanisms, the formation and maintenance of tissue boundaries involves long-lived, long-ranged mechanical events. Following contact between two epithelial monolayers expressing, respectively, EphB2 and its ligand ephrinB1, both monolayers exhibit oscillatory patterns of traction forces and intercellular stresses that tend to pull cell-matrix adhesions away from the boundary. With time, monolayers jam, accompanied by the emergence of deformation waves that propagate away from the boundary. This phenomenon is not specific to EphB2/ephrinB1 repulsion but is also present during the formation of boundaries with an inert interface and during fusion of homotypic epithelial layers. Our findings thus unveil a global physical mechanism that sustains tissue separation independently of the biochemical and mechanical features of the local tissue boundary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Agustí Brugués
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | | | - Vito Conte
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Guiomar Solanas
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Batlle
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Pere Roca-Cusachs
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sunyer
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence to: ,
| | - Xavier Trepat
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence to: ,
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Enhua H. Zhou
- Ophthalmology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Raimon Sunyer
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Baldiri-Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Sunyer R, Conte V, Escribano J, Elosegui-Artola A, Labernadie A, Valon L, Navajas D, Garcia-Aznar JM, Munoz JJ, Roca-Cusachs P, Trepat X. Collective cell durotaxis emerges from long-range intercellular force transmission. Science 2016; 353:1157-61. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf7119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 387] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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García S, Sunyer R, Olivares A, Noailly J, Atencia J, Trepat X. Generation of stable orthogonal gradients of chemical concentration and substrate stiffness in a microfluidic device. Lab Chip 2015; 15:2606-14. [PMID: 25977997 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00140d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cellular responses to chemical cues are at the core of a myriad of fundamental biological processes ranging from embryonic development to cancer metastasis. Most of these biological processes are also influenced by mechanical cues such as the stiffness of the extracellular matrix. How a biological function is influenced by a synergy between chemical concentration and extracellular matrix stiffness is largely unknown, however, because no current strategy enables the integration of both types of cues in a single experiment. Here we present a robust microfluidic device that generates a stable, linear and diffusive chemical gradient over a biocompatible hydrogel with a well-defined stiffness gradient. Device fabrication relies on patterned PSA (Pressure Sensitive Adhesive) stacks that can be implemented with minimal cost and lab equipment. This technique is suitable for long-term observation of cell migration and application of traction force microscopy. We validate our device by testing MDCK cell scattering in response to perpendicular gradients of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and substrate stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- S García
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Elosegui-Artola A, Bazellières E, Allen MD, Andreu I, Oria R, Sunyer R, Gomm JJ, Marshall JF, Jones JL, Trepat X, Roca-Cusachs P. Rigidity sensing and adaptation through regulation of integrin types. Nat Mater 2014; 13:631-7. [PMID: 24793358 PMCID: PMC4031069 DOI: 10.1038/nmat3960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Tissue rigidity regulates processes in development, cancer and wound healing. However, how cells detect rigidity, and thereby modulate their behaviour, remains unknown. Here, we show that sensing and adaptation to matrix rigidity in breast myoepithelial cells is determined by the bond dynamics of different integrin types. Cell binding to fibronectin through either α5β1 integrins (constitutively expressed) or αvβ6 integrins (selectively expressed in cancer and development) adapts force generation, actin flow and integrin recruitment to rigidities associated with healthy or malignant tissue, respectively. In vitro experiments and theoretical modelling further demonstrate that this behaviour is explained by the different binding and unbinding rates of both integrin types to fibronectin. Moreover, rigidity sensing through differences in integrin bond dynamics applies both when integrins bind separately and when they compete for binding to fibronectin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Elosegui-Artola
- Centre for Tumour Biology Barts Cancer Institute - a Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence. Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Michael D. Allen
- Centre for Tumour Biology Barts Cancer Institute - a Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence. Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
| | - Ion Andreu
- CEIT and TECNUN (University of Navarra). Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Roger Oria
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sunyer
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jennifer J. Gomm
- Centre for Tumour Biology Barts Cancer Institute - a Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence. Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
| | - John F. Marshall
- Centre for Tumour Biology Barts Cancer Institute - a Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence. Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
| | - J. Louise Jones
- Centre for Tumour Biology Barts Cancer Institute - a Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence. Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
| | - Xavier Trepat
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Authors for correspondence: Pere Roca-Cusachs, PhD, Assistant professor, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia / University of Barcelona, C/ Baldiri i Reixac, 15-21, 08028, Barcelona Spain, Tel: (+34) 934 020 863, ; Xavier Trepat, PhD, ICREA Research Professor, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, C/ Baldiri i Reixac, 15-21, 08028, Barcelona Spain, Tel: (+34) 934 020 265,
| | - Pere Roca-Cusachs
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Authors for correspondence: Pere Roca-Cusachs, PhD, Assistant professor, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia / University of Barcelona, C/ Baldiri i Reixac, 15-21, 08028, Barcelona Spain, Tel: (+34) 934 020 863, ; Xavier Trepat, PhD, ICREA Research Professor, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, C/ Baldiri i Reixac, 15-21, 08028, Barcelona Spain, Tel: (+34) 934 020 265,
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Roca-Cusachs P, Sunyer R, Trepat X. Mechanical guidance of cell migration: lessons from chemotaxis. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2013; 25:543-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2013.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Sunyer R, Jin AJ, Nossal R, Sackett DL. Fabrication of hydrogels with steep stiffness gradients for studying cell mechanical response. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46107. [PMID: 23056241 PMCID: PMC3464269 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2012] [Accepted: 08/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many fundamental cell processes, such as angiogenesis, neurogenesis and cancer metastasis, are thought to be modulated by extracellular matrix stiffness. Thus, the availability of matrix substrates having well-defined stiffness profiles can be of great importance in biophysical studies of cell-substrate interaction. Here, we present a method to fabricate biocompatible hydrogels with a well defined and linear stiffness gradient. This method, involving the photopolymerization of films by progressively uncovering an acrylamide/bis-acrylamide solution initially covered with an opaque mask, can be easily implemented with common lab equipment. It produces linear stiffness gradients of at least 115 kPa/mm, extending from ∼1 kPa to 240 kPa (in units of Young's modulus). Hydrogels with less steep gradients and narrower stiffness ranges can easily be produced. The hydrogels can be covalently functionalized with uniform coatings of proteins that promote cell adhesion. Cell spreading on these hydrogels linearly correlates with hydrogel stiffness, indicating that this technique effectively modifies the mechanical environment of living cells. This technique provides a simple approach that produces steeper gradients, wider rigidity ranges, and more accurate profiles than current methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raimon Sunyer
- Program in Physical Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
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Sunyer R, Jin AJ, Nossal R, Sackett DL. Fabrication of Hydrogels with Gradient of Compliance: Application to Cell Mechanotaxis and Durotaxis. Biophys J 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.11.3077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
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Abstract
The cytoskeleton is a complex polymer network that regulates the structural stability of living cells. Although the cytoskeleton plays a key role in many important cell functions, the mechanisms that regulate its mechanical behaviour are poorly understood. Potential mechanisms include the entropic elasticity of cytoskeletal filaments, glassy-like inelastic rearrangements of cross-linking proteins and the activity of contractile molecular motors that sets the tensional stress (prestress) borne by the cytoskeleton filaments. The contribution of these mechanisms can be assessed by studying how cell mechanics depends on temperature. The aim of this work was to elucidate the effect of temperature on cell mechanics using atomic force microscopy. We measured the complex shear modulus (G*) of human alveolar epithelial cells over a wide frequency range (0.1-25.6 Hz) at different temperatures (13-37 degrees C). In addition, we probed cell prestress by mapping the contractile forces that cells exert on the substrate by means of traction microscopy. To assess the role of actomyosin contraction in the temperature-induced changes in G* and cell prestress, we inhibited the Rho kinase pathway of the myosin light chain phosphorylation with Y-27632. Our results show that with increasing temperature, cells become stiffer and more solid-like. Cell prestress also increases with temperature. Inhibiting actomyosin contraction attenuated the temperature dependence of G* and prestress. We conclude that the dependence of cell mechanics with temperature is dominated by the contractile activity of molecular motors.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Sunyer
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, 07110 Bunyola, Spain
| | - X Trepat
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, 07110 Bunyola, Spain
- Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J J Fredberg
- Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R Farré
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, 07110 Bunyola, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - D Navajas
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, 07110 Bunyola, Spain
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Sunyer R, Ritort F, Farré R, Navajas D. Thermal activation and ATP dependence of the cytoskeleton remodeling dynamics. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2009; 79:051920. [PMID: 19518493 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.79.051920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2008] [Revised: 02/12/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The cytoskeleton (CSK) is a nonequilibrium polymer network that uses hydrolyzable sources of free energy such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to remodel its internal structure. As in inert nonequilibrium soft materials, CSK remodeling has been associated with structural rearrangements driven by energy-activated processes. We carry out particle tracking and traction microscopy measurements of alveolar epithelial cells at various temperatures and ATP concentrations. We provide the first experimental evidence that the remodeling dynamics of the CSK is driven by structural rearrangements over free-energy barriers induced by thermally activated forces mediated by ATP. The measured activation energy of these forces is approximately 40k_{B}T_{r} ( k_{B} being the Boltzmann constant and T_{r} being the room temperature). Our experiments provide clues to understand the analogy between the dynamics of the living CSK and that of inert nonequilibrium soft materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Sunyer
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona and CIBER-Enfermedades Respiratorias, 08036 Barcelona, Spain and Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Rico F, Roca-Cusachs P, Sunyer R, Farré R, Navajas D. Cell dynamic adhesion and elastic properties probed with cylindrical atomic force microscopy cantilever tips. J Mol Recognit 2007; 20:459-66. [PMID: 17891755 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Cell adhesion is required for essential biological functions such as migration, tissue formation and wound healing, and it is mediated by individual molecules that bind specifically to ligands on other cells or on the extracellular matrix. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been successfully used to measure cell adhesion at both single molecule and whole cell levels. However, the measurement of inherent cell adhesion properties requires a constant cell-probe contact area during indentation, a requirement which is not fulfilled in common pyramidal or spherical AFM tips. We developed a procedure using focused ion beam (FIB) technology by which we modified silicon pyramidal AFM cantilever tips to obtain flat-ended cylindrical tips with a constant and known area of contact. The tips were validated on elastic gels and living cells. Cylindrical tips showed a fairly linear force-indentation behaviour on both gels and cells for indentations >200 nm. Cylindrical tips coated with ligands were used to quantify inherent dynamic cell adhesion and elastic properties. Force, work of adhesion and elasticity showed a marked dynamic response. In contrast, the deformation applied to the cells before rupture was fairly constant within the probed dynamic range. Taken together, these results suggest that the dynamic adhesion strength is counterbalanced by the dynamic elastic response to keep a constant cell deformation regardless of the applied pulling rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Rico
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
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Roca-Cusachs P, Almendros I, Sunyer R, Gavara N, Farré R, Navajas D. Rheology of passive and adhesion-activated neutrophils probed by atomic force microscopy. Biophys J 2006; 91:3508-18. [PMID: 16891365 PMCID: PMC1614490 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.106.088831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The rheology of neutrophils in their passive and activated states plays a key role in determining their function in response to inflammatory stimuli. Atomic force microscopy was used to study neutrophil rheology by measuring the complex shear modulus G*(omega) of passive nonadhered rat neutrophils on poly(HEMA) and neutrophils activated through adhesion to glass. G*(omega) was measured over three frequency decades (0.1-102.4 Hz) by indenting the cells 500 nm with a spherical tip and then applying a 50-nm amplitude multi-frequency signal. G*(omega) of both passive and adhered neutrophils increased as a power law with frequency, with a coupling between elastic (G') and loss (G'') moduli. For passive neutrophils at 1.6 Hz, G' = 380 +/- 121 Pa, whereas G'' was fourfold smaller and the power law coefficient was of x = 1.184. Adhered neutrophils were over twofold stiffer with a lower slope (x = 1.148). This behavior was adequately described by the power law structural damping model but not by liquid droplet and Kelvin models. The increase in stiffness with frequency may modulate neutrophil transit, arrest, and transmigration in vascular microcirculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pere Roca-Cusachs
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona-IDIBAPS, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
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Gavara N, Sunyer R, Roca-Cusachs P, Farré R, Rotger M, Navajas D. Thrombin-induced contraction in alveolar epithelial cells probed by traction microscopy. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2006; 101:512-20. [PMID: 16675616 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00185.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Contractile tension of alveolar epithelial cells plays a major role in the force balance that regulates the structural integrity of the alveolar barrier. The aim of this work was to study thrombin-induced contractile forces of alveolar epithelial cells. A549 alveolar epithelial cells were challenged with thrombin, and time course of contractile forces was measured by traction microscopy. The cells exhibited basal contraction with total force magnitude 55.0 ± 12.0 nN (mean ± SE, n = 12). Traction forces were exerted predominantly at the cell periphery and pointed to the cell center. Thrombin (1 U/ml) induced a fast and sustained 2.5-fold increase in traction forces, which maintained peripheral and centripetal distribution. Actin fluorescent staining revealed F-actin polymerization and enhancement of peripheral actin rim. Disruption of actin cytoskeleton with cytochalasin D (5 μM, 30 min) and inhibition of myosin light chain kinase with ML-7 (10 μM, 30 min) and Rho kinase with Y-27632 (10 μM, 30 min) markedly depressed basal contractile tone and abolished thrombin-induced cell contraction. Therefore, the contractile response of alveolar epithelial cells to the inflammatory agonist thrombin was mediated by actin cytoskeleton remodeling and actomyosin activation through myosin light chain kinase and Rho kinase signaling pathways. Thrombin-induced contractile tension might further impair alveolar epithelial barrier integrity in the injured lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Gavara
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina-Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
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Gavara N, Puig F, Sunyer R, Farré R, Navajas D. Effects of dexamethasone in contraction of alveolar epithelial cells. J Biomech 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9290(06)85415-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Puig F, Gavara N, Sunyer R, Navajas D, Farré R. Dexamethasone induces stiffening of alveolar epithelial cells. J Biomech 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9290(06)85461-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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