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Hoffman JR, Park HJ, Bheri S, Platt MO, Hare JM, Kaushal S, Bettencourt JL, Lai D, Slesnick TC, Mahle WT, Davis ME. Statistical modeling of extracellular vesicle cargo to predict clinical trial outcomes for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. iScience 2023; 26:107980. [PMID: 37868626 PMCID: PMC10589850 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107980] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac-derived c-kit+ progenitor cells (CPCs) are under investigation in the CHILD phase I clinical trial (NCT03406884) for the treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The therapeutic efficacy of CPCs can be attributed to the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs). To understand sources of cell therapy variability we took a machine learning approach: combining bulk CPC-derived EV (CPC-EV) RNA sequencing and cardiac-relevant in vitro experiments to build a predictive model. We isolated CPCs from cardiac biopsies of patients with congenital heart disease (n = 29) and the lead-in patients with HLHS in the CHILD trial (n = 5). We sequenced CPC-EVs, and measured EV inflammatory, fibrotic, angiogeneic, and migratory responses. Overall, CPC-EV RNAs involved in pro-reparative outcomes had a significant fit to cardiac development and signaling pathways. Using a model trained on previously collected CPC-EVs, we predicted in vitro outcomes for the CHILD clinical samples. Finally, CPC-EV angiogenic performance correlated to clinical improvements in right ventricle performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R. Hoffman
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine & Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Molecular & Systems Pharmacology Graduate Training Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Hyun-Ji Park
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine & Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sruti Bheri
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine & Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine & Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Joshua M. Hare
- Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Sunjay Kaushal
- Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Judith L. Bettencourt
- Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dejian Lai
- Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Timothy C. Slesnick
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Children’s Heart Research & Outcomes (HeRO) Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - William T. Mahle
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Children’s Heart Research & Outcomes (HeRO) Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Michael E. Davis
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine & Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Molecular & Systems Pharmacology Graduate Training Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Children’s Heart Research & Outcomes (HeRO) Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Filan C, Song H, Platt MO, Robles FE. Analysis of structural effects of sickle cell disease on brain vasculature of mice using three-dimensional quantitative phase imaging. J Biomed Opt 2023; 28:096501. [PMID: 37692563 PMCID: PMC10491933 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.28.9.096501] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Significance Although the molecular origins of sickle cell disease (SCD) have been extensively studied, the effects of SCD on the vasculature-which can influence blood clotting mechanisms, pain crises, and strokes-are not well understood. Improving this understanding can yield insight into the mechanisms and wide-ranging effects of this devastating disease. Aim We aim to demonstrate the ability of a label-free 3D quantitative phase imaging technology, called quantitative oblique back-illumination microscopy (qOBM), to provide insight into the effects of SCD on brain vasculature. Approach Using qOBM, we quantitatively analyze the vasculature of freshly excised, but otherwise unaltered, whole mouse brains. We use Townes sickle transgenic mice, which closely recapitulate the pathophysiology of human SCD, and sickle cell trait mice as controls. Two developmental time points are studied: 6-week-old mice and 20-week-old mice. Quantitative structural and biophysical parameters of the vessels (including the refractive index (RI), which is linearly proportional to dry mass) are extracted from the high-resolution images and analyzed. Results qOBM reveals structural differences in the brain blood vessel thickness (thinner for SCD in particular brain regions) and the RI of the vessel wall (higher and containing a larger variation throughout the brain for SCD). These changes were only significant in 20-week-old mice. Further, vessel breakages are observed in SCD mice at both time points. The vessel wall RI distribution near these breaks, up to 350 μ m away from the breaking point, shows an erratic behavior characterized by wide RI variations. Vessel diameter, tortuosity, texture within the vessel, and structural fractal patterns are found to not be statistically different. As with vessel breaks, we also observe blood vessel blockages only in mice brains with SCD. Conclusions qOBM provides insight into the biophysical and structural composition of brain blood vessels in mice with SCD. Data suggest that the RI may be an indirect indicator of vessel rigidity, vessel strength, and/or tensions, which change with SCD. Future ex vivo and in vivo studies with qOBM could improve our understanding of SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Filan
- Georgia Institute of Technology, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Hannah Song
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Francisco E. Robles
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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Treviño EA, Shah J, Pearson JJ, Platt MO, Xia Y, Temenoff JS. Microfluidic Platform for Microparticle Fabrication and Release of a Cathepsin Inhibitor. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2023; 29:361-370. [PMID: 37409411 PMCID: PMC10442676 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2023.0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cathepsins are a family of cysteine proteases responsible for a variety of homeostatic functions throughout the body, including extracellular matrix remodeling, and have been implicated in a variety of degenerative diseases. However, clinical trials using systemic administration of cathepsin inhibitors have been abandoned due to side effects, so local delivery of cathepsin inhibitors may be advantageous. In these experiments, a novel microfluidic device platform was developed that can synthesize uniform, hydrolytically degradable microparticles from a combination of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and dithiothreitol (DTT). Of the formulations examined, the 10-polymer weight percentage 10 mM DTT formulation degraded after 77 days in vitro. A modified assay using the DQ Gelatin Fluorogenic Substrate was used to demonstrate sustained release and bioactivity of a cathepsin inhibitor (E-64) released from hydrogel microparticles over 2 weeks in vitro (up to ∼13 μg/mL released with up to ∼40% original level of inhibition remaining at day 14). Altogether, the technologies developed in this study will allow a small-molecule, broad cathepsin inhibitor E-64 to be released in a sustained manner for localized inhibition of cathepsins for a wide variety of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elda A. Treviño
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech/Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jimmy Shah
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech/Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joseph J. Pearson
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech/Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech/Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Younan Xia
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech/Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Johnna S. Temenoff
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech/Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Adler FR, Anderson ARA, Bhushan A, Bogdan P, Bravo-Cordero JJ, Brock A, Chen Y, Cukierman E, DelGiorno KE, Denis GV, Ferrall-Fairbanks MC, Gartner ZJ, Germain RN, Gordon DM, Hunter G, Jolly MK, Karacosta LG, Mythreye K, Katira P, Kulkarni RP, Kutys ML, Lander AD, Laughney AM, Levine H, Lou E, Lowenstein PR, Masters KS, Pe'er D, Peyton SR, Platt MO, Purvis JE, Quon G, Richer JK, Riddle NC, Rodriguez A, Snyder JC, Lee Szeto G, Tomlin CJ, Yanai I, Zervantonakis IK, Dueck H. Modeling collective cell behavior in cancer: Perspectives from an interdisciplinary conversation. Cell Syst 2023; 14:252-257. [PMID: 37080161 PMCID: PMC10760508 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Collective cell behavior contributes to all stages of cancer progression. Understanding how collective behavior emerges through cell-cell interactions and decision-making will advance our understanding of cancer biology and provide new therapeutic approaches. Here, we summarize an interdisciplinary discussion on multicellular behavior in cancer, draw lessons from other scientific disciplines, and identify future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick R Adler
- Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Alexander R A Anderson
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Abhinav Bhushan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
| | - Paul Bogdan
- Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Jose Javier Bravo-Cordero
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Amy Brock
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Edna Cukierman
- Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Kathleen E DelGiorno
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Gerald V Denis
- Boston University-Boston Medical Center Cancer Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Meghan C Ferrall-Fairbanks
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Zev Jordan Gartner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; NSF Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ronald N Germain
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Deborah M Gordon
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ginger Hunter
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Loukia Georgiou Karacosta
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Karthikeyan Mythreye
- Department of Pathology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Parag Katira
- Mechanical Engineering Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA; Computational Sciences Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Rajan P Kulkarni
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Department Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Department Oncological Sciences, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Operative Care Division, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Matthew L Kutys
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arthur D Lander
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ashley M Laughney
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Emil Lou
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Pedro R Lowenstein
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rogel Cancer Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Rogel Cancer Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kristyn S Masters
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Dana Pe'er
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jeremy E Purvis
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Gerald Quon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jennifer K Richer
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Nicole C Riddle
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Analiz Rodriguez
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Joshua C Snyder
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Gregory Lee Szeto
- Allen Institute for Immunology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Seagen, Bothell, WA 98021, USA
| | - Claire J Tomlin
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Itai Yanai
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Ioannis K Zervantonakis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Hannah Dueck
- Division of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
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Peyton SR, Platt MO, Cukierman E. Challenges and Opportunities Modeling the Dynamic Tumor Matrisome. BME Front 2023; 4:0006. [PMID: 37849664 PMCID: PMC10521682 DOI: 10.34133/bmef.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We need novel strategies to target the complexity of cancer and, particularly, of metastatic disease. As an example of this complexity, certain tissues are particularly hospitable environments for metastases, whereas others do not contain fertile microenvironments to support cancer cell growth. Continuing evidence that the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues is one of a host of factors necessary to support cancer cell growth at both primary and secondary tissue sites is emerging. Research on cancer metastasis has largely been focused on the molecular adaptations of tumor cells in various cytokine and growth factor environments on 2-dimensional tissue culture polystyrene plates. Intravital imaging, conversely, has transformed our ability to watch, in real time, tumor cell invasion, intravasation, extravasation, and growth. Because the interstitial ECM that supports all cells in the tumor microenvironment changes over time scales outside the possible window of typical intravital imaging, bioengineers are continuously developing both simple and sophisticated in vitro controlled environments to study tumor (and other) cell interactions with this matrix. In this perspective, we focus on the cellular unit responsible for upholding the pathologic homeostasis of tumor-bearing organs, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and their self-generated ECM. The latter, together with tumoral and other cell secreted factors, constitute the "tumor matrisome". We share the challenges and opportunities for modeling this dynamic CAF/ECM unit, the tools and techniques available, and how the tumor matrisome is remodeled (e.g., via ECM proteases). We posit that increasing information on tumor matrisome dynamics may lead the field to alternative strategies for personalized medicine outside genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Edna Cukierman
- Cancer Signaling & Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Maughon TS, Shen X, Huang D, Michael AOA, Shockey WA, Andrews SH, McRae JM, Platt MO, Fernández FM, Edison AS, Stice SL, Marklein RA. Metabolomics and cytokine profiling of mesenchymal stromal cells identify markers predictive of T-cell suppression. Cytotherapy 2021; 24:137-148. [PMID: 34696960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown great promise in the field of regenerative medicine, as many studies have shown that MSCs possess immunomodulatory function. Despite this promise, no MSC therapies have been licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. This lack of successful clinical translation is due in part to MSC heterogeneity and a lack of critical quality attributes. Although MSC indoleamine 2,3-dioxygnease (IDO) activity has been shown to correlate with MSC function, multiple predictive markers may be needed to better predict MSC function. METHODS Three MSC lines (two bone marrow-derived, one induced pluripotent stem cell-derived) were expanded to three passages. At the time of harvest for each passage, cell pellets were collected for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (MS), and media were collected for cytokine profiling. Harvested cells were also cryopreserved for assessing function using T-cell proliferation and IDO activity assays. Linear regression was performed on functional data against NMR, MS and cytokines to reduce the number of important features, and partial least squares regression (PLSR) was used to obtain predictive markers of T-cell suppression based on variable importance in projection scores. RESULTS Significant functional heterogeneity (in terms of T-cell suppression and IDO activity) was observed between the three MSC lines, as were donor-dependent differences based on passage. Omics characterization revealed distinct differences between cell lines using principal component analysis. Cell lines separated along principal component one based on tissue source (bone marrow-derived versus induced pluripotent stem cell-derived) for NMR, MS and cytokine profiles. PLSR modeling of important features predicted MSC functional capacity with NMR (R2 = 0.86), MS (R2 = 0.83), cytokines (R2 = 0.70) and a combination of all features (R2 = 0.88). CONCLUSIONS The work described here provides a platform for identifying markers for predicting MSC functional capacity using PLSR modeling that could be used as release criteria and guide future manufacturing strategies for MSCs and other cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ty S Maughon
- School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Xunan Shen
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Danning Huang
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Adeola O Adebayo Michael
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - W Andrew Shockey
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Seth H Andrews
- School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Jon M McRae
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Facundo M Fernández
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Arthur S Edison
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Steven L Stice
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
| | - Ross A Marklein
- School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
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Schwartz AD, Adusei A, Tsegaye S, Moskaluk CA, Schneider SS, Platt MO, Seifu D, Peyton SR, Babbitt CC. Genetic Mutations Associated with Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer in a Small Cohort of Ethiopian Women. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:1900-1908. [PMID: 34142276 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-021-02800-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In Ethiopia, a breast cancer diagnosis is associated with a prognosis significantly worse than that of Europe and the US. Further, patients presenting with breast cancer in Ethiopia are far younger, on average, and patients are typically diagnosed at very late stages, relative to breast cancer patients of European descent. Emerging data suggest that a large proportion of Ethiopian patients have hormone-positive (ER+) breast cancer. This is surprising given (1) that patients have late-stage breast cancer at the time of diagnosis, (2) that African Americans with breast cancer frequently have triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), and (3) these patients typically receive chemotherapy, not hormone-targeting drugs. To further examine the similarity of Ethiopian breast tumors to those of African Americans or of those of European descent, we sequenced matched tumor and normal adjacent tissue from Ethiopian patients from a small pilot collection. We identified mutations in 615 genes across all three patients, unique to the tumor tissue. Across this analysis, we found far more mutations shared between Ethiopian patient tissue and that from white patients (103) than we did comparing to African Americans (3). Several mutations were found in extracellular matrix encoding genes with known roles in tumor cell growth and metastasis. We suggest future mechanistic studies on this disease focus on these genes first, toward finding new treatment strategies for breast cancer patients in Ethiopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa D Schwartz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Afua Adusei
- Molecular and Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Solomon Tsegaye
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Sallie S Schneider
- Molecular and Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.,Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive, Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Daniel Seifu
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.,Department of Biochemistry, Division of Basic Sciences, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA. .,Molecular and Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA. .,Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Courtney C Babbitt
- Molecular and Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA. .,Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA. .,Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
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Bollavaram K, Leeman TH, Lee MW, Kulkarni A, Upshaw SG, Yang J, Song H, Platt MO. Multiple sites on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are susceptible to proteolysis by cathepsins B, K, L, S, and V. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1131-1143. [PMID: 33786919 PMCID: PMC8138523 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [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: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
SARS‐CoV‐2 is the coronavirus responsible for the COVID‐19 pandemic. Proteases are central to the infection process of SARS‐CoV‐2. Cleavage of the spike protein on the virus's capsid causes the conformational change that leads to membrane fusion and viral entry into the target cell. Since inhibition of one protease, even the dominant protease like TMPRSS2, may not be sufficient to block SARS‐CoV‐2 entry into cells, other proteases that may play an activating role and hydrolyze the spike protein must be identified. We identified amino acid sequences in all regions of spike protein, including the S1/S2 region critical for activation and viral entry, that are susceptible to cleavage by furin and cathepsins B, K, L, S, and V using PACMANS, a computational platform that identifies and ranks preferred sites of proteolytic cleavage on substrates, and verified with molecular docking analysis and immunoblotting to determine if binding of these proteases can occur on the spike protein that were identified as possible cleavage sites. Together, this study highlights cathepsins B, K, L, S, and V for consideration in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and presents methodologies by which other proteases can be screened to determine a role in viral entry. This highlights additional proteases to be considered in COVID‐19 studies, particularly regarding exacerbated damage in inflammatory preconditions where these proteases are generally upregulated. PDB Code(s): 6VYB, 4Z2A, 5F02, 4P6E, 5TUN, 2IPP and 3H6S;
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Affiliation(s)
- Keval Bollavaram
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tiffanie H Leeman
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Maggie W Lee
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Akhil Kulkarni
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sophia G Upshaw
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jiabei Yang
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Biomedical Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hannah Song
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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9
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Schreier DA, Hacker TA, Tabima DM, Platt MO, Chesler NC. Effects of Red Blood Cell Sickling on Right Ventricular Afterload in vivo. Exp Mech 2021; 61:229-235. [PMID: 33776073 PMCID: PMC7992815 DOI: 10.1007/s11340-020-00669-3] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemolysis in sickle cell disease (SCD) releases cell free hemoglobin, which scavenges nitric oxide (NO), leading to pulmonary vascular vasoconstriction, increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and the development of PH. However, PVR is only one component of right ventricular (RV) afterload. Whether sickled red blood cells increase the total RV afterload, including compliance and wave reflections, is unclear. OBJECTIVE Patients with SCD and pulmonary hypertension (PH) have a significantly increased risk of sudden death compared to patients with SCD alone. Sickled red blood cells (RBCs) are fragile and lyse easily. Here, we sought to determine the acute effects of SCD RBCs and increased cell free hemoglobin on RV afterload. METHODS Main pulmonary artery pressures and flows were measured in C57BL6 mice before and after exchanges of whole blood (~200 uL, Hct=45%) with an equal volume of SCD RBCs in plasma (Hct=45%) or cell free hemoglobin (Hb+) in solution. After transfusions, animals were additionally stressed with acute hypoxia (AH; 10% O2). RESULTS SCD RBCs increased PVR only compared to control RBCs; cell free hemoglobin increased PVR and wave reflections. These increases in RV afterload increased further with AH. CONCLUSIONS The release of cell free hemoglobin from fragile SCD RBCs in vivo increases the total RV afterload and may impair RV function more than the SCD RBCs themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Schreier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin, 2146 ECB, 1550 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706
| | - T A Hacker
- Department of Medicine 1685 Highland Avenue, 5158 Medical Foundation Centennial Building, Madison, WI 53705-2281
| | - D M Tabima
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin, 2146 ECB, 1550 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706
| | - M O Platt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Georgia Tech, Engineered Biosystems Building, 950 Atlantic Drive, Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA 30332
| | - N C Chesler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin, 2146 ECB, 1550 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706
- Department of Medicine 1685 Highland Avenue, 5158 Medical Foundation Centennial Building, Madison, WI 53705-2281
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10
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Douglas SA, Haase K, Kamm RD, Platt MO. Cysteine cathepsins are altered by flow within an engineered in vitro microvascular niche. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:046102. [PMID: 33195960 PMCID: PMC7644274 DOI: 10.1063/5.0023342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout the process of vascular growth and remodeling, the extracellular matrix (ECM) concurrently undergoes significant changes due to proteolytic activity—regulated by both endothelial and surrounding stromal cells. The role of matrix metalloproteinases has been well-studied in the context of vascular remodeling, but other proteases, such as cysteine cathepsins, could also facilitate ECM remodeling. To investigate cathepsin-mediated proteolysis in vascular ECM remodeling, and to understand the role of shear flow in this process, in vitro microvessels were cultured in previously designed microfluidic chips and assessed by immunostaining, zymography, and western blotting. Primary human vessels (HUVECs and fibroblasts) were conditioned by continuous fluid flow and/or small molecule inhibitors to probe cathepsin expression and activity. Luminal flow (in contrast to static culture) decreases the activity of cathepsins in microvessel systems, despite a total protein increase, due to a concurrent increase in the endogenous inhibitor cystatin C. Observations also demonstrate that cathepsins mostly co-localize with fibroblasts, and that fibrin (the hydrogel substrate) may stabilize cathepsin activity in the system. Inhibitor studies suggest that control over cathepsin-mediated ECM remodeling could contribute to improved maintenance of in vitro microvascular networks; however, further investigation is required. Understanding the role of cathepsin activity in in vitro microvessels and other engineered tissues will be important for future regenerative medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone A Douglas
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | | | - Roger D Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
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11
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Saha P, Sharma S, Korutla L, Datla SR, Shoja-Taheri F, Mishra R, Bigham GE, Sarkar M, Morales D, Bittle G, Gunasekaran M, Ambastha C, Arfat MY, Li D, Habertheuer A, Hu R, Platt MO, Yang P, Davis ME, Vallabhajosyula P, Kaushal S. Circulating exosomes derived from transplanted progenitor cells aid the functional recovery of ischemic myocardium. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/493/eaau1168. [PMID: 31118291 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aau1168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The stem cell field is hindered by its inability to noninvasively monitor transplanted cells within the target organ in a repeatable, time-sensitive, and condition-specific manner. We hypothesized that quantifying and characterizing transplanted cell-derived exosomes in the recipient plasma would enable reliable, noninvasive surveillance of the conditional activity of the transplanted cells. To test this hypothesis, we used a human-into-rat xenogeneic myocardial infarction model comparing two well-studied progenitor cell types: cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) and c-kit+ cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs), both derived from the right atrial appendage of adults undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. CPCs outperformed the CDCs in cell-based and in vivo regenerative assays. To noninvasively monitor the activity of transplanted CDCs or CPCs in vivo, we purified progenitor cell-specific exosomes from recipient total plasma exosomes. Seven days after transplantation, the concentration of plasma CPC-specific exosomes increased about twofold compared to CDC-specific exosomes. Computational pathway analysis failed to link CPC or CDC cellular messenger RNA (mRNA) with observed myocardial recovery, although recovery was linked to the microRNA (miRNA) cargo of CPC exosomes purified from recipient plasma. We further identified mechanistic pathways governing specific outcomes related to myocardial recovery associated with transplanted CPCs. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the potential of circulating progenitor cell-specific exosomes as a liquid biopsy that provides a noninvasive window into the conditional state of the transplanted cells. These data implicate the surveillance potential of cell-specific exosomes for allogeneic cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Progyaparamita Saha
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Sudhish Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Laxminarayana Korutla
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Srinivasa Raju Datla
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Farnaz Shoja-Taheri
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering and Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Rachana Mishra
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Grace E Bigham
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Malini Sarkar
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - David Morales
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Gregory Bittle
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Muthukumar Gunasekaran
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Chetan Ambastha
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Mir Yasir Arfat
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Deqiang Li
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Andreas Habertheuer
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Robert Hu
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering and Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Peixin Yang
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Michael E Davis
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering and Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | - Sunjay Kaushal
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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12
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Ross Ethier C, Caro CG, Diller KR, Guldberg RE, Kamm RD, Platt MO, Yoganathan AP. In Memoriam Robert M. Nerem, 1937–2020. J Biomech Eng 2020. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4046990] [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: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Ross Ethier
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30313
| | - Colin G. Caro
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Kenneth R. Diller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Robert E. Guldberg
- Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, The University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Departments of Biological Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332
| | - Ajit P. Yoganathan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332
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13
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Song H, Keegan PM, Anbazhakan S, Rivera CP, Feng Y, Omojola VO, Clark AA, Cai S, Selma J, Gleason RL, Botchwey EA, Huo Y, Tan W, Platt MO. Sickle Cell Anemia Mediates Carotid Artery Expansive Remodeling That Can Be Prevented by Inhibition of JNK (c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase). Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020; 40:1220-1230. [PMID: 32160775 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.120.314045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sickle cell anemia (SCA) causes chronic inflammation and multiorgan damage. Less understood are the arterial complications, most evident by increased strokes among children. Proteolytic mechanisms, biomechanical consequences, and pharmaceutical inhibitory strategies were studied in a mouse model to provide a platform for mechanistic and intervention studies of large artery damage due to sickle cell disease. Approach and Results: Townes humanized transgenic mouse model of SCA was used to test the hypothesis that elastic lamina and structural damage in carotid arteries increased with age and was accelerated in mice homozygous for SCA (sickle cell anemia homozygous genotype [SS]) due to inflammatory signaling pathways activating proteolytic enzymes. Elastic lamina fragmentation observed by 1 month in SS mice compared with heterozygous littermate controls (sickle cell trait heterozygous genotype [AS]). Positive immunostaining for cathepsin K, a powerful collagenase and elastase, confirmed accelerated proteolytic activity in SS carotids. Larger cross-sectional areas were quantified by magnetic resonance angiography and increased arterial compliance in SS carotids were also measured. Inhibiting JNK (c-jun N-terminal kinase) signaling with SP600125 significantly reduced cathepsin K expression, elastin fragmentation, and carotid artery perimeters in SS mice. By 5 months of age, continued medial thinning and collagen degradation was mitigated by treatment of SS mice with JNK inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS Arterial remodeling due to SCA is mediated by JNK signaling, cathepsin proteolytic upregulation, and degradation of elastin and collagen. Demonstration in Townes mice establishes their utility for mechanistic studies of arterial vasculopathy, related complications, and therapeutic interventions for large artery damage due to SCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Song
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
| | - Philip M Keegan
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
| | - Suhaas Anbazhakan
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
| | - Christian P Rivera
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.).,Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science at Peking University, Beijing, China (C.P.R., Y.F., Y.H., W.T.)
| | - Yundi Feng
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science at Peking University, Beijing, China (C.P.R., Y.F., Y.H., W.T.)
| | - Victor O Omojola
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
| | - Alexus A Clark
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
| | - Shuangyi Cai
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
| | - Jada Selma
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
| | - Rudolph L Gleason
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.).,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
| | - Edward A Botchwey
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.).,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
| | - Yunlong Huo
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science at Peking University, Beijing, China (C.P.R., Y.F., Y.H., W.T.)
| | - Wenchang Tan
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science at Peking University, Beijing, China (C.P.R., Y.F., Y.H., W.T.)
| | - Manu O Platt
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta (H.S., P.M.K., S.A., C.P.R., V.O.O., A.A.C., S.C., J.S., R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.).,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (R.L.G., E.A.B., M.O.P.)
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14
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Barney LE, Hall CL, Schwartz AD, Parks AN, Sparages C, Galarza S, Platt MO, Mercurio AM, Peyton SR. Tumor cell-organized fibronectin maintenance of a dormant breast cancer population. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eaaz4157. [PMID: 32195352 PMCID: PMC7065904 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz4157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Tumors can undergo long periods of dormancy, with cancer cells entering a largely quiescent, nonproliferative state before reactivation and outgrowth. To understand the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in regulating tumor dormancy, we created an in vitro cell culture system with carefully controlled ECM substrates to observe entrance into and exit from dormancy with live imaging. We saw that cell populations capable of surviving entrance into long-term dormancy were heterogeneous, containing quiescent, cell cycle-arrested, and actively proliferating cells. Cell populations capable of entering dormancy formed an organized, fibrillar fibronectin matrix via αvβ3 and α5β1 integrin adhesion, ROCK-generated tension, and TGFβ2 stimulation, and cancer cell outgrowth after dormancy required MMP-2-mediated fibronectin degradation. We propose this approach as a useful, in vitro method to study factors important in regulating dormancy, and we used it here to elucidate a role for fibronectin deposition and MMP activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Barney
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Christopher L. Hall
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Alyssa D. Schwartz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Akia N. Parks
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Christopher Sparages
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Sualyneth Galarza
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Arthur M. Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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15
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Trac D, Hoffman JR, Bheri S, Maxwell JT, Platt MO, Davis ME. Predicting Functional Responses of Progenitor Cell Exosome Potential with Computational Modeling. Stem Cells Transl Med 2019; 8:1212-1221. [PMID: 31385648 PMCID: PMC6811701 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.19-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease can lead to severe right ventricular heart failure (RVHF). We have shown that aggregated c‐kit+ progenitor cells (CPCs) can improve RVHF repair, likely due to exosome‐mediated effects. Here, we demonstrate that miRNA content from monolayer (2D) and aggregated (3D) CPC exosomes can be related to in vitro angiogenesis and antifibrosis responses using partial least squares regression (PLSR). PLSR reduced the dimensionality of the data set to the top 40 miRNAs with the highest weighted coefficients for the in vitro biological responses. Target pathway analysis of these top 40 miRNAs demonstrated significant fit to cardiac angiogenesis and fibrosis pathways. Although the model was trained on in vitro data, we demonstrate that the model can predict angiogenesis and fibrosis responses to exosome treatment in vivo with a strong correlation with published in vivo responses. These studies demonstrate that PLSR modeling of exosome miRNA content has the potential to inform preclinical trials and predict new promising CPC therapies. stem cells translational medicine2019;8:1212–1221
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Affiliation(s)
- David Trac
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jessica R Hoffman
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sruti Bheri
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joshua T Maxwell
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael E Davis
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Children's Heart Research & Outcomes (HeRO) Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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16
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Grant L, Raman R, Cvetkovic C, Ferrall-Fairbanks MC, Pagan-Diaz GJ, Hadley P, Ko E, Platt MO, Bashir R. Long-Term Cryopreservation and Revival of Tissue-Engineered Skeletal Muscle. Tissue Eng Part A 2019; 25:1023-1036. [PMID: 30412045 PMCID: PMC6916121 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2018.0202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT The ability to freeze, revive, and prolong the lifetime of tissue-engineered skeletal muscle without incurring any loss of function represents a significant advancement in the field of tissue engineering. Cryopreservation enables the efficient fabrication, storage, and shipment of these tissues. This in turn facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration between research groups, enabling advances in skeletal muscle regenerative medicine, organ-on-a-chip models of disease, drug testing, and soft robotics. Furthermore, the observation that freezing undifferentiated skeletal muscle enhances functional performance may motivate future studies developing stronger and more clinically relevant engineered muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Grant
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
- Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Ritu Raman
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Caroline Cvetkovic
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
- Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Meghan C. Ferrall-Fairbanks
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Gelson J. Pagan-Diaz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
- Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Pierce Hadley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Eunkyung Ko
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
- Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Rashid Bashir
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
- Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
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17
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Shockey WA, Kieslich CA, Wilder CL, Watson V, Platt MO. Dynamic Model of Protease State and Inhibitor Trafficking to Predict Protease Activity in Breast Cancer Cells. Cell Mol Bioeng 2019; 12:275-288. [PMID: 31719914 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-019-00580-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 01/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cysteine cathepsins are implicated in breast cancer progression, produced by both transformed epithelial cells and infiltrated stromal cells in tumors, but to date, no cathepsin inhibitor has been approved for clinical use due to unexpected side effects. This study explores cellular feedback to cathepsin inhibitors that might yield non-intuitive responses, and uses computational models to determine underlying cathepsin-inhibitor dynamics. Methods MDA-MB-231 cells treated with E64 were tested by multiplex cathepsin zymography and immunoblotting to quantify total, active, and inactive cathepsins S and L. This data was used to parameterize mathematical models of intracellular free and inhibited cathepsins, and then applied to a dynamic model predicting cathepsin responses to other classes of cathepsin inhibitors that have also failed clinical trials. Results E64 treated cells exhibited increased amounts of active cathepsin S and reduced amount of active cathepsin L, although E64 binds tightly to both. This inhibitor response was not unique to cancer cells or any one cell type, suggesting an underlying fundamental mechanism of E64 preserving activity of cathepsin S, but not cathepsin L. Computational models were able to predict and differentiate between inhibitor-bound, active, and inactive cathepsin species and demonstrate how different classes of cathepsin inhibitors can have drastically divergent effects on active cathepsins located in different intracellular compartments. Conclusions Together, this work has important implications for the development of mathematical model systems for protease inhibition in tissue destructive diseases, and consideration of preservation mechanisms by inhibitors that could alter perceived benefits of these treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Andrew Shockey
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive, Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Christopher A Kieslich
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive, Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Catera L Wilder
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive, Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Valencia Watson
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive, Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive, Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
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18
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Shoja-Taheri F, George A, Agarwal U, Platt MO, Gibson G, Davis ME. Using Statistical Modeling to Understand and Predict Pediatric Stem Cell Function. Circ Genom Precis Med 2019; 12:e002403. [PMID: 31100989 PMCID: PMC6581595 DOI: 10.1161/circgen.118.002403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital heart defects are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children, and despite advanced surgical treatments, many patients progress to heart failure. Currently, transplantation is the only effective cure and is limited by donor availability and organ rejection. Recently, cell therapy has emerged as a novel method for treating pediatric heart failure with several ongoing clinical trials. However, efficacy of stem cell therapy is variable, and choosing stem cells with the highest reparative effects has been a challenge. METHODS We previously demonstrated the age-dependent reparative effects of human c-kit+ progenitor cells (hCPCs) in a rat model of juvenile heart failure. Using a small subset of patient samples, computational modeling analysis showed that regression models could be made linking sequencing data to phenotypic outcomes. In the current study, we used a similar quantitative model to determine whether predictions can be made in a larger population of patients and validated the model using neonatal hCPCs. We performed RNA sequencing from c-kit+ progenitor cells isolated from 32 patients, including 8 neonatal samples. We tested 2 functional parameters of our model, cellular proliferation and chemotactic potential of conditioned media. RESULTS Interestingly, the observed proliferation and migration responses in each of the selected neonatal hCPC lines matched their predicted counterparts. We then performed canonical pathway analysis to determine potential mechanistic signals that regulated hCPC performance and identified several immune response genes that correlated with performance. ELISA analysis confirmed the presence of selected cytokines in good performing hCPCs and provided many more signals to further validate. CONCLUSIONS These data show that cell behavior may be predicted using large datasets like RNA sequencing and that we may be able to identify patients whose c-kit+ progenitor cells exceed or underperform expectations. With systems biology approaches, interventions can be tailored to improve cell therapy or mimic the qualities of reparative cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Shoja-Taheri
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Alex George
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Udit Agarwal
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Greg Gibson
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | - Michael E. Davis
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
- Children’s Heart Research and Outcomes (HeRO) Center, Emory University & Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
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19
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Parks AN, Nahata J, Edouard NE, Temenoff JS, Platt MO. Sequential, but not Concurrent, Incubation of Cathepsin K and L with Type I Collagen Results in Extended Proteolysis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5399. [PMID: 30931961 PMCID: PMC6443789 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41782-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) during tendinopathy is, in part, mediated by the collagenolytic cathepsin K (catK) and cathepsin L (catL), with a temporal component to their activity. The objective of this study was to determine how catK and catL act in concert or in conflict to degrade collagen and tendon ECM during tissue degeneration. To do so, type I collagen gels or ECM extracted from apolipoprotein E deficient mouse Achilles tendons were incubated with catK and catL either concurrently or sequentially, incubating catK first, then catL after a delayed time period. Sequential incubation of catK then catL caused greater degradation of substrates over concurrent incubation, and of either cathepsin alone. Zymography showed there were reduced amounts of active enzymes when co-incubated, indicating that cannibalism, or protease-on-protease degradation between catK and catL was occurring, but incubation with ECM could distract from these interactions. CatK alone was sufficient to quickly degrade tendon ECM, but catL was not, requiring the presence of catK for degradation. Together, these data identify cooperative and conflicting actions of cathepsin mediated collagen matrix degradation by considering interactive effects of multiple proteases during tissue degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akia N Parks
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Juhi Nahata
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Naomi-Eliana Edouard
- Mathematics Department, Spelman College, 350 Spelman Ln, Atlanta, GA, 30314, USA
| | - Johnna S Temenoff
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. .,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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20
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Boyce AS, Avent C, Adetogun A, Servance L, DeStefano L, Nerem R, Platt MO. Implementation and evaluation of a biotechnology research experience for African-American high school students. Eval Program Plann 2019; 72:162-169. [PMID: 30366228 DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to science content and development of excitement for scientific inquiry throughout the high school years are imperative in attracting students into the sciences. The purpose of this article is to report lessons learned and share best practices from the implementation and evaluation of a high school STEM program that aims to provide an authentic research experience for African-American students and expose them to the possibility and benefits of attaining advanced degrees and careers in STEM fields. Participants reported that enriching science experiences improved their college readiness and exposed them to STEM degree and career options. Formative evaluation results lead to the following lessons learned for best practice: 1) Relationships with high schools will facilitate buy-in; 2) Setting clear expectations and assigning responsibilities is essential; 3) Diversity and cultural sensitivity training is necessary; and 4) Programs of this nature need strong evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha S Boyce
- Educational Research Methodology Department, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States.
| | - Cherie Avent
- Educational Research Methodology Department, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
| | - Adeyemo Adetogun
- Educational Research Methodology Department, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
| | - Lakeita Servance
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Lizanne DeStefano
- Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States; School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Robert Nerem
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Manu O Platt
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, United States
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21
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Treviño EA, McFaline-Figueroa J, Guldberg RE, Platt MO, Temenoff JS. Full-thickness rotator cuff tear in rat results in distinct temporal expression of multiple proteases in tendon, muscle, and cartilage. J Orthop Res 2019; 37:490-502. [PMID: 30457172 PMCID: PMC6947925 DOI: 10.1002/jor.24179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The etiology of joint tissue degeneration following rotator cuff tear remains unclear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to understand the timeline of protease activity in the soft tissues of the shoulder (tendon, muscle, and cartilage) that may lead to down-stream degeneration following rotator cuff tear. A well-established rat model involving suprascapular nerve denervation and supraspinatus/infraspinatus tendon transection was employed. Histological staining and/or micro-computed tomography (µCT) were used to observe structural damage in the supraspinatus tendon and muscle, humeral head cartilage, and subchondral bone. Multiplex gelatin zymography was utilized to assess protease activity in the supraspinatus tendon and muscle, and humeral head cartilage. Zymography analysis demonstrated that cathepsins were upregulated in the first week in all tissues, while MMP-2 maintained prolonged activity in supraspinatus tendon between 1 and 3 weeks and increased only at 3 weeks in supraspinatus muscle. In supraspinatus tendon, increased cathepsin L and MMP-2 activity in the first week was concurrent with matrix disorganization and infiltration of inflammatory cells. In contrast, significant upregulation of cathepsin L and K activity in supraspinatus muscle and humeral head cartilage did not correspond to any visible tissue damage at 1 week. However, focal defects developed in half of all animals' humeral head cartilage by 12 weeks (volume: 0.12 ± 0.09 mm3 ). This work provides a more comprehensive understanding of biochemical changes to joint tissue over time following rotator cuff tear. Overall, this provides insight into potential therapeutic targets and will better inform ideal intervention times and treatments for each tissue. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:490-502, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Robert E. Guldberg
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and
Bioscience,George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical
Engineering,Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and
Bioscience
| | - Johnna S. Temenoff
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical
Engineering,Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and
Bioscience
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22
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Shoja-Taheri F, George A, Platt MO, Davis ME. Abstract 477: Using Computational Models to Predict Stem Cell Function. Circ Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1161/res.123.suppl_1.477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are among the most common reasons of mortality in newborns and despite advanced surgical treatments, many patients experience heart failure. Currently, transplantation is the most effective cure for heart defects which has its own limitations such as the possibility of organ rejection. Stem cell/progenitor cell therapy is a novel method in treating heart failure in congenital heart patients. However, choosing stem cells with highest regenerative effects has been a challenge and there is tremendous patient-to-patient variability. We previously showed the age-dependent regenerative effects of human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) in a rat model of juvenile heart failure. In the same study, using a small subset of patients, computational modeling analysis showed that regression models could be made linking sequencing data to phenotypic outcomes. In the current study, we used that quantitative model to determine whether predictions can be made in a larger population of patients regarding cell function in neonatal hCPCs. The goal of this study was to validate the functional responses in each neonatal hCPC line and confirm our model. We performed RNAseq from CPCs isolated from 8 different neonatal patients. We tested 2 functional parameters of our model, proliferation and chemotactic potential of conditioned media using Click-it Edu and Boyden chamber assays, respectively. Interestingly, the observed proliferation and migration responses in each of the selected neonatal hCPC lines matched their predicted counterparts. Furthermore,
in vitro
analysis verified our model in that one of the neonate hCPCs performed far worse than other patients as predicted. Altogether, these data show that cell behavior may be predicted using large data like RNAseq, and that we may be able to identify patients that may exceed or underperform expectations. With systems biology approaches, interventions can be tailored to improve cell therapy, or mimic the qualities of reparative cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Manu O Platt
- Emory Univ and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
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23
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Avent CM, Boyce AS, Servance LD, DeStefano LA, Nerem RM, Platt MO. Implementation of a Biomedical Engineering Research Experience for African-American High School Students at a Tier One Research University. J Biomech Eng 2018; 140:2682438. [PMID: 30003257 DOI: 10.1115/1.4040310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Enriching science experiences and competencies for underrepresented students during high school years is crucial to increasing their entry into the science pipeline and to improving their preparedness for success in college and STEM careers. The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of project ENGAGES, a high school STEM year-long research program for African–American students, mentored by graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at Georgia Tech. It aims to provide an authentic research experience and expose student to the possibility and benefits of attaining an advanced degree and careers in STEM fields. Initial program outcomes include student reported satisfaction with research experience, improved technical skill development, and increased curiosity and interest in STEM careers. Additionally, students indicated increases in college readiness, research skill development, and exposure to STEM careers as a result of interactions with faculty advisors and graduate student mentors, along with laboratory assignments. Lessons learned and potential pitfalls and barriers to acceptance are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie M. Avent
- Department of Educational Research Methodology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 1300 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412 e-mail:
| | - Ayesha S. Boyce
- Department of Educational Research Methodology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 1300 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27412 e-mail:
| | - Lakeita D. Servance
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332 e-mail:
| | - Lizanne A. DeStefano
- Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, 817 W. Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30308 e-mail:
| | - Robert M. Nerem
- Fellow ASME Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Drive, NW, Atlanta, GA 30332 e-mail:
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 950 Atlantic Dr. Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA 30332 e-mail:
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24
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Douglas SA, Lamothe SE, Singleton TS, Averett RD, Platt MO. Human cathepsins K, L, and S: Related proteases, but unique fibrinolytic activity. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1862:1925-1932. [PMID: 29944896 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrin formation and dissolution are attributed to cascades of protease activation concluding with thrombin activation, and plasmin proteolysis for fibrin breakdown. Cysteine cathepsins are powerful proteases secreted by endothelial cells and others during cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Their fibrinolytic activity and putative role in hemostasis has not been well described. METHODS Fibrin gels were polymerized and incubated with recombinant human cathepsins (cat) K, L, or S, or plasmin, for dose-dependent and time-dependent studies. Dissolution of fibrin gels was imaged. SDS-PAGE was used to resolve cleaved fragments released from fibrin gels and remnant insoluble fibrin gel that was solubilized prior to electrophoresis to assess fibrin α, β, and γ polypeptide hydrolysis by cathepsins. Multiplex cathepsin zymography determined active amounts of cathepsins remaining. RESULTS There was significant loss of α and β fibrin polypeptides after incubation with cathepsins, with catS completely dissolving fibrin gel by 24 h. Binding to fibrin stabilized catL active time; it associated with cleaved fibrin fragments of multiple sizes. This was not observed for catK or S. CatS also remained active for longer times during fibrin incubation, but its association/binding did not withstand SDS-PAGE preparation. CONCLUSIONS Human cathepsins K, L, and S are fibrinolytic, and specifically can degrade the α and β fibrin polypeptide chains, generating fragments unique from plasmin. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Demonstration of cathepsins K, L, and S fibrinolytic activity leads to further investigation of contributory roles in disrupting vascular hemostasis, or breakdown of fibrin-based engineered vascular constructs where non-plasmin mediated fibrinolysis must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone A Douglas
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, USA.
| | - Sarah E Lamothe
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, USA.
| | - Tatiyanna S Singleton
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, USA.
| | - Rodney D Averett
- School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Georgia, USA.
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, USA.
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25
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Yesudasan S, Douglas SA, Platt MO, Wang X, Averett RD. Molecular insights into the irreversible mechanical behavior of sickle hemoglobin. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2018; 37:1270-1281. [PMID: 29651930 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2018.1456362] [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] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease is caused by the amino acid substitution of glutamic acid to valine, which leads to the polymerization of deoxygenated sickle hemoglobin (HbS) into long strands. These strands are responsible for the sickling of red blood cells (RBCs), making blood hyper-coagulable leading to an increased chance of vaso-occlusive crisis. The conformational changes in sickled RBCs traveling through narrow blood vessels in a highly viscous fluid are critical in understanding; however, there are few studies that investigate the origins of the molecular mechanical behavior of sickled RBCs. In this work, we investigate the molecular mechanical properties of HbS molecules. A mechanical model was used to estimate the directional stiffness of an HbS molecule and the results were compared to adult human hemoglobin (HbA). The comparison shows a significant difference in strength between HbS and HbA, as well as anisotropic behavior of the hemoglobin molecules. The results also indicated that the HbS molecule experienced more irreversible mechanical behavior than HbA under compression. Further, we have characterized the elastic and compressive properties of a double stranded sickle fiber using six HbS molecules, and it shows that the HbS molecules are bound to each other through strong inter-molecular forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumith Yesudasan
- a School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering , University of Georgia , Athens , GA 30602 , USA
| | - Simone A Douglas
- b Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , GA 30332 , USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- b Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , GA 30332 , USA
| | - Xianqiao Wang
- c School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering , University of Georgia , Athens , GA 30602 , USA
| | - Rodney D Averett
- a School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering , University of Georgia , Athens , GA 30602 , USA
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26
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Parks AN, Temenoff JS, Platt MO. Consecutive, But Not Concurrent, Cathepsin Incubation with Type I Collagen Results in Extended Proteolysis. FASEB J 2018. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.414.4] [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: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Akia N. Parks
- Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA
| | | | - Manu O. Platt
- Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA
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27
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Andrea Douglas
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA
| | - Sarah E. LaMothe
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA
| | - Tatiyanna S. Singleton
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA
| | - Rodney Averett
- School of ChemicalMaterials, and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGA
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA
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28
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Kieslich CA, Shockey WA, Platt MO. Protease‐protease interactions as a microenvironment‐dependent regulatory mechanism. FASEB J 2018. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.528.11] [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: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Manu O. Platt
- Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA
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29
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Madfis N, Lin Z, Kumar A, Douglas SA, Platt MO, Fan Y, McCloskey KE. Co-Emergence of Specialized Endothelial Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2018; 27:326-335. [PMID: 29320922 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2017.0205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A well-formed and robust vasculature is critical to the health of most organ systems in the body. However, the endothelial cells (ECs) forming the vasculature can exhibit a number of distinct functional subphenotypes like arterial or venous ECs, as well as angiogenic tip and stalk ECs. In this study, we investigate the in vitro differentiation of EC subphenotypes from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Using our staged induction methods and chemically defined mediums, highly angiogenic EC subpopulations, as well as less proliferative and less migratory EC subpopulations, are derived. Furthermore, the EC subphenotypes exhibit distinct surface markers, gene expression profiles, and positional affinities during sprouting. While both subpopulations contained greater than 80% VE-cad+/CD31+ cells, the tip/stalk-like EC contained predominantly Flt4+/Dll4+/CXCR4+/Flt-1- cells, while the phalanx-like EC was composed of higher numbers of Flt-1+ cells. These studies suggest that the tip-specific EC can be derived in vitro from stem cells as a distinct and relatively stable EC subphenotype without the benefit of its morphological positioning in the sprouting vessel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Madfis
- 1 Graduate Program in Quantitative and System Biology, University of California , Merced, Merced, California
| | - Zhiqiang Lin
- 2 School of Biological Sciences and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ashwath Kumar
- 2 School of Biological Sciences and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Simone A Douglas
- 3 Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Manu O Platt
- 3 Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Yuhong Fan
- 2 School of Biological Sciences and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kara E McCloskey
- 1 Graduate Program in Quantitative and System Biology, University of California , Merced, Merced, California.,4 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California , Merced, Merced, California
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30
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Ferrall‐Fairbanks MC, West DM, Douglas SA, Averett RD, Platt MO. Computational predictions of cysteine cathepsin-mediated fibrinogen proteolysis. Protein Sci 2018; 27:714-724. [PMID: 29266558 PMCID: PMC5818743 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 12/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Fibrin clot formation is a proteolytic cascade of events with thrombin and plasmin identified as the main proteases cleaving fibrinogen precursor, and the fibrin polymer, respectively. Other proteases may be involved directly in fibrin(ogen) cleavage, clot formation, and resolution, or in the degradation of fibrin-based scaffolds emerging as useful tools for tissue engineered constructs. Here, cysteine cathepsins are investigated for their putative ability to hydrolyze fibrinogen, since they are potent proteases, first identified in lysosomal protein degradation and known to participate in extracellular proteolysis. To further explore this, we used two independent computational technqiues, molecular docking and bioinformatics sequence analysis (PACMANS), to predict potential binding interactions and sites of hydrolysis between cathepsins K, L, and S and fibrinogen. By comparing the results from these two objective, computational methods, it was determined that cathepsins K, L, and S do bind and cleave fibrinogen α, β, and γ chains at similar and unique sites. These differences were visualized experimentally by the unique cleaved fibrinogen banding patterns after incubation with each of the cathepsins, separately. In conclusion, human cysteine cathepsins K, L, and S are a new class of proteases that should be considered during fibrin(ogen) degradation studies both for disease processes where coagulation is a concern, and also in the implementation and design of bioengineered systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan C. Ferrall‐Fairbanks
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology and Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Dayne M. West
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology and Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Simone A. Douglas
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology and Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Rodney D. Averett
- School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgia
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology and Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
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Parks AN, McFaline-Figueroa J, Coogan A, Poe-Yamagata E, Guldberg RE, Platt MO, Temenoff JS. Supraspinatus tendon overuse results in degenerative changes to tendon insertion region and adjacent humeral cartilage in a rat model. J Orthop Res 2017; 35:1910-1918. [PMID: 28001327 PMCID: PMC5479759 DOI: 10.1002/jor.23496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The etiology of rotator cuff tendon overuse injuries is still not well understood. Furthermore, how this overuse injury impacts other components of the glenohumeral joint, including nearby articular cartilage, is also unclear. Therefore, this study sought to better understand the time course of tendon protease activity in a rat model of supraspinatus overuse, as well as determine effects of 10 weeks of overuse on humeral head articular cartilage. For these studies, multiplex gelatin zymography was used to characterize protease activity profiles in tendon and cartilage, while histological scoring/mechanical testing and micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging were used to quantify structural damage in the supraspinatus tendon insertion and humeral articular cartilage, respectively. Histological scoring of supraspinatus tendon insertions revealed tendinopathic cellular and collagen fiber changes after 10 weeks of overuse when compared to controls, while mechanical testing revealed no significant differences between tensile moduli (overuse: 24.5 ± 11.5 MPa; control: 16.3 ± 8.7 MPa). EPIC-μCT imaging on humeral articular cartilage demonstrated significant cartilage thinning (overuse: 119.6 ± 6.34 μm; control: 195.4 ± 13.4μm), decreased proteoglycan content (overuse: 2.1 ± 0.18 cm-1 ; control: 1.65 ± 0.14 cm-1 ), and increased subchondral bone thickness (overuse: 216.2 ± 10.9 μm; control: 192 ± 17.8μm) in the overuse animals. Zymography results showed no significant upregulation of cathepsins or matrix metalloproteinases in tendon or cartilage at 2 or 10 weeks of overuse compared to controls. These results have further elucidated timing of protease activity over 10 weeks and suggest that damage occurs to other tissues in addition to the supraspinatus tendon in this overuse injury model. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:1910-1918, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akia N. Parks
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Jennifer McFaline-Figueroa
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Anne Coogan
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Emma Poe-Yamagata
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Robert E. Guldberg
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332,George Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Manu O. Platt
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Johnna S. Temenoff
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332,Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
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32
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Buckley EM, Platt MO, Lam WA. Novel in vivo and in vitro techniques to image and model the cerebral vasculature in sickle cell disease. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2017; 67:114-119. [PMID: 28822622 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2017.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Erin M Buckley
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, United States.
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, United States.
| | - Wilbur A Lam
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, United States; Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, United States.
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Norton DG, Fan NK, Goudie MJ, Handa H, Platt MO, Averett RD. Computational imaging analysis of glycated fibrin gels reveals aggregated and anisotropic structures. J Biomed Mater Res A 2017; 105:2191-2198. [PMID: 28371216 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In this article, a computational imaging analysis method is presented for the evaluation of aggregation and anisotropy in both native (unglycated) and glycated fibrin matrix structures. The imaging analysis was used to test the hypothesis that glycated fibrin structures are more aggregated and anisotropic than unglycated (native) fibrin structures. Glycation of fibrinogen, and subsequently fibrin, occurs under normal physiological conditions; however, excess glycation due to disease states such as diabetes can disrupt the fibrin matrix and cause an abnormal structure and function. Studies that elucidate morphological changes in glucose incubated fibrin matrices are necessary to better understand thrombosis, which occurs due to hypercoagulable conditions. In this study, imaging algorithms were designed for the determination of aggregation of fibrin fibers within a matrix as well as preferential orientation (anisotropy) due to glycation. The results showed that glycated fibrin structures displayed an overall higher degree of aggregation and anisotropy as compared to unglycated fibrin structures. However, for glycated fibrin matrices that were polymerized utilizing extended incubation periods representative of physiological plasma glucose conditions, the results showed that fibrin aggregation and anisotropy decreased when compared to unglycated matrices. The algorithms showed that incorporation of the crosslinking agent FXIII into the fibrin matrix was shown to decrease both aggregation and anisotropy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2191-2198, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Norton
- School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, Georgia, 31404
| | - Natalie K Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78249
| | - Marcus J Goudie
- School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Georgia, College of Engineering, Driftmier Engineering Center, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Hitesh Handa
- School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Georgia, College of Engineering, Driftmier Engineering Center, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Manu O Platt
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology College of Engineering and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332
| | - Rodney D Averett
- School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Georgia, College of Engineering, Driftmier Engineering Center, Athens, Georgia, 30602
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Ferrall-Fairbanks MC, Barry ZT, Affer M, Shuler MA, Moomaw EW, Platt MO. PACMANS: A bioinformatically informed algorithm to predict, design, and disrupt protease-on-protease hydrolysis. Protein Sci 2017; 26:880-890. [PMID: 28078782 PMCID: PMC5368069 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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: 11/19/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Multiple proteases in a system hydrolyze target substrates, but recent evidence indicates that some proteases will degrade other proteases as well. Cathepsin S hydrolysis of cathepsin K is one such example. These interactions may be uni- or bi-directional and change the expected kinetics. To explore potential protease-on-protease interactions in silico, a program was developed for users to input two proteases: (1) the protease-ase that hydrolyzes (2) the substrate, protease. This program identifies putative sites on the substrate protease highly susceptible to cleavage by the protease-ase, using a sliding-window approach that scores amino acid sequences by their preference in the protease-ase active site, culled from MEROPS database. We call this PACMANS, Protease-Ase Cleavage from MEROPS ANalyzed Specificities, and test and validate this algorithm with cathepsins S and K. PACMANS cumulative likelihood scoring identified L253 and V171 as sites on cathepsin K subject to cathepsin S hydrolysis. Mutations made at these locations were tested to block hydrolysis and validate PACMANS predictions. L253A and L253V cathepsin K mutants significantly reduced cathepsin S hydrolysis, validating PACMANS unbiased identification of these sites. Interfamilial protease interactions between cathepsin S and MMP-2 or MMP-9 were tested after predictions by PACMANS, confirming its utility for these systems as well. PACMANS is unique compared to other putative site cleavage programs by allowing users to define the proteases of interest and target, and can also be employed for non-protease substrate proteins, as well as short peptide sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan C Ferrall-Fairbanks
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Zachary T Barry
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Maurizio Affer
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Marc A Shuler
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ellen W Moomaw
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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35
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Agarwal U, George A, Bhutani S, Ghosh-Choudhary S, Maxwell JT, Brown ME, Mehta Y, Platt MO, Liang Y, Sahoo S, Davis ME. Experimental, Systems, and Computational Approaches to Understanding the MicroRNA-Mediated Reparative Potential of Cardiac Progenitor Cell-Derived Exosomes From Pediatric Patients. Circ Res 2016; 120:701-712. [PMID: 27872050 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.116.309935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Studies have demonstrated that exosomes can repair cardiac tissue post-myocardial infarction and recapitulate the benefits of cellular therapy. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the role of donor age and hypoxia of human pediatric cardiac progenitor cell (CPC)-derived exosomes in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS AND RESULTS Human CPCs from the right atrial appendages from children of different ages undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects were isolated and cultured under hypoxic or normoxic conditions. Exosomes were isolated from the culture-conditioned media and delivered to athymic rats after ischemia-reperfusion injury. Echocardiography at day 3 post-myocardial infarction suggested statistically improved function in neonatal hypoxic and neonatal normoxic groups compared with saline-treated controls. At 28 days post-myocardial infarction, exosomes derived from neonatal normoxia, neonatal hypoxia, infant hypoxia, and child hypoxia significantly improved cardiac function compared with those from saline-treated controls. Staining showed decreased fibrosis and improved angiogenesis in hypoxic groups compared with controls. Finally, using sequencing data, a computational model was generated to link microRNA levels to specific outcomes. CONCLUSIONS CPC exosomes derived from neonates improved cardiac function independent of culture oxygen levels, whereas CPC exosomes from older children were not reparative unless subjected to hypoxic conditions. Cardiac functional improvements were associated with increased angiogenesis, reduced fibrosis, and improved hypertrophy, resulting in improved cardiac function; however, mechanisms for normoxic neonatal CPC exosomes improved function independent of those mechanisms. This is the first study of its kind demonstrating that donor age and oxygen content in the microenvironment significantly alter the efficacy of human CPC-derived exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udit Agarwal
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Alex George
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Srishti Bhutani
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Shohini Ghosh-Choudhary
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Joshua T Maxwell
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Milton E Brown
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Yash Mehta
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Manu O Platt
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Yaxuan Liang
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Susmita Sahoo
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.)
| | - Michael E Davis
- From the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (U.A., A.G., S.B., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., Y.M., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (U.A., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.E.D.); Children's Heart Research and Outcomes Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.); and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York (Y.L., S.S.).
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Keegan PM, Anbazhakan S, Kang B, Pace BS, Platt MO. Biomechanical and biochemical regulation of cathepsin K expression in endothelial cells converge at AP-1 and NF-κB. Biol Chem 2016; 397:459-68. [PMID: 26760306 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2015-0244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Cathepsins K and V are powerful elastases elevated in endothelial cells by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) stimulation and disturbed blood flow both of which contribute to inflammation-mediated arterial remodeling. However, mechanisms behind endothelial cell integration of biochemical and biomechanical cues to regulate cathepsin production are not known. To distinguish these mechanisms, human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were stimulated with TNFα and exposed to pro-remodeling or vasoprotective shear stress profiles. TNFα upregulated cathepsin K via JNK/c-jun activation, but vasoprotective shear stress inhibited TNFα-stimulated cathepsin K expression. JNK/c-jun were still phosphorylated, but cathepsin K mRNA levels were significantly reduced to almost null indicating separate biomechanical regulation of cathepsin K by shear stress separate from biochemical stimulation. Treatment with Bay 11-7082, an inhibitor of IκBα phosphorylation, was sufficient to block induction of cathepsin K by both pro-remodeling shear stress and TNFα, implicating NF-κB as the biomechanical regulator, and its protein levels were reduced in HAECs by vasoprotective shear stress. In conclusion, NF-κB and AP-1 activation were necessary to activate cathepsin K expression in endothelial cells, highlighting integration of biochemical and biomechanical stimuli to control cathepsins K and V, powerful elastases implicated for arterial remodeling due to chronic inflammation and disturbed blood flow.
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Platt MO, Evans D, Keegan PM, McNamara L, Parker IK, Roberts LM, Caulk AW, Gleason RL, Seifu D, Amogne W, Penny C. Low-Cost Method to Monitor Patient Adherence to HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Using Multiplex Cathepsin Zymography. Mol Biotechnol 2016; 58:56-64. [PMID: 26589706 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-015-9903-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring patient adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) by patient survey is inherently error prone, justifying a need for objective, biological measures affordable in low-resource settings where HIV/AIDS epidemic is highest. In preliminary studies conducted in Ethiopia and South Africa, we observed loss of cysteine cathepsin activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HIV-positive patients on ART. We optimized a rapid protocol for multiplex cathepsin zymography to quantify cysteine cathepsins, and prospectively enrolled 350 HIV-positive, ART-naïve adults attending the Themba Lethu Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa, to test if suppressed cathepsin activity could be a biomarker of ART adherence (103 patients were included in final analysis). Poor adherence was defined as detectable viral load (>400 copies/ml) or simplified medication adherence questionnaire, 4-6 months after ART initiation. 86 % of patients with undetectable viral loads after 6 months were cathepsin negative, and cathepsin-positive patients were twice as likely to have detectable viral loads (RR 2.32 95 % CI 1.26-4.29). Together, this demonstrates proof of concept that multiplex cathepsin zymography may be an inexpensive, objective method to monitor patient adherence to ART. Low cost of this electrophoresis-based assay makes it a prime candidate for implementation in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 315 Ferst Drive, IBB 1308, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. .,The Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Denise Evans
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Philip M Keegan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 315 Ferst Drive, IBB 1308, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.,The Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lynne McNamara
- Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ivana K Parker
- The Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - LaDeidra M Roberts
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 315 Ferst Drive, IBB 1308, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.,The Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexander W Caulk
- The Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rudolph L Gleason
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 315 Ferst Drive, IBB 1308, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.,The Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Daniel Seifu
- Department of Biochemistry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Wondwossen Amogne
- Department of Internal Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Clement Penny
- Oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Averett RD, Norton DG, Fan NK, Platt MO. Computational imaging analysis of fibrin matrices with the inclusion of erythrocytes from homozygous SS blood reveals agglomerated and amorphous structures. J Thromb Thrombolysis 2016; 43:43-51. [DOI: 10.1007/s11239-016-1426-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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39
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Wilder CL, Walton C, Watson V, Stewart FAA, Johnson J, Peyton SR, Payne CK, Odero-Marah V, Platt MO. Differential cathepsin responses to inhibitor-induced feedback: E-64 and cystatin C elevate active cathepsin S and suppress active cathepsin L in breast cancer cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2016; 79:199-208. [PMID: 27592448 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2016.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Cathepsins are powerful proteases, once referred to as the lysosomal cysteine proteases, that have been implicated in breast cancer invasion and metastasis, but pharmaceutical inhibitors have suffered failures in clinical trials due to adverse side effects. Scientific advancement from lysosomotropic to cell impermeable cathepsin inhibitors have improved efficacy in treating disease, but off-target effects have still been problematic, motivating a need to better understand cellular feedback and responses to treatment with cathepsin inhibitors. To address this need, we investigated effects of E-64 and cystatin C, two broad spectrum cathepsin inhibitors, on cathepsin levels intra- and extracellularly in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Cathepsins S and L had opposing responses to both E-64 and cystatin C inhibitor treatments with paradoxically elevated amounts of active cathepsin S, but decreased amounts of active cathepsin L, as determined by multiplex cathepsin zymography. This indicated cellular feedback to selectively sustain the amounts of active cathepsin S even in the presence of inhibitors with subnanomolar inhibitory constant values. These differences were identified in cellular locations of cathepsins L and S, trafficking for secretion, co-localization with endocytosed inhibitors, and longer protein turnover time for cathepsin S compared to cathepsin L. Together, this work demonstrates that previously underappreciated cellular compensation and compartmentalization mechanisms may sustain elevated amounts of some active cathepsins while diminishing others after inhibitor treatment. This can confound predictions based solely on inhibitor kinetics, and must be better understood to effectively deploy therapies and dosing strategies that target cathepsins to prevent cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catera L Wilder
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Charlene Walton
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Valencia Watson
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Fermin A A Stewart
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Jade Johnson
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Christine K Payne
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Valerie Odero-Marah
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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Agarwal U, Smith AW, French KM, Boopathy AV, George A, Trac D, Brown ME, Shen M, Jiang R, Fernandez JD, Kogon BE, Kanter KR, Alsoufi B, Wagner MB, Platt MO, Davis ME. Age-Dependent Effect of Pediatric Cardiac Progenitor Cells After Juvenile Heart Failure. Stem Cells Transl Med 2016; 5:883-92. [PMID: 27151913 PMCID: PMC4922847 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2015-0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the role of age of human pediatric cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) on ventricular remodeling, the authors injected neonate, infant, or child hCPCs into rats with right ventricular heart failure. Mechanisms including migration and proliferation assays, as suggested by computational modeling, showed improved chemotactic and proliferative capacity of neonatal hCPCs compared with infant or child hCPCs. Thus, the reparative potential of hCPCs is age-dependent. Children with congenital heart diseases have increased morbidity and mortality, despite various surgical treatments, therefore warranting better treatment strategies. Here we investigate the role of age of human pediatric cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) on ventricular remodeling in a model of juvenile heart failure. hCPCs isolated from children undergoing reconstructive surgeries were divided into 3 groups based on age: neonate (1 day to 1 month), infant (1 month to 1 year), and child (1 to 5 years). Adolescent athymic rats were subjected to sham or pulmonary artery banding surgery to generate a model of right ventricular (RV) heart failure. Two weeks after surgery, hCPCs were injected in RV musculature noninvasively. Analysis of cardiac function 4 weeks post-transplantation demonstrated significantly increased tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and RV ejection fraction and significantly decreased wall thickness and fibrosis in rats transplanted with neonatal hCPCs compared with saline-injected rats. Computational modeling and systems biology analysis were performed on arrays and gave insights into potential mechanisms at the microRNA and gene level. Mechanisms including migration and proliferation assays, as suggested by computational modeling, showed improved chemotactic and proliferative capacity of neonatal hCPCs compared with infant/child hCPCs. In vivo immunostaining further suggested increased recruitment of stem cell antigen 1-positive cells in the right ventricle. This is the first study to assess the role of hCPC age in juvenile RV heart failure. Interestingly, the reparative potential of hCPCs is age-dependent, with neonatal hCPCs exerting the maximum beneficial effect compared with infant and child hCPCs. Significance Stem cell therapy for children with congenital heart defects is moving forward, with several completed and ongoing clinical trials. Although there are studies showing how children differ from adults, few focus on the differences among children. This study using human cardiac progenitor cells shows age-related changes in the reparative ability of cells in a model of pediatric heart failure and uses computational and systems biology to elucidate potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udit Agarwal
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amanda W Smith
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kristin M French
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Archana V Boopathy
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Alex George
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David Trac
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Milton E Brown
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ming Shen
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rong Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Janet D Fernandez
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Brian E Kogon
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kirk R Kanter
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Mary B Wagner
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael E Davis
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Rivera CP, Veneziani A, Ware RE, Platt MO. Original Research: Sickle cell anemia and pediatric strokes: Computational fluid dynamics analysis in the middle cerebral artery. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 241:755-65. [PMID: 26946534 DOI: 10.1177/1535370216636722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) have a high incidence of strokes, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) identifies at-risk patients by measuring blood velocities in large intracerebral arteries; time-averaged mean velocities greater than 200 cm/s confer high stroke risk and warrant therapeutic intervention with blood transfusions. Our objective was to use computational fluid dynamics to alter fluid and artery wall properties, to simulate scenarios causative of significantly elevated arterial blood velocities. Two-dimensional simulations were created and increasing percent stenoses were created in silico, with their locations varied among middle cerebral artery (MCA), internal carotid artery (ICA), and anterior cerebral artery (ACA). Stenoses placed in the MCA, ICA, or ACA generated local increases in velocity, but not sufficient to reach magnitudes > 200 cm/s, even up to 75% stenosis. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the MCA, ICA, and ACA from children with SCA were generated from magnetic resonance angiograms. Using finite element method, blood flow was simulated with realistic velocity waveforms to the ICA inlet. Three-dimensional reconstructions revealed an uneven, internal arterial wall surface in children with SCA and higher mean velocities in the MCA up to 145 cm/s compared to non-SCA reconstructions. There were also greater areas of flow recirculation and larger regions of low wall shear stress. Taken together, these bumps on the internal wall of the cerebral arteries could create local flow disturbances that, in aggregate, could elevate blood velocities in SCA. Identifying cellular causes of these microstructures as adhered blood cells or luminal narrowing due to endothelial hyperplasia induced by disturbed flow would provide new targets to treat children with SCA. The preliminary qualitative results provided here point out the critical role of 3D reconstruction of patient-specific vascular geometries and provide qualitative insight to complex interplay between vascular geometry and rheological properties possibly altered by SCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian P Rivera
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Alessandro Veneziani
- Department of Math and Computer Science at Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Russell E Ware
- Division of Hematology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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Abstract
Cathepsins are mechanosensitive proteases that are regulated not only by biochemical factors, but are also responsive to biomechanical forces in the cardiovascular system that regulate their expression and activity to participate in cardiovascular tissue remodeling. Their elastinolytic and collagenolytic activity have been implicated in atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and in heart valve disease, all of which are lined by endothelial cells that are the mechanosensitive monolayer of cells that sense and respond to fluid shear stress as the blood flows across the surfaces of the arteries and valve leaflets. Inflammatory cytokine signaling is integrated with biomechanical signaling pathways by the endothelial cells to transcribe, translate, and activate either the cysteine cathepsins to remodel the tissue or to express their inhibitors to maintain healthy cardiovascular tissue structure. Other cardiovascular diseases should now be included in the study of the cysteine cathepsin activation because of the additional biochemical cues they provide that merges with the already existing hemodynamics driving cardiovascular disease. Sickle cell disease causes a chronic inflammation including elevated TNFα and increased numbers of circulating monocytes that alter the biochemical stimulation while the more viscous red blood cells due to the sickling of hemoglobin alters the hemodynamics and is associated with accelerated elastin remodeling causing pediatric strokes. HIV-mediated cardiovascular disease also occurs earlier in than the broader population and the influence of HIV-proteins and antiretrovirals on endothelial cells must be considered to understand these accelerated mechanisms in order to identify new therapeutic targets for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive, Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
| | - W Andrew Shockey
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 950 Atlantic Drive, Suite 3015, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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Nguyen AH, Wang Y, White DE, Platt MO, McDevitt TC. MMP-mediated mesenchymal morphogenesis of pluripotent stem cell aggregates stimulated by gelatin methacrylate microparticle incorporation. Biomaterials 2015; 76:66-75. [PMID: 26519649 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.10.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM) to facilitate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) and promote cell specification during embryonic development. In this study, we hypothesized that introducing degradable ECM-based biomaterials to pluripotent stem cell (PSC) aggregates would modulate endogenous proteolytic activity and consequently enhance the differentiation and morphogenesis within 3D PSC aggregates. Gelatin methacrylate (GMA) microparticles (MPs) of low (∼20%) or high (∼90%) cross-linking densities were incorporated into mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) aggregates, and the effects on MMP activity and cell differentiation were examined with or without MMP inhibition. ESC aggregates containing GMA MPs expressed significantly higher levels of total MMP and MMP-2 than aggregates without MPs. GMA MP incorporation increased expression of EMT markers and enhanced mesenchymal morphogenesis of PSC aggregates. MMP inhibition completely abrogated these effects, and GMA MP-induced MMP activation within ESC aggregates was partially reduced by pSMAD 1/5/8 inhibition. These results suggest that GMA particles activate MMPs by protease-substrate interactions to promote EMT and mesenchymal morphogenesis of ESC aggregates in an MMP-dependent manner. We speculate that controlling protease activity via the introduction of ECM-based materials may offer a novel route to engineer the ECM microenvironment to modulate stem cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh H Nguyen
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yun Wang
- The Gladstone Institute for Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Douglas E White
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; The Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Todd C McDevitt
- The Gladstone Institute for Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Abstract
Endometriosis is a gynecologic disease characterized by the ectopic presence of endometrial tissue on organs within the peritoneal cavity, causing debilitating abdominal pain and infertility. Current treatments alleviate moderate pain symptoms associated with the disorder but exhibit limited ability to prevent new or recurring lesion establishment and growth. Retrograde menstruation has been implicated for introducing endometrial tissue into the peritoneal cavity, but molecular mechanisms underlying attachment and invasion are not fully understood. We hypothesize that cysteine cathepsins, a group of powerful extracellular matrix proteases, facilitate endometrial tissue invasion and endometriosis lesion establishment in the peritoneal wall and inhibiting this activity would decrease endometriosis lesion implantation. To test this, we used an immunocompetent endometriosis mouse model and found that endometriotic lesions exhibited a greater than 5-fold increase in active cathepsins compared to tissue from peritoneal wall or eutopic endometrium, with cathepsins L and K specifically implicated. Human endometriosis lesions also exhibited greater cathepsin activity than adjacent peritoneum tissue, supporting the mouse results. Finally, we tested the hypothesis that inhibiting cathepsin activity could block endometriosis lesion attachment and implantation in vivo. Intraperitoneal injection of the broad cysteine cathepsin inhibitor, E-64, significantly reduced the number of attached endometriosis lesions in our murine model compared to vehicle-treated controls demonstrating that cathepsin proteases contribute to endometriosis lesion establishment, and their inhibition may provide a novel, nonhormonal therapy for endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristi M Porter
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Friedrich A Wieser
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, GA, USA
| | - Catera L Wilder
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Neil Sidell
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, GA, USA
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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Burton LJ, Smith BA, Smith BN, Loyd Q, Nagappan P, McKeithen D, Wilder CL, Platt MO, Hudson T, Odero-Marah VA. Muscadine grape skin extract can antagonize Snail-cathepsin L-mediated invasion, migration and osteoclastogenesis in prostate and breast cancer cells. Carcinogenesis 2015; 36:1019-27. [PMID: 26069256 PMCID: PMC4643647 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgv084] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Revised: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To develop new and effective chemopreventive agents against bone metastasis, we assessed the effects of muscadine grape skin extract (MSKE), whose main bioactive component is anthocyanin, on bone turnover, using prostate and breast cancer cell models overexpressing Snail transcription factor. MSKE has been shown previously to promote apoptosis in prostate cancer cells without affecting normal prostate epithelial cells. Snail is overexpressed in prostate and breast cancer, and is associated with increased invasion, migration and bone turnover/osteoclastogenesis. Cathepsin L (CatL) is a cysteine cathepsin protease that is overexpressed in cancer and involved in bone turnover. Snail overexpression in prostate (LNCaP, ARCaP-E) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells led to increased CatL expression/activity and phosphorylated STAT-3 (pSTAT-3), compared to Neo vector controls, while the reverse was observed in C4-2 (the aggressive subline of LNCaP) cells with Snail knockdown. Moreover, CatL expression was higher in prostate and breast tumor tissue compared to normal tissue. MSKE decreased Snail and pSTAT3 expression, and abrogated Snail-mediated CatL activity, migration and invasion. Additionally, Snail overexpression promoted osteoclastogenesis, which was significantly inhibited by the MSKE as effectively as Z-FY-CHO, a CatL-specific inhibitor, or osteoprotegerin, a receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) antagonist. Overall, these novel findings suggest that Snail regulation of CatL may occur via STAT-3 signaling and can be antagonized by MSKE, leading to decreased cell invasion, migration and bone turnover. Therefore, inhibition using a natural product such as MSKE could potentially be a promising bioactive compound for bone metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza J Burton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA and Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Basil A Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA and Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Bethany N Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA and Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Quentin Loyd
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA and Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Peri Nagappan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA and Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Danielle McKeithen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA and Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Catera L Wilder
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA and
| | - Manu O Platt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA and
| | - Tamaro Hudson
- Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
| | - Valerie A Odero-Marah
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA and Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
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Fan NK, Keegan PM, Platt MO, Averett RD. Experimental and imaging techniques for examining fibrin clot structures in normal and diseased states. J Vis Exp 2015:e52019. [PMID: 25867016 DOI: 10.3791/52019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrin is an extracellular matrix protein that is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of blood clots. Much research has been done on fibrin in the past years to include the investigation of synthesis, structure-function, and lysis of clots. However, there is still much unknown about the morphological and structural features of clots that ensue from patients with disease. In this research study, experimental techniques are presented that allow for the examination of morphological differences of abnormal clot structures due to diseased states such as diabetes and sickle cell anemia. Our study focuses on the preparation and evaluation of fibrin clots in order to assess morphological differences using various experimental assays and confocal microscopy. In addition, a method is also described that allows for continuous, real-time calculation of lysis rates in fibrin clots. The techniques described herein are important for researchers and clinicians seeking to elucidate comorbid thrombotic pathologies such as myocardial infarctions, ischemic heart disease, and strokes in patients with diabetes or sickle cell disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie K Fan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Philip M Keegan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Manu O Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University School of Medicine; Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - Rodney D Averett
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology;
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Seto SP, Parks AN, Qiu Y, Soslowsky LJ, Karas S, Platt MO, Temenoff JS. Cathepsins in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: Identification in Human Chronic Tears and Temporal Induction in a Rat Model. Ann Biomed Eng 2015; 43:2036-46. [PMID: 25558848 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-014-1245-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
While overuse of the supraspinatus tendon is a leading factor in rotator cuff injury, the underlying biochemical changes have not been fully elucidated. In this study, torn human rotator cuff (supraspinatus) tendon tissue was analyzed for the presence of active cathepsin proteases with multiplex cysteine cathepsin zymography. In addition, an overuse injury to supraspinatus tendons was induced through downhill running in an established rat model. Histological analysis demonstrated that structural damage occurred by 8 weeks of overuse compared to control rats in the region of tendon insertion into bone. In both 4- and 8-week overuse groups, via zymography, there was approximately a 180% increase in cathepsin L activity at the insertion region compared to the controls, while no difference was found in the midsubstance area. Additionally, an over 400% increase in cathepsin K activity was observed for the insertion region of the 4-week overused tendons. More cathepsin K and L immunostaining was observed at the insertion region of the overuse groups compared to controls. These results provide important information on a yet unexplored mechanism for tendon degeneration that may operate alone or in conjunction with other proteases to contribute to chronic tendinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song P Seto
- W.H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA,
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Gray WD, French KM, Ghosh-Choudhary S, Maxwell JT, Brown ME, Platt MO, Searles CD, Davis ME. Identification of therapeutic covariant microRNA clusters in hypoxia-treated cardiac progenitor cell exosomes using systems biology. Circ Res 2014; 116:255-63. [PMID: 25344555 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.116.304360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 289] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Myocardial infarction is a leading cause of death in developed nations, and there remains a need for cardiac therapeutic systems that mitigate tissue damage. Cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) and other stem cell types are attractive candidates for treatment of myocardial infarction; however, the benefit of these cells may be as a result of paracrine effects. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that CPCs secrete proregenerative exosomes in response to hypoxic conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS The angiogenic and antifibrotic potential of secreted exosomes on cardiac endothelial cells and cardiac fibroblasts were assessed. We found that CPC exosomes secreted in response to hypoxia enhanced tube formation of endothelial cells and decreased profibrotic gene expression in TGF-β-stimulated fibroblasts, indicating that these exosomes possess therapeutic potential. Microarray analysis of exosomes secreted by hypoxic CPCs identified 11 miRNAs that were upregulated compared with exosomes secreted by CPCs grown under normoxic conditions. Principle component analysis was performed to identify miRNAs that were coregulated in response to distinct exosome-generating conditions. To investigate the cue-signal-response relationships of these miRNA clusters with a physiological outcome of tube formation or fibrotic gene expression, partial least squares regression analysis was applied. The importance of each up- or downregulated miRNA on physiological outcomes was determined. Finally, to validate the model, we delivered exosomes after ischemia-reperfusion injury. Exosomes from hypoxic CPCs improved cardiac function and reduced fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS These data provide a foundation for subsequent research of the use of exosomal miRNA and systems biology as therapeutic strategies for the damaged heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warren D Gray
- From the The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., K.M.F., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., C.D.S., M.E.D.); Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA (C.D.S.); and Emory+Children's Center for Cardiovascular Biology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.)
| | - Kristin M French
- From the The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., K.M.F., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., C.D.S., M.E.D.); Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA (C.D.S.); and Emory+Children's Center for Cardiovascular Biology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.)
| | - Shohini Ghosh-Choudhary
- From the The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., K.M.F., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., C.D.S., M.E.D.); Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA (C.D.S.); and Emory+Children's Center for Cardiovascular Biology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.)
| | - Joshua T Maxwell
- From the The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., K.M.F., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., C.D.S., M.E.D.); Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA (C.D.S.); and Emory+Children's Center for Cardiovascular Biology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.)
| | - Milton E Brown
- From the The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., K.M.F., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., C.D.S., M.E.D.); Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA (C.D.S.); and Emory+Children's Center for Cardiovascular Biology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.)
| | - Manu O Platt
- From the The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., K.M.F., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., C.D.S., M.E.D.); Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA (C.D.S.); and Emory+Children's Center for Cardiovascular Biology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.)
| | - Charles D Searles
- From the The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., K.M.F., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., C.D.S., M.E.D.); Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA (C.D.S.); and Emory+Children's Center for Cardiovascular Biology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.)
| | - Michael E Davis
- From the The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., K.M.F., S.G.-C., J.T.M., M.E.B., M.O.P., M.E.D.); Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (W.D.G., C.D.S., M.E.D.); Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, Decatur, GA (C.D.S.); and Emory+Children's Center for Cardiovascular Biology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, GA (M.E.D.).
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Bandzar S, Gupta S, Platt MO. Crohn's disease: a review of treatment options and current research. Cell Immunol 2013; 286:45-52. [PMID: 24321565 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2013.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [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] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 08/25/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects nearly 1.4 million Americans. The etiology of Crohn's disease is not completely understood, however, research has suggested a genetic link. There is currently no known cure for Crohn's disease and, as a result, most government-funded research is being conducted to increase the quality of life of afflicted patients (i.e. reducing chronic inflammation and alleviating growth impairment in pediatric patients). A number of treatment options are available including an alpha-4 integrin inhibitor and several TNF-alpha inhibitors. Furthermore, research is being conducted on several alternative treatment options to help understand exactly which cellular mechanisms (i.e. inducing apoptosis in leukocytes) are required for clinical efficacy. This review seeks to chronicle the current available treatment options for patients affected by Crohn's disease to aid in understanding potential cellular mechanistic requirements for an efficacious drug, and shed light on potential options for future treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Bandzar
- Georgia Regents University, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, United States.
| | - Shabnam Gupta
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Manu O Platt
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Dumas JE, Platt MO. Systematic optimization of multiplex zymography protocol to detect active cathepsins K, L, S, and V in healthy and diseased tissue: compromise among limits of detection, reduced time, and resources. Mol Biotechnol 2013; 54:1038-47. [PMID: 23532386 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-013-9658-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cysteine cathepsins are a family of proteases identified in cancer, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, arthritis, and a number of other diseases. As this number continues to rise, so does the need for low cost, broad use quantitative assays to detect their activity and can be translated to the clinic in the hospital or in low resource settings. Multiplex cathepsin zymography is one such assay that detects subnanomolar levels of active cathepsins K, L, S, and V in cell or tissue preparations observed as clear bands of proteolytic activity after gelatin substrate SDS-PAGE with conditions optimal for cathepsin renaturing and activity. Densitometric analysis of the zymogram provides quantitative information from this low cost assay. After systematic modifications to optimize cathepsin zymography, we describe reduced electrophoresis time from 2 h to 10 min, incubation assay time from overnight to 4 h, and reduced minimal tissue protein necessary while maintaining sensitive detection limits; an evaluation of the pros and cons of each modification is also included. We further describe image acquisition by Smartphone camera, export to Matlab, and densitometric analysis code to quantify and report cathepsin activity, adding portability and replacing large scale, darkbox imaging equipment that could be cost prohibitive in limited resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerald E Dumas
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 315 Ferst Dr. Suite 1308, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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