Cardiovascular tissue regeneration system based on multiscale scaffolds comprising double-layered hydrogels and fibers

AbstractWe report a technique to reconstruct cardiovascular tissue using multiscale scaffolds incorporating polycaprolactone fibers with double-layered hydrogels comprising fibrin hydrogel surrounded by secondary alginate hydrogel. The scaffolds compartmentalized cells into the core region of cardiac tissue and the peripheral region of blood vessels to construct cardiovascular tissue, which was accomplished by a triple culture system of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) with C2C12 myoblasts on polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers along with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in fibrin hydrogel. The secondary alginate hydrogel prevented encapsulated cells from migrating outside scaffold and maintained the scaffold structure without distortion after subcutaneous implantation. According to in vitro studies, resultant scaffolds promoted new blood vessel formation as well as cardiomyogenic phenotype expression of ADSCs. Cardiac muscle-specific genes were expressed from stem cells and peripheral blood vessels from HUVECs were also successfully developed in subcutaneously implanted cell-laden multiscale scaffolds. Furthermore, the encapsulated stem cells modulated the immune response of scaffolds by secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines for successful tissue construction. Our study reveals that multiscale scaffolds can be promising for the remodeling and transplantation of cardiovascular tissue.

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Construction of a mammalian embryo model from stem cells organized by a morphogen signalling centre

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-23653-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Peng-Fei Xu ◽

Ricardo Moraes Borges ◽

Jonathan Fillatre ◽

Maraysa de Oliveira-Melo ◽

Tao Cheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Cell Tracking ◽

Cardiac Tissue ◽

Embryonic Stem ◽

Mammalian Embryo ◽

Wide Range ◽

Vitro Model ◽

Neurula Stage

AbstractGenerating properly differentiated embryonic structures in vitro from pluripotent stem cells remains a challenge. Here we show that instruction of aggregates of mouse embryonic stem cells with an experimentally engineered morphogen signalling centre, that functions as an organizer, results in the development of embryo-like entities (embryoids). In situ hybridization, immunolabelling, cell tracking and transcriptomic analyses show that these embryoids form the three germ layers through a gastrulation process and that they exhibit a wide range of developmental structures, highly similar to neurula-stage mouse embryos. Embryoids are organized around an axial chordamesoderm, with a dorsal neural plate that displays histological properties similar to the murine embryo neuroepithelium and that folds into a neural tube patterned antero-posteriorly from the posterior midbrain to the tip of the tail. Lateral to the chordamesoderm, embryoids display somitic and intermediate mesoderm, with beating cardiac tissue anteriorly and formation of a vasculature network. Ventrally, embryoids differentiate a primitive gut tube, which is patterned both antero-posteriorly and dorso-ventrally. Altogether, embryoids provide an in vitro model of mammalian embryo that displays extensive development of germ layer derivatives and that promises to be a powerful tool for in vitro studies and disease modelling.

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Creation of Engineered Cardiac Tissue In Vitro From Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circulationaha.105.583039 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 113 (18) ◽

pp. 2229-2237 ◽

Cited By ~ 118

Author(s):

Xi-Min Guo ◽

Yun-Shan Zhao ◽

Hai-Xia Chang ◽

Chang-Yong Wang ◽

Ling-Ling E ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Embryonic Stem Cells ◽

Cardiac Tissue ◽

Embryonic Stem ◽

Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

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Influence of Egr-1 in Cardiac Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Response to Glucose Variations

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2014/254793 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Daniela Bastianelli ◽

Camilla Siciliano ◽

Rosa Puca ◽

Andrea Coccia ◽

Colin Murdoch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Target Genes ◽

Cardiac Tissue ◽

Early Response ◽

Induced Response ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Short Period ◽

Phenotype Analysis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a promising cell population for cell therapy and regenerative medicine applications. However, how variations in glucose are perceived by MSC pool is still unclear. Since, glucose metabolism is cell type and tissue dependent, this must be considered when MSCs are derived from alternative sources such as the heart. The zinc finger transcription factor Egr-1 is an important early response gene, likely to play a key role in the glucose-induced response. Our aim was to investigate how short-term changes inin vitroglucose concentrations affect multipotent cardiac tissue-derived MSCs (cMSCs) in a mouse model of Egr-1 KO (Egr-1−/−). Results showed that loss of Egr-1 does not significantly influence cMSC proliferation. In contrast, responses to glucose variations were observed in wt but not in Egr-1−/−cMSCs by clonogenic assay. Phenotype analysis by RT-PCR showed that cMSCs Egr-1−/−lost the ability to regulate the glucose transporters GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 and, as expected, the Egr-1 target genes VEGF, TGFβ-1, and p300. Acetylated protein levels of H3 histone were impaired in Egr-1−/−compared to wt cMSCs. We propose that Egr-1 acts as immediate glucose biological sensor in cMSCs after a short period of stimuli, likely inducing epigenetic modifications.

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Abstract 558: Microchanneled Polysaccharide Hydrogel Laden With Endothelial Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells With VEGF Facilitate Formation of Vascular Structures and Are Effective for Repairing Tissue Ischemia

Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology ◽

10.1161/atvb.34.suppl_1.558 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 34 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Sangho Lee ◽

Min Kyung Lee ◽

Hyunjoon Kong ◽

Young-sup Yoon

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Endothelial Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Cell Survival ◽

Vascular Structure ◽

Hindlimb Ischemia ◽

Alginate Hydrogel ◽

Vessel Formation

Various hydrogels are used to create vascular structure in vitro or to improve cell engraftment to overcome low cell survival in vivo, a main hurdle for bare cell therapy Recently we developed a modified alginate hydrogel within which microchannels are aligned to guide the direction and spatial organization of loaded cells. We investigated whether these cell constructs in which HUVECs and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are co-loaded in this novel microchanneled hydrogel facilitate formation of vessels in vitro and in vivo, and enhance recovery of hindlimb ischemia. We crafted a modified alginate hydrogel which has microchannels, incorporates a cell adhesion peptide RGD, and was encapsulated with VEGF. We then compared vascular structure formation between the HUVEC only (2 x 105 cells) group and the HUVEC plus hMSC group. In the HUVEC+hMSC group, we mixed HUVECs and hMSCs at the ratio of 3:1. For cell tracking, we labeled HUVECs with DiO, a green fluorescence dye. After loading cells into the microchannels of the hydrogel, these constructs were cultured for seven days and were examined by confocal microscopy. In the HUVEC only group, HUVECs stands as round shaped cells without forming tubular structures within the hydrogel. However, in the HUVEC+hMSC group, HUVECs were stretched out and connected with each other, and formed vessel-like structure following pre-designed microchannels. These results suggested that hMSCs play a critical role for vessel formation by HUVECs. We next determined their in vivo effects using a mouse hindlimb ischemia model. We found that engineered HUVEC+hMSC group showed significantly higher perfusion over 4 weeks compared to the engineered HUVEC only group or bare cell (HUVEC) group. Confocal microscopic analysis of harvested tissues showed more robust vessel formation within and outside of the cell constructs and longer term cell survival in HUVEC+hMSC group compared to the other groups. In conclusion, this novel microchanneled alginate hydrogel facilitates aligned vessel formation of endothelial cells when combined with MSCs. This vessel-embedded hydrogel constructs consisting of HUVECs and MSCs contribute to perfusable vessel formation, prolong cell survival in vivo, and are effective for recovering limb ischemia.

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Novel Molecule Nell-1 Promotes the Angiogenic Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.703593 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Mengyue Li ◽

Qiang Wang ◽

Qi Han ◽

Jiameng Wu ◽

Hongfan Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Dental Pulp ◽

Umbilical Vein ◽

Dental Pulp Stem Cells ◽

Exposure Model ◽

Dental Tissues ◽

Normal Rat ◽

Pulp Exposure ◽

Angiogenic Markers

IntroductionThis work aimed to reveal the crucial role of Nell-1 in the angiogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) alone or co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) in vitro and whether this molecule is involved in the pulp exposure model in vivo.MethodsImmunofluorescence was conducted to ascertain the location of Nell-1 on DPSCs, HUVECs, and normal rat dental tissues. RT-PCR, Western blot, and ELISA were performed to observe the expression levels of angiogenic markers and determine the angiogenic differentiation of Nell-1 on DPSCs alone or co-cultured with HUVECs, as well as in vitro tube formation assay. Blood vessel number for all groups was observed and compared using immunohistochemistry by establishing a rat pulp exposure model.ResultsNell-1 is highly expressed in the nucleus of DPSCs and HUVECs and is co-expressed with angiogenic markers in normal rat pulp tissues. Hence, Nell-1 can promote the angiogenic marker expression in DPSCs alone and co-cultured with other cells and can enhance angiogenesis in vitro as well as in the pulp exposure model.ConclusionNell-1 may play a positive role in the angiogenic differentiation of DPSCs.

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Kisspeptin-10 Inhibits Angiogenesis in Human Placental Vessels ex Vivo and Endothelial Cells in Vitro

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2010-0565 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 151 (12) ◽

pp. 5927-5934 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Thayalini Ramaesh ◽

James J. Logie ◽

Antonia K. Roseweir ◽

Robert P. Millar ◽

Brian R. Walker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Blood Vessels ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Umbilical Vein ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Trophoblast Invasion ◽

In Vitro Assays ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Inhibition Of Proliferation

Recent studies suggest that kisspeptin (a neuropeptide central to the regulation of gonadotrophin secretion) has diverse roles in human physiology, including a putative role in implantation and placental function. Kisspeptin and its receptor are present in human blood vessels, where they mediate vasoconstriction, and kisspeptin is known to inhibit tumor metastasis and trophoblast invasion, both processes involving angiogenesis. We hypothesized that kisspeptin contributes to the regulation of angiogenesis in the reproductive system. The presence of the kisspeptin receptor was confirmed in human placental blood vessels and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using immunochemistry. The ability of kisspeptin-10 (KP-10) (a shorter biologically active processed peptide) to inhibit angiogenesis was tested in explanted human placental arteries and HUVEC using complementary ex vivo and in vitro assays. KP-10 inhibited new vessel sprouting from placental arteries embedded in Matrigel and tube-like structure formation by HUVEC, in a concentration-dependent manner. KP-10 had no effect on HUVEC viability or apoptosis but induced concentration-dependent inhibition of proliferation and migration. In conclusion, KP-10 has antiangiogenic effects and, given its high expression in the placenta, may contribute to the regulation of angiogenesis in this tissue.

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Abstract 30: In vitro Fabrication of Human Cardiac Tissues With Porcine Perfusable Blood Vessels

Circulation Research ◽

10.1161/res.119.suppl_1.30 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Akitoshi Inui ◽

Hidekazu Sekine ◽

Kazunori Sano ◽

Izumi Dobashi ◽

Azumi Yoshida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Vessels ◽

Cardiac Tissue ◽

Severe Heart Failure ◽

Perfusion Culture ◽

Cardiac Cell ◽

Cell Sheets ◽

Cardiac Tissues ◽

Bioreactor System ◽

Human Cardiac Tissue

The definitive treatment of severe heart failure is heart transplantation; however the number of heart transplantation procedures performed in Japan per year ranges from 30-40 due to donor shortage. Therefore, recently other treatments such as ventricular assist device or regenerative therapy by human cardiac tissue engineering have been developed and are considered as appropriate alternatives. We have developed an original technology, which was named cell-sheet based tissue engineering to fabricate functional three-dimensional tissue by layering cell sheets. The utilization of this technique allowed us to successfully engineer thick rat cardiac tissue with perfusable blood vessels in vitro. Here, we demonstrate a technique to engineer human cardiac tissue with perfusable blood vessels using cardiac cell sheets derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, and porcine small intestine as a vascular bed for perfusion culture. The small intestine was harvested from with a branch of the superior mesenteric artery and vein and underwent mucosal resection after harvested tissue was cut open. To engineer cardiac tissue with perfusable blood vessels, cardiac cell sheets co-cultured with endothelial cells, were triple-layered and then was overlaid on the vascular bed in the bioreactor system. One day after perfusion culture, overlaid cardiac tissues pulsated spontaneously and were synchronized. The cardiac tissue construct was viable tissue without any observable necrosis. Furthermore we examined the possibility of transplantation of the in vitro engineered human cardiac tissue with the connectable host artery and vein. Engineered cardiac tissue was removed from the bioreactor system after 4-day perfusion, and transplanted to another pig heart. The branch of the superior mesenteric artery and vein of the graft were then reconnected to the host internal thoracic artery and vein. When the cardiac tissue reperfused, it began to beat spontaneously after a few minutes. We believe that this method is useful to fabricate functional cardiac tissue and may become an appropriate treatment for severe heart failure.

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Isolation, Characterization, and Agent-Based Modeling of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Bio-construct for Myocardial Regeneration Scaffold Design

Data ◽

10.3390/data4020071 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 71 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Diana Victoria Ramírez López ◽

María Isabel Melo Escobar ◽

Carlos A. Peña-Reyes ◽

Álvaro J. Rojas Arciniegas ◽

Paola Andrea Neuta Arciniegas

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

In Silico ◽

Cardiac Tissue ◽

Cellular Level ◽

Cell Behavior ◽

Agent Based Model ◽

Agent Based ◽

And Migration

Regenerative medicine involves methods to control and modify normal tissue repair processes. Polymer and cell constructs are under research to create tissue that replaces the affected area in cardiac tissue after myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the behavior of differentiated and undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro and in silico and to compare the results that both offer when it comes to the design process of biodevices for the treatment of infarcted myocardium in biomodels. To assess in vitro behavior, MSCs are isolated from rat bone marrow and seeded undifferentiated and differentiated in multiple scaffolds of a gelled biomaterial. Subsequently, cell behavior is evaluated by trypan blue and fluorescence microscopy, which showed that the cells presented high viability and low cell migration in the biomaterial. An agent-based model intended to reproduce as closely as possible the behavior of individual MSCs by simulating cellular-level processes was developed, where the in vitro results are used to identify parameters in the agent-based model that is developed, and which simulates cellular-level processes: Apoptosis, differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Thanks to the results obtained, suggestions for good results in the design and fabrication of the proposed scaffolds and how an agent-based model can be helpful for testing hypothesis are presented in the discussion. It is concluded that assessment of cell behavior through the observation of viability, proliferation, migration, inflammation reduction, and spatial composition in vitro and in silico, represents an appropriate strategy for scaffold engineering.

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