Cellular modulation by the elasticity of biomaterials

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengxuan Han ◽  
Caihong Zhu ◽  
Qianping Guo ◽  
Huilin Yang ◽  
Bin Li

The elasticity of the extracellular matrix has been increasingly recognized as a dominating factor of cell fate and activities. This review provides an overview of the general principles and recent advances in the field of matrix elasticity-dependent regulation of a variety of cellular activities and functions, the underlying biomechanical and molecular mechanisms, as well as the pathophysiological implications.

2014 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 572a
Author(s):  
Medha M. Pathak ◽  
Jamison L. Nourse ◽  
Truc Tran ◽  
Janahan Arulmoli ◽  
Lisa A. Flanagan ◽  
...  

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
Katharina Amschler ◽  
Michael P. Schön

Cancer comprises a large group of complex diseases which arise from the misrouted interplay of mutated cells with other cells and the extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix is a highly dynamic structure providing biochemical and biophysical cues that regulate tumor cell behavior. While the relevance of biochemical signals has been appreciated, the complex input of biophysical properties like the variation of ligand density and distribution is a relatively new field in cancer research. Nanotechnology has become a very promising tool to mimic the physiological dimension of biophysical signals and their positive (i.e., growth-promoting) and negative (i.e., anti-tumoral or cytotoxic) effects on cellular functions. Here, we review tumor-associated cellular functions such as proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and phenotype switch that are regulated by biophysical parameters such as ligand density or substrate elasticity. We also address the question of how such factors exert inhibitory or even toxic effects upon tumor cells. We describe three principles of nanostructured model systems based on block copolymer nanolithography, electron beam lithography, and DNA origami that have contributed to our understanding of how biophysical signals direct cancer cell fate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3955
Author(s):  
László Bálint ◽  
Zoltán Jakus

Our understanding of the function and development of the lymphatic system is expanding rapidly due to the identification of specific molecular markers and the availability of novel genetic approaches. In connection, it has been demonstrated that mechanical forces contribute to the endothelial cell fate commitment and play a critical role in influencing lymphatic endothelial cell shape and alignment by promoting sprouting, development, maturation of the lymphatic network, and coordinating lymphatic valve morphogenesis and the stabilization of lymphatic valves. However, the mechanosignaling and mechanotransduction pathways involved in these processes are poorly understood. Here, we provide an overview of the impact of mechanical forces on lymphatics and summarize the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the mechanosensation and mechanotransduction by lymphatic endothelial cells. We also discuss how these mechanosensitive pathways affect endothelial cell fate and regulate lymphatic development and function. A better understanding of these mechanisms may provide a deeper insight into the pathophysiology of various diseases associated with impaired lymphatic function, such as lymphedema and may eventually lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for these conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5619
Author(s):  
Iris Ribitsch ◽  
Andrea Bileck ◽  
Alexander D. Aldoshin ◽  
Maciej M. Kańduła ◽  
Rupert L. Mayer ◽  
...  

Tendinopathies are painful, disabling conditions that afflict 25% of the adult human population. Filling an unmet need for realistic large-animal models, we here present an ovine model of tendon injury for the comparative study of adult scarring repair and fetal regeneration. Complete regeneration of the fetal tendon within 28 days is demonstrated, while adult tendon defects remained macroscopically and histologically evident five months post-injury. In addition to a comprehensive histological assessment, proteome analyses of secretomes were performed. Confirming histological data, a specific and pronounced inflammation accompanied by activation of neutrophils in adult tendon defects was observed, corroborated by the significant up-regulation of pro-inflammatory factors, neutrophil attracting chemokines, the release of potentially tissue-damaging antimicrobial and extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes, and a response to oxidative stress. In contrast, secreted proteins of injured fetal tendons included proteins initiating the resolution of inflammation or promoting functional extracellular matrix production. These results demonstrate the power and relevance of our novel ovine fetal tendon regeneration model, which thus promises to accelerate research in the field. First insights from the model already support our molecular understanding of successful fetal tendon healing processes and may guide improved therapeutic strategies.


2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. 897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharmistha Saha ◽  
Pang-Kuo Lo ◽  
Xinrui Duan ◽  
Hexin Chen ◽  
Qian Wang

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ballester-Beltrán ◽  
D. Moratal ◽  
M. Lebourg ◽  
M. Salmerón-Sánchez

Conventional 2D substrates fail to represent the natural environment of cells surrounded by the 3D extracellular matrix (ECM).


2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinming Wang ◽  
Samuel Senyo

Hypothesis and objective: We hypothesize that transplantation of decellularized cardiac extracellular matrix (dECM) lowers fibrosis and fibroblast differentiation. In this study we investigated collagen deposition and fibroblast differentiation in post-MI hearts and heart explants of various stiffness after dECM hydrogel treatments. The objectives are 1) determining if dECM derived from fetal and adult porcine hearts reduces fibrosis in injured hearts; and 2) identifying specific signaling pathways that regulate fibroblasts differentiation induced by extracellular proteins. Methods: Porcine dECM was injected immediately after ligating coronary artery in P1 mice. Histology was conducted on day 7 post-myocardial infarction (MI). A mice ventricle explant model was used to investigate the molecular mechanisms. Results: We observed that fetal dECM treatment lowered fibrosis and fibroblast differentiation in post-MI hearts (Fig.1). Fibroblast differentiation as indicated by α-smooth muscle actin expression in vimentin or platelet derived growth factor receptor α positive cells showed an inhibitory effect of fetal dECM on fibroblast differentiation. Using a heart explant model of modulated microenvironment stiffness, we demonstrated that increasing tissue stiffness stimulates fibroblast differentiation and collagen deposition. Fetal dECM treatment, however, inhibited fibroblast differentiation induced by increasing microenvironment stiffness. Transcriptome analysis revealed that two cytoskeleton-related genes, macrophage capping protein (CAPG) and leupaxin (LPXN), are modulated by dECM treatments. Using cytoskeleton polymerization modulators and siRNA, we demonstrated that fetal dECM lowers fibroblast differentiation through CAPG.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Guarani ◽  
Franck Dequiedt ◽  
Andreas M Zeiher ◽  
Stefanie Dimmeler ◽  
Michael Potente

The Notch signaling pathway is a versatile regulator of cell fate decisions and plays an essential role for embryonic and postnatal vascular development. As only modest differences in Notch pathway activity suffice to determine dramatic differences in blood vessel development, this pathway is tightly regulated by a variety of molecular mechanisms. Reversible acetylation has emerged as an important post-translational modification of several non-histone proteins, which are targeted by histone deacetylases (HDACs). Here, we report that specifically the Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) is itself an acetylated protein and that its acetylation level is tightly regulated by the SIRT1 deacetylase, which we have previously identified as a key regulator of endothelial angiogenic functions during vascular growth. Coexpression of NICD with histone acetyltransferases such as p300 or PCAF induced a dose- and time-dependent acetylation of NICD. Blocking HDAC activity using the class III HDAC inhibitor nicotinamid (NAM), but not the class I/II HDAC inhibior trichostatin A, resulted in a significant increase of NICD acetylation suggesting that NICD is targetd by class III HDACs for deacetylation. Among the class III HDACs with deacetylase activity (SIRT1, 2, 3, 5), knock down of specifically SIRT1 resulted in enhanced acetylation of NICD. Moreover, wild type SIRT1, but not a catalytically inactive mutant catalyzed the deacetylation of NICD in a nicotinamid-dependent manner. SIRT1, but SIRT2, SIRT3 or SIRT5, associated with NICD through its catalytic domain demonstrating that SIRT1 is a direct NICD deacetylase. Enhancing NICD acetylation by either overexpression of p300 or inhibition of SIRT1 activity using NAM or RNAi-mediated knock down resulted in enhanced NICD protein stability by blocking its ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Consistent with these results, loss of SIRT1 amplified Notch target gene expression in endothelial cells in response to NICD overexpression or treatment with the Notch ligand Dll4. In summary, our results identify reversible acetylation of NICD as a novel molecular mechanism to control Notch signaling and suggest that deacetylation of NICD by SIRT1 plays a key role in the dynamic regulation of Notch signaling in endothelial cells.


2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Bravatà ◽  
Francesco P Cammarata ◽  
Luigi Minafra ◽  
Pietro Pisciotta ◽  
Concetta Scazzone ◽  
...  

Abstract Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, highly heterogeneous at both the clinical and molecular level. Radiation therapy (RT) represents an efficient modality to treat localized tumor in BC care, although the choice of a unique treatment plan for all BC patients, including RT, may not be the best option. Technological advances in RT are evolving with the use of charged particle beams (i.e. protons) which, due to a more localized delivery of the radiation dose, reduce the dose administered to the heart compared with conventional RT. However, few data regarding proton-induced molecular changes are currently available. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe the production of immunological molecules and gene expression profiles induced by proton irradiation. We performed Luminex assay and cDNA microarray analyses to study the biological processes activated following irradiation with proton beams, both in the non-tumorigenic MCF10A cell line and in two tumorigenic BC cell lines, MCF7 and MDA-MB-231. The immunological signatures were dose dependent in MCF10A and MCF7 cell lines, whereas MDA-MB-231 cells show a strong pro-inflammatory profile regardless of the dose delivered. Clonogenic assay revealed different surviving fractions according to the breast cell lines analyzed. We found the involvement of genes related to cell response to proton irradiation and reported specific cell line- and dose-dependent gene signatures, able to drive cell fate after radiation exposure. Our data could represent a useful tool to better understand the molecular mechanisms elicited by proton irradiation and to predict treatment outcome


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1321-1378 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Gammeltoft

During the last decade, earlier suggestions that insulin acts at the plasma membrane level via combination with receptors have been amply confirmed in studies of 125I-labeled insulin binding kinetics. Efforts have been devoted to the development of homogeneous, stable, and bioactive tracers, and a preparation of monoiodo[TyrA14]insulin showed 100-125% biological activity. The initially simple model of reversible, bimolecular, and noncooperative interaction between receptor and insulin has been revised to include the existence of at least three affinity states that may be linked to modulation of the biological response induced by the insulin-receptor complex. Thus negative cooperativity seems important in reducing oscillations of insulin action with variations in plasma insulin concentration, and formation of a high-affinity state or positive cooperativity may lead to desensitization of receptors. The kinetic phenomena suggest that receptor-binding affinity and function are actively regulated by insulin itself. At present the receptor model is purely functional and does not imply molecular mechanisms. However, recent advances in the analysis of receptor structure and biochemistry promise that the molecular equivalents of the kinetic phenomena may be elucidated in the near future. Furthermore the reaction between receptor and insulin is irreversible because of degradation of receptor-bound insulin, which may result in termination of the metabolic activation. Morphological and biochemical work suggests that internalization of the receptor-insulin complex from the plasma membrane transfers insulin to intracellular organelles like the lysosomes, the Golgi apparatus, or nucleus, where degradation by insulin protease takes place, whereas the receptor is recycled back to the membrane. Recent advances in the studies of biosynthesis and cellular dynamics of receptors indicate that intracellular processing and redistribution of binding sites may play a role in the mechanism of insulin action. Insulin receptors are widely distributed in all cell types, but evidence has accumulated that receptors show tissue and species variations in their functional properties regarding binding affinity, insulin specificity, cooperativity, and insulin degradation and in structural properties such as antigenic determinants and glycosidic composition. Perhaps these differences reflect cellular adaptations and variations in the physiological role of insulin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


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