Engineering of endothelial cell response on biphasic polyurethane matrix

Polyurethanes (PUs) are composed of soft and hard segments, and segmental interactions induce biphasic morphologies which can influence endothelial cell (EC) organization by regulating cell–matrix and cell–cell interactions. In this study, we explored this effect using poly(caprolactone) (PCL)-based PU, where the soft segment was composed of PCL and the hard segment was composed of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and L-tyrosine-based dipeptide (DTH). The composition of the PUs was varied by altering the PCL molecular weight and correspondingly, different phase morphologies were observed. Organization and functional state of ECs on these PUs showed that composition and phase morphology of PU have a significant effect on cellular response. The ECs formed an organized network with cord-like structures which resulted in interconnected loops when soft and hard segment fractions were phase-separated. VE-cadherin (for cell–cell adherence) and vinculin (for cell–matrix focal adhesion) localized at the tip of interconnecting cells in the tube structures indicated synchronized cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions.

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PECAM-1 regulates proangiogenic properties of endothelial cells through modulation of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.00246.2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 299 (6) ◽

pp. C1468-C1484 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

SunYoung Park ◽

Terri A. DiMaio ◽

Elizabeth A. Scheef ◽

Christine M. Sorenson ◽

Nader Sheibani

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Endothelial Cells ◽

Cell Adhesion ◽

Endothelial Cell ◽

Immunoglobulin Superfamily ◽

Capillary Morphogenesis ◽

Cell Matrix ◽

Matrix Interactions ◽

Cell Matrix Interactions ◽

Cell Cell

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules with important roles in angiogenesis and inflammation. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms, and the role that specific PECAM-1 isoforms play in these processes, remain elusive. We recently showed attenuation of retinal vascular development and neovascularization in PECAM-1-deficient (PECAM-1−/−) mice. To gain further insight into the role of PECAM-1 in these processes, we isolated primary retinal endothelial cells (EC) from wild-type (PECAM-1+/+) and PECAM-1−/− mice. Lack of PECAM-1 had a significant impact on endothelial cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, resulting in attenuation of cell migration and capillary morphogenesis. Mechanistically these changes were associated with a significant decrease in expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in PECAM-1−/− retinal EC. PECAM-1−/− retinal EC also exhibited a lower rate of apoptosis under basal and challenged conditions, consistent with their increased growth rate. Furthermore, reexpression of PECAM-1 was sufficient to restore migration and capillary morphogenesis of null cells in an isoform-specific manner. Thus PECAM-1 expression modulates proangiogenic properties of EC, and these activities are significantly influenced by alternative splicing of its cytoplasmic domain.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Angiopoietins assemble distinct Tie2 signalling complexes in endothelial cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1115426.571456 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Taina Pihlajaniemi

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cell ◽

Cell Matrix ◽

Cell Cell

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Decellularized Porcine Cartilage Scaffold; Validation of Decellularization and Evaluation of Biomarkers of Chondrogenesis

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22126241 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. 6241

Author(s):

Roxanne N. Stone ◽

Stephanie M. Frahs ◽

Makenna J. Hardy ◽

Akina Fujimoto ◽

Xinzhu Pu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cellular Response ◽

Cell Attachment ◽

The United States ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Surgical Approaches ◽

Cell Matrix ◽

Cartilage Restoration ◽

Cell Matrix Interactions ◽

Decellularized Scaffold ◽

Extracellular Matrix Scaffold

Osteoarthritis is a major concern in the United States and worldwide. Current non-surgical and surgical approaches alleviate pain but show little evidence of cartilage restoration. Cell-based treatments may hold promise for the regeneration of hyaline cartilage-like tissue at the site of injury or wear. Cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions have been shown to drive cell differentiation pathways. Biomaterials for clinically relevant applications can be generated from decellularized porcine auricular cartilage. This material may represent a suitable scaffold on which to seed and grow chondrocytes to create new cartilage. In this study, we used decellularization techniques to create an extracellular matrix scaffold that supports chondrocyte cell attachment and growth in tissue culture conditions. Results presented here evaluate the decellularization process histologically and molecularly. We identified new and novel biomarker profiles that may aid future cartilage decellularization efforts. Additionally, the resulting scaffold was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and proteomics. Cellular response to the decellularized scaffold was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR for gene expression analysis.

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