scholarly journals A 3D-Printed, Modular, and Parallelized Microfluidic System with Customizable ECM Integration to Investigate the Roles of Basement Membrane Topography on Endothelial Cells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curtis G. Jones ◽  
Tianjiao Huang ◽  
Jay H. Chung ◽  
Chengpeng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Microfluidic System ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
Membrane Topography ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Easy Integration

<p>Because dysfunctions of endothelial cells are involved in many pathologies, <i>in vitro </i>endothelial cell models for pathophysiological and pharmaceutical studies have been a valuable research tool. Although numerous microfluidic-based endothelial models have been reported, they had the cells cultured on a flat surface without considering the possible 3D structure of the native ECM. Endothelial cells rest on the basement membrane <i>in vivo</i>, which contains an aligned microfibrous topography. To better understand and model the cells, it is necessary to know if and how the fibrous topography can affect endothelial functions. With conventional fully integrated microfluidic apparatus, it is difficult to include additional topographies in a microchannel. Therefore, we developed a modular microfluidic system by 3D-printing and electrospinning, which enabled easy integration and switching of desired ECM topographies. Also, with standardized designs, the system allowed for high flow rates up to 4000 µL/min, which covered the full shear stress range for endothelial studies. We found that the aligned fibrous topography on the ECM altered arginine metabolism in endothelial cells, and thus increased nitric oxide production. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most versatile endothelial model that has been reported, and the new knowledge generated thereby lays a groundwork for future endothelial research and modeling. </p>

scholarly journals A 3D-Printed, Modular, and Parallelized Microfluidic System with Customizable ECM Integration to Investigate the Roles of Basement Membrane Topography on Endothelial Cells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curtis G. Jones ◽  
Tianjiao Huang ◽  
Jay H. Chung ◽  
Chengpeng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Microfluidic System ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
Membrane Topography ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Easy Integration

<p>Because dysfunctions of endothelial cells are involved in many pathologies, <i>in vitro </i>endothelial cell models for pathophysiological and pharmaceutical studies have been a valuable research tool. Although numerous microfluidic-based endothelial models have been reported, they had the cells cultured on a flat surface without considering the possible 3D structure of the native ECM. Endothelial cells rest on the basement membrane <i>in vivo</i>, which contains an aligned microfibrous topography. To better understand and model the cells, it is necessary to know if and how the fibrous topography can affect endothelial functions. With conventional fully integrated microfluidic apparatus, it is difficult to include additional topographies in a microchannel. Therefore, we developed a modular microfluidic system by 3D-printing and electrospinning, which enabled easy integration and switching of desired ECM topographies. Also, with standardized designs, the system allowed for high flow rates up to 4000 µL/min, which covered the full shear stress range for endothelial studies. We found that the aligned fibrous topography on the ECM altered arginine metabolism in endothelial cells, and thus increased nitric oxide production. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most versatile endothelial model that has been reported, and the new knowledge generated thereby lays a groundwork for future endothelial research and modeling. </p>

scholarly journals Perturbations in the fibrinolytic pathway abolish cyst formation but not capillary-like organization of cultured murine endothelial cells

Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 3206-3217 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Dubois-Stringfellow ◽  
A Jonczyk ◽  
VL Bautch
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Cyst Formation ◽  
Fibrin Gels

Abstract Fibrinolytic activity and its relation to morphogenesis was investigated in several transformed murine endothelial cell lines and primary cultures of endothelial cells. Two in vitro systems, fibrin gels and Matrigel (Collaborative Research, Bedford, MA), were used. Fibrin gels model a fibrin-rich extracellular matrix that frequently supports neovascularization in vivo, and Matrigel models the basement membrane surrounding quiescent endothelial cells in vivo. The transformed endothelial cell lines have higher levels of plasminogen activator (PA) mRNA than primary cultures of endothelial cells, and an increased PA-mediated proteolytic activity was correlated with formation of cysts in fibrin gels. Addition of neutralizing anti- urokinase antibodies, plasminogen depletion, or addition of a plasmin inhibitor prevented cyst formation. Addition of plasminogen restored the ability to form cysts in the plasminogen-depleted system. Normal endothelial cells organized into capillary-like structures in fibrin gels regardless of manipulations affecting the fibrinolytic pathway. In Matrigel, both transformed and primary cultures of endothelial cells rapidly formed a capillary-like network that was not affected by plasminogen depletion or addition of plasmin inhibitors. Thus, elements of the fibrinolytic pathway necessary for cyst formation are not critical in capillary-like structure formation on a reconstituted basement membrane. These results suggest that plasmin is essential for hemangioma formation but is not critical to the organizational behavior of normal endothelial cells.

scholarly journals Capillary endothelial cell cultures: phenotypic modulation by matrix components.

1983 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Madri ◽  
S K Williams
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Phenotypic Expression ◽  
Aortic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Capillary Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell Cultures ◽  
Cell Densities

Capillary endothelial cells of rat epididymal fat pad were isolated and cultured in media conditioned by bovine aortic endothelial cells and substrata consisting of interstitial or basement membrane collagens. When these cells were grown on interstitial collagens they underwent proliferation, formed a continuous cell layer and, if cultured for long periods of time, formed occasional tubelike structures. In contrast, when these cells were grown on basement membrane collagens, they did not proliferate but did aggregate and form tubelike structures at early culture times. In addition, cells grown on basement membrane substrata expressed more basement membrane constituents as compared with cells grown on interstitial matrices when assayed by immunoperoxidase methods and quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent inhibition assays. Furthermore, when cells were grown on either side of washed, acellular amnionic membranes their phenotypes were markedly different. On the basement membrane surface they adhered, spread, and formed tubelike structures but did not migrate through the basement membrane. In contrast, when seeded on the stromal surface, these cells were observed to proliferate and migrate into the stromal aspect of the amnion and ultimately formed tubelike structures at high cell densities at longer culture periods (21 d). Thus, connective tissue components play important roles in regulating the phenotypic expression of capillary endothelial cells in vitro, and similar roles of the collagenous components of the extracellular matrix may exist in vivo following injury and during angiogenesis. Furthermore, the culture systems outlined here may be of use in the further study of differentiated, organized capillary endothelial cells in culture.

Controlled Adipose-derived Stromal Cells Differentiation into Adipose and Endothelial Cells in a 3D Structure Established by Cell-assembly Technique

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 31-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingen Xu ◽  
Yongnian Van ◽  
Haixia Liu ◽  
Rui Yag ◽  
Xiaohong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Spherical Shape ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Cell Assembly ◽  
Adipose Tissue Engineering ◽  
Assembly Technique

One of the major obstacles in engineering thick and complex tissues while vascularizing tissues in vitro is to maintain cell viability during tissue growth and structural organization. Adipose-derived stromal (ADS) cells were used to establish a multicellular system through a cell-assembly technique. Attempts were made to control ADS cells differentiation into different targeted cell types according to their positions within an orderly 3D structure. Oil red 0 staining confirmed that the ADS cells in the structure differentiated into adipocytes with a spherical shape while immunostaining tests confirmed that the endothelial growth factor induced ADS cells on the walls of channels differentiated into mature endothelial cells and then organized into tubular structures throughout the engineered 3D structure. The endothelin-1 and nitric oxide release rules of the endothelial cells were coincidental with those in vivo. This study provides a new approach to engineer orderly endothelial vessel networks in vitro and has potential applications in adipose-tissue engineering.

scholarly journals Perturbations in the fibrinolytic pathway abolish cyst formation but not capillary-like organization of cultured murine endothelial cells

Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 3206-3217 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Dubois-Stringfellow ◽  
A Jonczyk ◽  
VL Bautch
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Cyst Formation ◽  
Fibrin Gels

Fibrinolytic activity and its relation to morphogenesis was investigated in several transformed murine endothelial cell lines and primary cultures of endothelial cells. Two in vitro systems, fibrin gels and Matrigel (Collaborative Research, Bedford, MA), were used. Fibrin gels model a fibrin-rich extracellular matrix that frequently supports neovascularization in vivo, and Matrigel models the basement membrane surrounding quiescent endothelial cells in vivo. The transformed endothelial cell lines have higher levels of plasminogen activator (PA) mRNA than primary cultures of endothelial cells, and an increased PA-mediated proteolytic activity was correlated with formation of cysts in fibrin gels. Addition of neutralizing anti- urokinase antibodies, plasminogen depletion, or addition of a plasmin inhibitor prevented cyst formation. Addition of plasminogen restored the ability to form cysts in the plasminogen-depleted system. Normal endothelial cells organized into capillary-like structures in fibrin gels regardless of manipulations affecting the fibrinolytic pathway. In Matrigel, both transformed and primary cultures of endothelial cells rapidly formed a capillary-like network that was not affected by plasminogen depletion or addition of plasmin inhibitors. Thus, elements of the fibrinolytic pathway necessary for cyst formation are not critical in capillary-like structure formation on a reconstituted basement membrane. These results suggest that plasmin is essential for hemangioma formation but is not critical to the organizational behavior of normal endothelial cells.

scholarly journals Vasoactive amines directly modify endothelial cells to affect polymorphonuclear leukocyte diapedesis in vitro

Blood ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1563-1569
Author(s):  
J Doukas ◽  
D Shepro ◽  
HB Hechtman
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte ◽  
Cytochalasin B ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Stress Fiber ◽  
Aortic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells

Bovine aortic endothelial cells were cultured on the basement membrane surface of amnionic membrane and used as a substrate for polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) diapedesis in vitro. Norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5HT), or phalloidin treatment of the endothelial cells (ECs) reduces, whereas histamine or cytochalasin B increases, the number of PMNs migrating across the ECs and amnionic membrane. In contrast, amine treatment of PMNs or acellular amnionic membrane does not alter PMN diapedesis or chemotaxis. The NE and histamine effects are blocked by appropriate receptor antagonists, but the 5HT effect is not. All the agents' effects are also reversible. Qualitatively similar effects on EC permeability to Evan's blue-labeled albumin occur with all agents; however, PMN adhesion to ECs is not affected. Previously, we reported that NE and 5HT increase stress fiber numbers and decrease EC permeability to macromolecules in vitro, whereas histamine has the opposite effects, and that NE and 5HT eliminate the erythrocyte extravasation associated with thrombocytopenia in vivo. In this study, we propose that these vasoactive amines also alter PMN diapedesis in vitro through a direct effect on the EC, in part due to alterations in the EC cytoskeleton.

scholarly journals Vasoactive amines directly modify endothelial cells to affect polymorphonuclear leukocyte diapedesis in vitro

Blood ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1563-1569 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Doukas ◽  
D Shepro ◽  
HB Hechtman
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte ◽  
Cytochalasin B ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Stress Fiber ◽  
Aortic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells

Abstract Bovine aortic endothelial cells were cultured on the basement membrane surface of amnionic membrane and used as a substrate for polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) diapedesis in vitro. Norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5HT), or phalloidin treatment of the endothelial cells (ECs) reduces, whereas histamine or cytochalasin B increases, the number of PMNs migrating across the ECs and amnionic membrane. In contrast, amine treatment of PMNs or acellular amnionic membrane does not alter PMN diapedesis or chemotaxis. The NE and histamine effects are blocked by appropriate receptor antagonists, but the 5HT effect is not. All the agents' effects are also reversible. Qualitatively similar effects on EC permeability to Evan's blue-labeled albumin occur with all agents; however, PMN adhesion to ECs is not affected. Previously, we reported that NE and 5HT increase stress fiber numbers and decrease EC permeability to macromolecules in vitro, whereas histamine has the opposite effects, and that NE and 5HT eliminate the erythrocyte extravasation associated with thrombocytopenia in vivo. In this study, we propose that these vasoactive amines also alter PMN diapedesis in vitro through a direct effect on the EC, in part due to alterations in the EC cytoskeleton.

scholarly journals Basement membrane-like structures containing NTH α1(IV) are formed around the endothelial cell network in a novel in vitro angiogenesis model

2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (2) ◽  
pp. C314-C325
Author(s):  
Yongchol Shin ◽  
Akane Moriya ◽  
Yuta Tohnishi ◽  
Takafumi Watanabe ◽  
Yasutada Imamura
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Type Iv Collagen ◽  
Vascular Endothelial Cells ◽  
Culture Dish ◽  
Cell Network ◽  
Type Iv

Angiogenesis is a process through which new blood vessels are formed by sprouting and elongating from existing blood vessels. Several methods have been used to replicate angiogenesis in vitro, including culturing vascular endothelial cells on Matrigel and coculturing with endothelial cells and fibroblasts. However, the angiogenesis elongation process has not been completely clarified in these models. We therefore propose a new in vitro model of angiogenesis, suitable for observing vascular elongation, by seeding a spheroid cocultured from endothelial cells and fibroblasts into a culture dish. In this model, endothelial cells formed tubular networks elongated from the spheroid with a lumen structure and were connected with tight junctions. A basement membrane (BM)-like structure was observed around the tubular network, similarly to blood vessels in vivo. These results suggested that blood vessel-like structure could be reconstituted in our model. Laminin and type IV collagen, main BM components, were highly localized around the network, along with nontriple helical form of type IV collagen α1-chain [NTH α1(IV)]. In an ascorbic acid-depleted condition, laminin and NTH α1(IV) were observed around the network but not the triple-helical form of type IV collagen and the network was unstable. These results suggest that laminin and NTH α1(IV) are involved in the formation of tubular network and type IV collagen is necessary to stabilize the network.

CD99 and CD99L2 act at the same site as, but independently of, PECAM-1 during leukocyte diapedesis

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (7) ◽  
pp. 1172-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gabriele Bixel ◽  
Hang Li ◽  
Bjoern Petri ◽  
Alexander G. Khandoga ◽  
Andrej Khandoga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Gene Disruption ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Leukocyte Extravasation ◽  
Or Gene ◽  
Endothelial Basement Membrane ◽  
Factor Α

Abstract Leukocyte extravasation depends on various adhesion receptors at endothelial cell contacts. Here we have analyzed how mouse CD99 and CD99L2 cooperate with PECAM-1. We found that antibodies against mouse CD99 and PECAM-1 trap neutrophils between endothelial cells in in vitro transmigration assays. A sequential function, as has been suggested for human PECAM-1 and CD99, could not be demonstrated. In contrast to these in vitro results, blocking CD99 or CD99L2 or gene disruption of PECAM-1 trapped neutrophils in vivo between endothelial cells and the underlying basement membrane as revealed by electron microscopy and by 3-dimensional confocal fluorescence microscopy in the inflamed cremaster tissue. Leukocyte extravasation was inhibited in interleukin-1β-inflamed peritoneum and in the cremaster by PECAM-1 gene disruption and was further attenuated by blocking antibodies against CD99 and CD99L2. In addition, CD99 and CD99L2 were required for leukocyte extravasation in the cremaster after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-α, where the need for PECAM-1 is known to be bypassed. We conclude that CD99 and CD99L2 act independently of PECAM-1 in leukocyte extravasation and cooperate in an independent way to help neutrophils overcome the endothelial basement membrane.

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