Article
Cell Biology
Jingsi Yang, Nan Ding, Dandan Zhao, Yunsheng Yu, Chunlai Shao, Xuan Ni, Zhen-Ao Zhao, Zhen Li, Jianquan Chen, Zheng Ying, Miao Yu, Wei Lei, Shijun Hu
Summary: The study developed a new strategy of using EBSS treatment to mimic in vivo starvation event, promoting the maturation of hESC-CMs. Intermittent starvation through EBSS significantly enhanced structural, metabolic, and electrophysiological maturity of hESC-CMs.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Chao Sun, Yinhua Dong, Jun Wei, Meng Cai, Dongfang Liang, Yongqing Fu, You Zhou, Yi Sui, Fangda Wu, Roman Mikhaylov, Hanlin Wang, Feifei Fan, Zhihua Xie, Mercedes Stringer, Zhiyong Yang, Zhenlin Wu, Liangfei Tian, Xin Yang
Summary: This study develops a highly effective acoustic stimulator working at -20 MHz to investigate the roles of acousto-mechanical stimuli in the differentiation of hESCs. Our results show that acoustic dose alters the expression of extracellular matrix and physiological activity-related genes, indicating that acoustic stimulation is an important tool in regulating the stem cells' differentiation processes in cell therapy.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Tingting Gao, Xiyuan Zhao, Jie Hao, Yao Tian, Huike Ma, Wenjing Liu, Bin An, Faguo Sun, Shasha Liu, Baojie Guo, Shuaishuai Niu, Zhongwen Li, Chenxin Wang, Yukai Wang, Guihai Feng, Liu Wang, Wei Li, Jun Wu, Meijin Guo, Qi Zhou, Qi Gu
Summary: In this study, a new microcarrier with hyaluronic acid (HA) as the core material was developed for scalable serum-free suspension culture of hESC-derived MSCs. The optimal microcarriers, with a coating collagen concentration of 100 μg/mL or concave-structured surface (cHAMCs), allowed for the expansion of IMRCs within six days with a high yield. The harvested cells showed high viability, immunomodulatory and regenerative therapeutic promise, as well as increased secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM).
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Andrea L. Bredemeyer, Junedh M. Amrute, Andrew L. Koenig, Rachel A. Idol, Li He, Stephanie A. Luff, Carissa Dege, Jamison M. Leid, Joel D. Schilling, J. Travis Hinson, Mary C. Dinauer, Christopher M. Sturgeon, Kory J. Lavine
Summary: Tissue-resident macrophages play a crucial role in organ homeostasis, tissue repair, remodeling, and regeneration. Researchers have developed a system to generate macrophages that resemble tissue-resident or monocyte-derived subsets, allowing for the study of their function and potential applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Baojie Guo, Yongchao Duan, Zhongwen Li, Yao Tian, Xuedi Cheng, Chunxu Liang, Wenjing Liu, Bin An, Wumei Wei, Tingting Gao, Shasha Liu, Xiyuan Zhao, Shuaishuai Niu, Chenxin Wang, Yukai Wang, Liu Wang, Guihai Feng, Wei Li, Jie Hao, Qi Gu, Qi Zhou, Jun Wu
Summary: The researchers developed a 21-day long-term serum-free culture system and successfully created cell sheets (CSs) with human embryonic stem cell-derived immunity-and-matrix-regulatory cells (IMRCs) that have stronger mechanical properties and greater extracellular matrix secretion capacity. These IMRC-CSs were effective in promoting corneal chemical injury repair and could be transformed into injectable temperature-sensitive hydrogels for uterine adhesion repair through a decellularization process.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ina Turcan, Iuliana Caras, Thomas Gabriel Schreiner, Catalin Tucureanu, Aurora Salageanu, Valentin Vasile, Marioara Avram, Bianca Tincu, Marius Andrei Olariu
Summary: This study utilized dielectrophoresis and electrical impedance spectroscopy for the detection and electrical characterization of cancer cell lines and primary tumor cells, allowing for rapid and label-free differentiation of various cancer cells from normal ones. Through dielectrophoresis trapping and electrical impedance spectroscopy analysis of dielectric characteristics, the different types of cells were clearly differentiated based on their crossover frequencies. The differences between cancerous and normal cells were highlighted using a Randles equivalent circuit model in terms of a series group of charge transport resistance and constant phase element.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edward J. Calabrese
Summary: This paper provides a thorough assessment of hormetic dose responses in embryonic stem cells, suggesting that this response may serve as a fundamental and highly conserved evolutionary strategy.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Rosemary J. Akhurst
Summary: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cell shape-changing process that plays a critical role in embryogenesis and disease progression. It is influenced by extracellular factors and intracellular signaling pathways. EMT is associated with tumor progression, development of a stem-like cell state, and drug resistance.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alamzeb Khan, Weiming Ni, Tania Baltazar, Francesc Lopez-Giraldez, Jordan S. Pober, Richard W. Pierce
Summary: In the setting of acute critical illness, overwhelming inflammation induces capillary leak and barrier disruption. This study identifies ArhGEF12 as a key regulatory molecule that selectively activates Rap1A to limit capillary barrier disruption in endothelial cells forming tight junctions, independent of cAMP-mediated Epac1 activation.
Article
Cell Biology
Shahnaz Babaei-Abraki, Fereshteh Karamali, Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
Summary: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the potential to differentiate into different types of cells, making them a valuable source for therapeutic applications. However, hESCs are prone to cell death after dissociation, which hinders their use. Recent research has found that hESCs can undergo a form of programmed cell death called ferroptosis, which is different from previously observed cell death processes. Ferroptosis is triggered by an increase in intracellular iron, and it is distinct from other forms of cell death in terms of its biochemical, morphological, and genetic characteristics.
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Anna Yoney, Lu Bai, Ali H. Brivanlou, Eric D. Siggia
Summary: Embryogenesis is guided by a limited set of signaling pathways that control the differentiation of embryonic cells to specific cell types. Recent research has found that WNT signaling primes cells for subsequent signaling responses by inducing the expression of the SMAD2 co-factor EOMES, which is sufficient to replace WNT signaling in the differentiation process.
Article
Developmental Biology
Anna Yoney, Lu Bai, Ali H. Brivanlou, Eric D. Siggla
Summary: Embryogenesis is guided by a limited set of signaling pathways dynamically expressed in different places, and in vitro models of human embryos derived from hESCs allow for addressing developmental questions. WNT priming induces the expression of the SMAD2 co-factor EOMES, enabling activin-mediated ME differentiation, revealing the mechanistic basis for priming and cellular memory in early development.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Asher Kahn-Krell, Danielle Pretorius, Bijay Guragain, Xi Lou, Yuhua Wei, Jianhua Zhang, Aijun Qiao, Yuji Nakada, Timothy J. Kamp, Lei Ye, Jianyi Zhang
Summary: Researchers introduce a simple and reproducible 3D culture method for generating cardiac spheroids, which contain cardiomyocytes, vascular cells and cardiac fibroblasts. This method promotes cardiomyocyte maturation and improves their bioenergetics.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Keyu Zhuang, Rocco Romagnuolo, Tamilla Sadikov Valdman, Kyle D. W. Vollett, Daniel A. Szulc, Hai-Ying Mary Cheng, Michael A. Laflamme, Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng
Summary: This study successfully applied a novel ferritin-based MRI platform for longitudinal tracking of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in vivo.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mengjia Dou, Chennan Lu, Jing Liu, Wei Rao
Summary: This study investigated the use of liquid helium as a cryogen for vitrifying stem cells, demonstrating higher cooling rates and superior outcomes compared to liquid nitrogen.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shinya Abe, Reijo Kouhia, Riku Nikander, Nathaniel Narra, Jari Hyttinen, Harri Sievanen
Summary: This study compared the fracture loads during falls of different sports athletes and controls, and found that high impact and repetitive impact athletes had higher fracture loads in all fall directions, while odd-impact athletes had higher fracture loads in specific fall directions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaakko Saari, Fatima Siddique, Sanna Korpela, Elina Mantyla, Teemu O. Ihalainen, Katri Kaukinen, Katriina Aalto-Setala, Katri Lindfors, Kati Juuti-Uusitalo
Summary: The small intestinal epithelium plays a crucial role in nutrition, drug absorption, and metabolism. By using animal-free components and serum-free method, functional small intestinal epithelial cells can be generated from iPSCs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Sanna Halonen, Ali Ovissi, Sonja Boyd, Juho Kari, Kai Kronstrom, Juhani Kosunen, Hanna Lauren, Kirsti Numminen, Harri Sievanen, Jari Hyttinen
Summary: This study evaluated the clinical feasibility of a novel bioimpedance biopsy needle system in liver biopsy and collected in vivo bioimpedance data from human liver and tumor tissues. The results showed significant differences in median bioimpedance values between liver and tumor tissue at certain frequency ranges. This study provides preliminary evidence that tumor tissue differs from liver tissue in vivo and this difference is frequency-dependent.
PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Antti Paldanius, Bachir Dekdouk, Jussi Toivanen, Ville Kolehmainen, Jari Hyttinen
Summary: This study investigates the importance of accurate head modeling and the impact of head inhomogeneities on electrical impedance tomography (EIT) measurements. The results highlight the significant influence of accurate tissue geometry and conductivity on EIT measurements, particularly the conductivity of cerebrospinal fluid. The study emphasizes the need to consider detailed cerebrospinal fluid geometry in EIT calculations.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Retraction
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Laura Hellinen, Heidi Hongisto, Eva Ramsay, Kai Kaarniranta, Kati-Sisko Vellonen, Heli Skottman, Marika Ruponen
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael Taynnan Barros, Harun Siljak, Peter Mullen, Constantinos Papadias, Jari Hyttinen, Nicola Marchetti
Summary: This paper proposes a novel objective classification model of biological neuronal morphology and electrical types and their networks based on the attributes of neuronal communication. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves an accuracy of up to 70% for classification and up to 65% for inferring biological network structures using network tomography. Support Vector Machine (SVM) methods perform better among the used techniques.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Laura Hellinen, Heidi Hongisto, Eva Ramsay, Kai Kaarniranta, Kati-Sisko Vellonen, Heli Skottman, Marika Ruponen
Summary: The retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell monolayer plays a crucial role in ocular pharmacokinetics. We compared the barrier properties of different RPE cell models and found that hESC-RPE cells effectively restricted drug permeation, making them valuable tools in ocular drug discovery.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS AND BIOPHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Elina Mantyla, Toni Montonen, Lucio Azzari, Salla Mattola, Markus Hannula, Maija Vihinen-Ranta, Jari Hyttinen, Minnamari Vippola, Alessandro Foi, Soile Nymark, Teemu O. Ihalainen
Summary: Investigation of nuclear lamina architecture relies on superresolved microscopy. We developed an iterative indirect immunofluorescence staining approach combined with expansion microscopy (ExM) and structured illumination microscopy to improve superresolution microscopy of sub-nuclear nanostructures like lamins. Our method provides technical improvements to ExM including three-dimensional-printed gel casting equipment, and shows potential in quantitative superresolution ExM imaging of nuclear lamina and revealing nanoscopic details of the lamin network organization.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Aapo Tervonen, Sanna Korpela, Soile Nymark, Jari Hyttinen, Teemu O. Ihalainen
Summary: The influence of mechanical forces and microenvironment on cellular behavior has been recognized. This study utilized experimental and computational methods to investigate the effects of substrate stiffness and heterogeneities on force transduction and cellular deformation. It was found that substrate stiffness and gradients can impact strain redistribution in cell monolayers, and the cells' apico-basal elasticity can provide mechanical isolation between cell-cell junctions and focal adhesions.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Birhanu Belay, Elina Mantyla, Christian Maibohm, Oscar F. Silvestre, Jari Hyttinen, Jana B. Nieder, Teemu O. Ihalainen
Summary: Cellular physiology has traditionally been studied using two-dimensional cell culture substrates, which do not accurately mimic the in vivo extracellular environment and interactions. This has led to a demand for more complex model systems in life sciences. Micro-engineered scaffolds have shown promise in understanding the role of physical cues in regulating cellular functions. In this study, we used direct laser writing via two-photon polymerization to create substrates with different surface microtopographies, and combined this with advanced high-resolution spectral imaging to investigate the effects on cellular alignment, nuclear morphology, and mechanics. We found that certain microtopographies influenced cell behavior, such as actin organization and nuclear force transduction.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Reetta Sartoneva, Kaarlo Paakinaho, Markus Hannula, Kirsi Kuismanen, Heini Huhtala, Jari Hyttinen, Susanna Miettinen
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of A2P on vaginal tissue engineering for the first time and the results are highly encouraging. The scPLCL(A2P) scaffold showed potential as a scaffold for vaginal tissue engineering, promoting the viability, proliferation, and collagen production of vaginal cells.
TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Maija Kauppila, Anni Moro, Juan Jose Valle-Delgado, Teemu Ihalainen, Lassi Sukki, Paula Puistola, Pasi Kallio, Tanja Ilmarinen, Monika Osterberg, Heli Skottman
Summary: A functional limbal epithelial stem cells (LSC) niche is crucial for the renewal of corneal epithelium and good vision. However, the structure and mechanical properties of the niche and their influence on LSC regulation are not well understood. This study investigates the effect of mechanical and architectural elements of the niche on human pluripotent derived LSCs (hPSC-LSC) phenotype and growth in vitro. The results show that the mechanical response and substrate preference of the cells depend on their developmental stage, and that cells may carry a mechanical memory from previous culture matrix.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Rachel Kerslake, Birhanu Belay, Suzana Panfilov, Marcia Hall, Ioannis Kyrou, Harpal S. S. Randeva, Jari Hyttinen, Emmanouil Karteris, Cristina Sisu
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of growth conditions on cancer cells and compares their behavior to traditional two-dimensional models using transcriptomics, clinical, and novel experimental data. The results show that variability in growth conditions can affect key cancer genes and biological processes. It highlights the need for future studies to identify the most suitable in vitro/preclinical model for studying tumor microenvironments.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Alma Kurki, Kaarlo Paakinaho, Markus Hannula, Jari Hyttinen, Susanna Miettinen, Reetta Sartoneva
Summary: Tissue engineering offers a new approach for reconstructing large urethral defects, which currently lack optimal repair methods. Cell-seeded scaffolds, including the novel scPLCL(A2P) scaffold, show promise in preventing urethral stricture and promoting urothelial and stromal tissue regeneration. The scPLCL(A2P) scaffold supports the growth and phenotype maintenance of human urothelial cells (hUC) and human adipose-derived stromal cells (hASC) in both mono- and coculture environments.
JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Inari Lyyra, Nina Sandberg, Vijay Singh Parihar, Markus Hannula, Heini Huhtala, Jari Hyttinen, Jonathan Massera, Minna Kellomaki
Summary: Polylactides (PLAs) have been extensively studied for biomedical engineering applications, but their rigidity limits their use. Blending them with more flexible polymers, such as polybutylene succinate (PBSu), results in softer materials and expands their potential applications. Bioactivity is a limitation of biopolymers, which can be improved by adding bioactive glass. Blending and compounding PLA/PBSu blends with bioactive glass enables the production of materials with a wide range of mechanical properties, suitable for tissue engineering applications.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
