scholarly journals Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection in a marsupial

Reproduction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine M Richings ◽  
Geoffrey Shaw ◽  
Peter D Temple-Smith ◽  
Marilyn B Renfree
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Tammar Wallaby ◽  
Mature Oocyte ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection ◽  
Polar Body Extrusion ◽  
Cell Cell

Here we report the first use of intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in a marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii ), to achieve in vitro fertilization and cleavage. A single epididymal spermatozoon was injected into the cytoplasm of each mature oocyte collected from Graafian follicles or from the oviduct within hours of ovulation. The day after sperm injection, oocytes were assessed for the presence of pronuclei and polar body extrusion and in vitro development was monitored for up to 4 days. After ICSI, three of four (75%) follicular and four of eight (50%) tubal oocytes underwent cleavage. The cleavage pattern was similar to that previously reported for in vivo fertilized oocytes placed in culture, where development also halted at the 4- to 8-cell stage. One-third of injected oocytes completed the second cleavage division, but only a single embryo reached the 8-cell stage. The success of ICSI in the tammar wallaby provided an opportunity to examine the influence of the mucoid coat that is deposited around oocytes passing through the oviduct after fertilization. The presence of a mucoid coat in tubal oocytes did not prevent fertilization by ICSI and the oocytes cleaved in vitro to a similar stage as follicular oocytes lacking a mucoid coat. Cell–zona and cell–cell adhesion occurred in embryos from follicular oocytes, suggesting that the mucoid coat is not essential for these processes. However, blastomeres were more closely apposed in embryos from tubal oocytes and cell–cell adhesion was more pronounced, indicating that the mucoid coat may be involved in maintaining the integrity of the conceptus during cleavage.

44 IN VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF INTERSPECIES NUCLEAR TRANSFER EMBRYOS GENERATED WITH BOVINE OOCYTES AND EQUINE SKIN FIBROBLASTS

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
J. Lee ◽  
J. Park ◽  
Y. Chun ◽  
W. Lee ◽  
K. Song
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Donor Cell ◽  
Skin Fibroblasts ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Cleavage Rate ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Bovine Oocytes

Study for equine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an attractive field for research, but it has not been a major field of study because it is hard to obtain a sufficient number of ovaries and it takes a lot of time and effort for the recovery of oocytes matured in vivo by ovum pickup. It was reported that the bovine cytoplast could support the remodelling of equine donor cells (Zhou et al. 2007 Reprod. Domest. Anim. 42, 243–247). The objectives of this study are 1) to monitor the early events of equine SCNT by interspecies SCNT (isSCNT) between bovine cytoplast and equine donor cell, and 2) to investigate the developmental competence of isSCNT embryos. Bovine oocytes were recovered from the follicles of slaughtered ovaries, and matured in TCM-199 supplemented with 10 mU mL–1 FSH, 50 ng mL–1 EGF, and 10% FBS at 39°C under 5% CO2 in air for 22 h. Fibroblasts derived from bovine or equine skin tissues were synchronized at G0/G1 stage by contact inhibition for 72 h. After IVM, oocytes with polar body were enucleated and electrically fused with equine or bovine skin fibroblasts (1.0 kV cm–1, 20 μs, 2 pulses). Fused couplets were activated with 5 μM ionomycin for 4 min followed by 5 h culture in 10 μg mL–1 cycloheximide (CHX) and/or 2 mM 6-DMAP, and cultured in modified synthetic oviduct fluid (mSOF) at 39°C under 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2 for 7 days. All analyses were performed using SAS (version 9.1; SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). The cleavage rate of isSCNT embryos derived from equine cell was not different (252/323, 78.7%; P = 0.94) from that of SCNT embryos derived from bovine cell (230/297, 79.2%). However, the rate of isSCNT embryos developed to over 8-cell stage was lower (3.3%; P < 0.0001) than that of bovine SCNT embryos (39.4%), and total cell number of isSCNT embryos developed to over 8-cell stage was lower (17.5, n = 12; P < 0.0001) than that (80.8, n = 110) of bovine SCNT embryos. Also, the rate of blastocyst formation of isSCNT embryos (0/323; 0.0%) was lower (P < 0.0001) than that of bovine SCNT embryos (83/297; 29.3%). Meanwhile, reconstructed oocytes for isSCNT were fixed at 8 h after activation to investigate the formation of pseudo-pronucleus (PPN) after post-activation treatment with CHX or CHX+6-DMAP. The ratio of oocytes with single PPN after treatment with CHX+6-DMAP (26/35; 74.3%) was not different (P = 0.63) from that of oocytes treated with CHX (24/36; 68.1%). Although isSCNT embryos derived from bovine cytoplast and equine donor cell could not develop to more than the 16-cell stage, it is believed that the results of this isSCNT study could be used for the preliminary data regarding the reprogramming of donor cell in equine SCNT.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of endothelial cell coverage by pericytes: computational modelling of cell wrapping and in vitro experiments

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (162) ◽  
pp. 20190739
Author(s):  
Kei Sugihara ◽  
Saori Sasaki ◽  
Akiyoshi Uemura ◽  
Satoru Kidoaki ◽  
Takashi Miura
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Cellular Potts Model ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Cell Cell

Pericytes (PCs) wrap around endothelial cells (ECs) and perform diverse functions in physiological and pathological processes. Although molecular interactions between ECs and PCs have been extensively studied, the morphological processes at the cellular level and their underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. In this study, using a simple cellular Potts model, we explored the mechanisms for EC wrapping by PCs. Based on the observed in vitro cell wrapping in three-dimensional PC–EC coculture, the model identified four putative contributing factors: preferential adhesion of PCs to the extracellular matrix (ECM), strong cell–cell adhesion, PC surface softness and larger PC size. While cell–cell adhesion can contribute to the prevention of cell segregation and the degree of cell wrapping, it cannot determine the orientation of cell wrapping alone. While atomic force microscopy revealed that PCs have a larger Young’s modulus than ECs, the experimental analyses supported preferential ECM adhesion and size asymmetry. We also formulated the corresponding energy minimization problem and numerically solved this problem for specific cases. These results give biological insights into the role of PC–ECM adhesion in PC coverage. The modelling framework presented here should also be applicable to other cell wrapping phenomena observed in vivo .

scholarly journals Tetraspanin CD151 maintains vascular stability by balancing the forces of cell adhesion and cytoskeletal tension

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (15) ◽  
pp. 4274-4284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Jarett E. Michaelson ◽  
Simon Moshiach ◽  
Norman Sachs ◽  
Wenyuan Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Matrix ◽  
Vascular Morphogenesis ◽  
Vascular Stability ◽  
Optimal Functions ◽  
Cytoskeletal Tension ◽  
Cell Cell

Abstract Tetraspanin CD151 is highly expressed in endothelial cells and regulates pathologic angiogenesis. However, the mechanism by which CD151 promotes vascular morphogenesis and whether CD151 engages other vascular functions are unclear. Here we report that CD151 is required for maintaining endothelial capillary-like structures formed in vitro and the integrity of endothelial cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts in vivo. In addition, vascular permeability is markedly enhanced in the absence of CD151. As a global regulator of endothelial cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions, CD151 is needed for the optimal functions of various cell adhesion proteins. The loss of CD151 elevates actin cytoskeletal traction by up-regulating RhoA signaling and diminishes actin cortical meshwork by down-regulating Rac1 activity. The inhibition of RhoA or activation of cAMP signaling stabilizes CD151-silenced or -null endothelial structure in vascular morphogenesis. Together, our data demonstrate that CD151 maintains vascular stability by promoting endothelial cell adhesions, especially cell-cell adhesion, and confining cytoskeletal tension.

scholarly journals Biogenesis of Polarized Epithelial Cells During Kidney Development In Situ: Roles of E-Cadherin–mediated Cell–Cell Adhesion and Membrane Cytoskeleton Organization

1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 3161-3177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A. Piepenhagen ◽  
W. James Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Kidney Development ◽  
Lateral Membrane ◽  
Membrane Cytoskeleton ◽  
Triton X ◽  
E Cadherin ◽  
Cell Cell

Organization of proteins into structurally and functionally distinct plasma membrane domains is an essential characteristic of polarized epithelial cells. Based on studies with cultured kidney cells, we have hypothesized that a mechanism for restricting Na/K-ATPase to the basal-lateral membrane involves E-cadherin–mediated cell–cell adhesion and integration of Na/K-ATPase into the Triton X-100–insoluble ankyrin- and spectrin-based membrane cytoskeleton. In this study, we examined the relevance of these in vitro observations to the generation of epithelial cell polarity in vivo during mouse kidney development. Using differential detergent extraction, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence histochemistry, we demonstrate the following. First, expression of the 220-kDa splice variant of ankyrin-3 correlates with the development of resistance to Triton X-100 extraction for Na/K-ATPase, E-cadherin, and catenins and precedes maximal accumulation of Na/K-ATPase. Second, expression of the 190-kDa slice variant of ankyrin-3 correlates with maximal accumulation of Na/K-ATPase. Third, Na/K-ATPase, ankyrin-3, and fodrin specifically colocalize at the basal-lateral plasma membrane of all epithelial cells in which they are expressed and during all stages of nephrogenesis. Fourth, the relative immunofluorescence staining intensities of Na/K-ATPase, ankyrin-3, and fodrin become more similar during development until they are essentially identical in adult kidney. Thus, renal epithelial cells in vivo regulate the accumulation of E-cadherin–mediated adherens junctions, the membrane cytoskeleton, and Na/K-ATPase through sequential protein expression and assembly on the basal-lateral membrane. These results are consistent with a mechanism in which generation and maintenance of polarized distributions of these proteins in vivo and in vitro involve cell–cell adhesion, assembly of the membrane cytoskeleton complex, and concomitant integration and retention of Na/K-ATPase in this complex.

scholarly journals ALADIN is Required for the Production of Fertile Mouse Oocytes.

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Carvalhal ◽  
Michelle Stevense ◽  
Katrin Koehler ◽  
Ronald Naumann ◽  
Angela Huebner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polar Body ◽  
Spindle Assembly ◽  
Cell Periphery ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Spindle Positioning ◽  
Asymmetric Cell Divisions ◽  
Cell Divisions ◽  
Polar Bodies ◽  
Polar Body Extrusion

Asymmetric cell divisions depend upon the precise placement of the mitotic spindle. In mammalian oocytes, spindles assemble close to the cell center but chromosome segregation takes place at the cell periphery where half of the chromosomes are expelled into small, non-developing polar bodies at anaphases. By dividing so asymmetrically, most of the cytoplasmic content within the oocyte is preserved, which is critical for successful fertilization and early development. Recently, we determined that the nucleoporin ALADIN participates in spindle assembly in somatic cells, and we have also shown that female mice homozygous deficient for ALADIN are sterile. In this study we show that this protein is involved in specific meiotic stages including meiotic resumption, spindle assembly, and spindle positioning. In the absence of ALADIN, polar body extrusion is impaired in a majority of oocytes due to problems in spindle orientation prior to the first meiotic anaphase. Those few oocytes that can mature far enough to be fertilized in vitro are unable to support embryonic development beyond the two-cell stage. Overall, we find that ALADIN is critical for oocyte maturation and appears to be far more essential for this process than for somatic cell divisions.

215 INVESTIGATION OF A PREFERENTIALLY UPREGULATED GENE CLUSTER IN DAY 7 BOVINE EMBRYOS DERIVED FROM RNA SEQUENCING DATA

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 256 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Al Naib ◽  
S. Mamo ◽  
P. Lonergan
Keyword(s):  
Rna Sequencing ◽  
Mature Oocyte ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Blastocyst Formation ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Uterine Endometrium ◽  
Embryonic Origin

Successful establishment and maintenance of pregnancy requires optimum conceptus-maternal cross talk. Despite significant progress in our understanding of the temporal changes in the transcriptome of the uterine endometrium, we have only a rudimentary knowledge of the genes and pathways governing growth and development of the bovine conceptus. A recent RNA sequencing study from our group (Mamo et al. 2011 Biol. Reprod. 85, 1143–1151) described the global transcriptome profile of the bovine conceptus at 5 key stages of its pre- and peri-implantation growth (Days 7, 10, 13, 16, and 19) using RNA sequencing techniques. One cluster of genes (n = 1680 transcripts) was preferentially upregulated at Day 7 and subsequently downregulated, suggesting that these genes might be markers of blastocyst formation. The objective of this study was to characterise the pattern of expression of these genes before Day 7 (i.e. from the zygote to blastocyst stage). The list of genes was submitted to DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualisation, and Integrated Discovery) to take advantage of available ontology information contained therein. The expression of 9 genes belonging to ontologies specifically related to embryo developmental (GINS1, TAF8, ESRRB, NCAPG2, SP1, XAB2, CDC2L1, MSX1, and AQP3) plus Na/K ATPase, a gene previously known to be involved in blastocoe formation, was studied by quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) in 6 replicate pools of 5 embryos produced by maturation, fertilization, and embryo culture in vitro. Stages studies included immature and mature oocyte, zygote, 2- cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, 16-cell, morula, blastocyst, and hatched blastocyst. In addition, in vivo derived Day 13 and Day 16 embryos were included as controls to confirm down-regulation after Day 7. Data were analysed using the GLM procedure of SAS. The QPCR expression data supported the RNA Seq data in that expression of all transcripts was downregulated after the blastocyst stage. Expression before the blastocyst stage was characterised by 1 of 3 broad patterns: (1) the expression was of maternal origin where the expression was very high up to 8-cell stage and decreased subsequently (MSX1), (2) the expression was of embryonic origin being low up to the 8-cell stage and increasing thereafter (TAF8, ESRRB, AQP3, and Na/K ATPase), or (3) static or decreased expression from oocyte to the maternal-zygotic transition followed by increased expression from the 16-cell stage (GINS1, NCAPG2, SP1, XAB2, and CDC2L1). In conclusion, the genes identified in this cluster, despite having different patterns of expression before the blastocyst stage, may represent markers of blastocyst formation in cattle given their downregulation subsequently. Supported by Science Foundation Ireland (07/SRC/B1156).

Timing of the First Cleavage Division of Haploid Mouse Eggs, and the Duration of its Component Stages

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 553-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. KAUFMAN
Keyword(s):  
Polar Body ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Follicle Cells ◽  
Cleavage Division ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Cell Embryo ◽  
Second Polar Body ◽  
Polar Body Extrusion ◽  
Mouse Eggs

Mouse eggs were activated by treatment with hyaluronidase which removed the follicle cells, followed by culture in vitro, and examined at the first cleavage mitosis. Second polar body extrusion usually occurred and haploid parthenogenesis was initiated. Air-dried chromosome preparations were made between 11 and 15.5 h after activation. Out of the 308 eggs examined 74 had already progressed to the 2-cell stage; the remaining 234 at the 1-cell stage were examined in detail. All chromosome preparations of the first cleavage mitosis were classified into groups corresponding with the stages of prometaphase, metaphase (early or ‘pre-chromatid’, ‘chromatid’ and ‘late chromatid’) and anaphase. An indirect estimate was made of the duration of the first cleavage mitosis and of its component stages from the incidence of stages observed at different time intervals after activation. Similar eggs were also observed at 37 °C by time-lapse cine-photography and the interval between the disappearance of the pronucleus to the beginning of telophase of the first cleavage division was determined. The results of timing studies on the haploid eggs were compared with results obtained from similar observations on the first cleavage division of fertilized eggs which would of course normally be diploid. Artificially activated eggs with 2 pronuclei, resulting from second polar body suppression, were also examined, and serial chromosome preparations during mitosis showed that the 2 pronuclear chromosome groups unite on the first cleavage spindle and divide to give a hetero-zygous diploid 2-cell embryo.

Eptifibatide Reduced Cell Adhesion and Recruitment Of The Myeloid Sarcoma-Inducing Leukemia Cells

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 4220-4220
Author(s):  
Jen-Fen Fu ◽  
Lee-Yung Shih
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Myeloid Sarcoma ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Antiplatelet Drug ◽  
Ras Gene ◽  
Cell Cell

AML patients with myeloid sarcoma (MS) usually had a poor outcome. Our clinical data revealed that AML patients harboring MLL/AF10 and RAS gene mutations were associated with MS formation. By using retroviral transduction/transplantation assay, we demonstrated that the mice transplanted with bone marrow (BM) cells carrying cooperating MLL/AF10(OM-LZ) and KRAS-G12C mutations induced MPD-like myeloid leukemia and MS. Gene expression analyses identified Gpr125, an adhesion G protein-coupled receptor, was up-regulated in the cells carrying cooperating mutations than the cells carrying MLL/AF10(OM-LZ) alone. Knockdown of Gpr125 by RNA interference reduced the number and the size of MS, suggesting that Gpr125 was involved in the MS formation. As Gpr125 contains a HormR domain with Lysine-Glycine-Aspartic acid (KGD) motif which is known to involve in the cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell-cell adhesion, we investigated whether a cyclic RGD peptide drug, eptifibatide (Ep), could interfere MS formation. An in vitro cell-ECM binding assay showed that Gpr125 interacted with fibronectin. Ep reduced leukemia cell-fibronectin binding. Ep also reduced homotypic leukemia cell adhesion and leukemia cell-adipocyte adhesion. In vivo assay demonstrated that Ep reduced leukemia cells recruitment to the adipose tissues, spleen and bone marrow. Our results suggested that blocking Gpr125-mediated cell-ECM and cell-cell adhesion might be helpful to interfere MS formation and BM/spleen recruitment of leukemia cells. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Eptifibatide (Integrilin, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, also co-promoted by Schering-Plough/Essex), is an antiplatelet drug of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor class.

Myogenic regulatory factors regulate M-cadherin expression by targeting its proximal promoter elements

2010 ◽  
Vol 428 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng Pin Hsiao ◽  
Shen Liang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Myogenic Differentiation ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Proximal Promoter ◽  
Myogenic Regulatory Factors ◽  
Regulatory Factors ◽  
Cell Cell

M- and N-cadherin are members of the Ca2+-dependent cell–cell adhesion molecule family. M-cadherin is expressed predominantly in developing skeletal muscles and has been implicated in terminal myogenic differentiation, particularly in myoblast fusion. N-cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesion also plays an important role in skeletal myogenesis. In the present study, we found that both genes were differentially expressed in C2C12 and Sol8 myoblasts during myogenic differentiation and that the expression of M-cadherin was preferentially enhanced in slow-twitch muscle. Interestingly, most MRFs (myogenic regulatory factors) significantly activated the promoter of M-cadherin, but not that of N-cadherin. In line with this, overexpression of MyoD in C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts strongly induced endogenous M-cadherin expression. Promoter analysis in silico and in vitro identified an E-box (from −2 to +4) abutting the transcription initiation site within the M-cadherin promoter that is bound and differentially activated by different MRFs. The activation of the M-cadherin promoter by MRFs was also modulated by Bhlhe40 (basic helix–loop–helix family member e40). Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation proved that MyoD as well as myogenin binds to the M-cadherin promoter in vivo. Taken together, these observations identify a molecular mechanism by which MRFs regulate M-cadherin expression directly to ensure the terminal differentiation of myoblasts.

scholarly journals Vascular Geometry and Flow Profile Mediate Pathological Cell-Cell Interactions in Sickle Cell Disease As Measured with "Do-It-Yourself" "Endothelial-Ized" Microfluidics

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 454-454
Author(s):  
Robert Mannino ◽  
David R Myers ◽  
Byungwook Ahn ◽  
Hope Gole ◽  
Yichen Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Cell Interactions ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Cell Cell

Abstract Background and Significance: Cell-cell interactions between blood cells and endothelial cells play an important role in sickle cell disease (SCD) pathophysiology. While in vivo transgenic animal models and in vitro systems have both contributed to our understanding of these pathologic cell-cell interactions in SCD, isolating the causes and effects of cellular interactions is exceedingly difficult in the former and recapitulating the complex vascular geometries found in vivo is not readily available with current systems in the latter. The vascular system comprises diverse geometries that range from normal (e.g. curves and bifurcations) to pathologic (e.g. aneurysms and stenoses) and as blood flows from one vascular geometry to another, the local shear stress profile acutely changes. Interestingly, changes in shear stress are known to alter endothelial pro-inflammatory signaling pathways and expression of cell adhesion molecules, especially vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) (Tzima, Nature, 2005), which is implicated in SCD vasculopathy. Here we present a rapid and inexpensive method using only off-the-shelf materials to create “do-it-yourself” (DIY) microfluidic devices that incorporate endothelial cells and clinically relevant vascular geometries; this system effectively and bridges current in vitro and in vivo models to study SCD. Using this technique, we developed a vascularized bifurcation, and observed that shear stress changes can be extremely localized, affecting only several 10s of cells, and are associated with changes in VCAM1 expression. We used this in vitro vascularized bifurcation to test the hypothesis that SS RBC-endothelial cell adhesion occurs primarily at bifurcations, which are difficult to visualize in vivo (Nagel, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 1999). We demonstrate that SCD RBCs do primarily aggregate at bifurcations, specifically in locations where the shear stress has decreased and VCAM-1 is upregulated. Methods: In order to bridge in vitro data with the complex vascular geometric environments found in vivo, we developed a “DIY” endothelialized microfluidic model (Figure 1A). A strand of 500um diameter polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) optical fiber is laid flat on top of a layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and covered with a second, thin layer of PDMS. After curing, the optical fiber is pulled out, exposing a hollow, circular, channel that can be used as a microchannel to seed endothelial cells. A wide variety of endothelial cells can be successfully seeded in these devices, such as human umbilical vein endothelial cells, human aortic endothelial cells, and human microvascular endothelial cells. Slight alterations to this fabrication method result in the creation of multiple vascular geometries, such as curved or bifurcated channels with or without aneurysms or stenoses. Results: Curved channels & bifurcations (Figure 1B-C) are seeded with endothelial cells (Figure 1E-F). Computational fluidic dynamics calculations show that the shear varies by 2.5 fold within the bifurcation. As shear affects endothelial expression, we tested if the extremely localized shear changes created in this system were sufficient to alter local endothelial expression of VCAM-1 Indeed, in our system, VCAM1 expression significantly correlated with shear variation (Figure1G), and was highest near the bifurcation point. Noting this localized variation in adhesion molecule expression, we tested whether the bifurcations are implicated in SCD RBC adhesion to the endothelium. With our vascularized bifurcation model and custom image analysis software that quantifies RBC aggregation, we observed that SCD RBC adhesion predominantly occurred at the point of bifurcation where the shear is lowest and VCAM1 expression is greatest, and minimal endothelial adhesion occurred with healthy control RBCs (Figure 2). This phenomenon persisted with tumor necrosis factor-stimulation of the endothelium. Conclusion: This DIY system represents an easily accessible technique that allows any researcher to bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo models of pathological cell-cell interactions in SCD. We demonstrate that recapitulating the complex vascular geometries in vivo is vital to understanding blood cell-endothelial interactions and this system will not only be useful for studying SCD, but a myriad of hematologic and vascular diseases as well. Figure 1 Figure 1. Figure 2 Figure 2. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document