Dataset Information

Directing valvular interstitial cell myofibroblast-like differentiation in a hybrid hydrogel platform.

ABSTRACT: Three dimensional (3D) hydrogel platforms are powerful tools, providing controllable, physiologically relevant microenvironments that could aid in understanding how various environmental factors direct valvular interstitial cell (VIC) phenotype. Continuous activation of VICs and their transformation from quiescent fibroblast to activated myofibroblast phenotype is considered to be an initiating event in the onset of valve disease. However, the relative contribution VIC phenotypes is poorly understood since most 2D culture systems lead to spontaneous VIC myofibroblastic activation. Here, a hydrogel platform composed of photocrosslinkable versions of native valvular extracellular matrix components-methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA) and methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)-is proposed as a 3D culture system to study VIC phenotypic changes. These results show that VIC myofibroblast-like differentiation occurs spontaneously in mechanically soft GelMA hydrogels. Conversely, differentiation of VICs encapsulated in HAMA-GelMA hybrid hydrogels, does not occur spontaneously and requires exogenous delivery of TGF?1, indicating that hybrid hydrogels can be used to study cytokine-dependent transition of VICs. This study demonstrates that a hybrid hydrogel platform can be used to maintain a quiescent VIC phenotype and study the effect of environmental cues on VIC activation, which will aid in understanding pathobiology of valvular disease.

SUBMITTER: Hjortnaes J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4276556 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Directing valvular interstitial cell myofibroblast-like differentiation in a hybrid hydrogel platform.

Hjortnaes Jesper J Camci-Unal Gulden G Hutcheson Joshua D JD Jung Sung Mi SM Schoen Frederick J FJ Kluin Jolanda J Aikawa Elena E Khademhosseini Ali A

Advanced healthcare materials 20140624 1

Three dimensional (3D) hydrogel platforms are powerful tools, providing controllable, physiologically relevant microenvironments that could aid in understanding how various environmental factors direct valvular interstitial cell (VIC) phenotype. Continuous activation of VICs and their transformation from quiescent fibroblast to activated myofibroblast phenotype is considered to be an initiating event in the onset of valve disease. However, the relative contribution VIC phenotypes is poorly under ...[more]

PMID: 24958085

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Project description:The primary driver for valvular calcification is the differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) into a diseased phenotype. However, the factors leading to the onset of osteoblastic-like VICs (obVICs) and resulting calcification are not fully understood. This study isolates the effect of substrate surface chemistry on in vitro VIC differentiation and calcified tissue formation. Using ω-functionalized alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold [CH3 (hydrophobic), OH (hydrophilic), COOH (COO(-), negative at physiological pH), and NH2 (NH3(+), positive at physiological pH)], we have demonstrated that surface chemistry modulates VIC phenotype and calcified tissue deposition independent of osteoblastic-inducing media additives. Over seven days VICs exhibited surface-dependent differences in cell proliferation (COO(-)=NH3(+)>OH>CH3), morphology, and osteoblastic potential. Both NH3(+)and CH3-terminated SAMs promoted calcified tissue formation while COO(-)-terminated SAMs showed no calcification. VICs on NH3(+)-SAMs exhibited the most osteoblastic phenotypic markers through robust nodule formation, up-regulated osteocalcin and α-smooth muscle actin expression, and adoption of a round/rhomboid morphology indicative of osteoblastic differentiation. With the slowest proliferation, VICs on CH3-SAMs promoted calcified aggregate formation through cell detachment and increased cell death indicative of dystrophic calcification. Furthermore, induction of calcified tissue deposition on NH3(+) and CH3-SAMs was distinctly different than that of media induced osteoblastic VICs. These results demonstrate that substrate surface chemistry alters VIC behavior and plays an important role in calcified tissue formation. In addition, we have identified two novel methods of calcified VIC induction in vitro. Further study of these environments may yield new models for in vitro testing of therapeutics for calcified valve stenosis, although additional studies need to be conducted to correlate results to in vivo models.Statement of significanceValvular interstitial cell (VIC) differentiation and aortic valve calcification is associated with increased risk of mortality and onset of other cardiovascular disorders. This research examines effects of in vitro substrate surface chemistry on VIC differentiation and has led to the identification of two materials-based initiation mechanisms of osteoblastic-like calcified tissue formation independent of soluble signaling methods. Such findings are important for their potential to study signaling cascades responsible for valvular heart disease initiation and progression as well providing in vitro disease models for drug development. We have also identified a VIC activating in vitro environment that does not exhibit confluence induced nodule formation with promise for the development of tissue regenerating scaffolds.

Dataset Information

Directing valvular interstitial cell myofibroblast-like differentiation in a hybrid hydrogel platform.

Publications

Directing valvular interstitial cell myofibroblast-like differentiation in a hybrid hydrogel platform.

Similar Datasets

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