Human physiomimetic model integrating microphysiological systems of the gut, liver, and brain for studies of neurodegenerative diseases.

Slow progress in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) motivates an urgent need for highly controlled in vitro systems to investigate organ-organ- and organ-immune-specific interactions relevant for disease pathophysiology. Of particular interest is the gut/microbiome-liver-brain axis for parsing out how genetic and environmental factors contribute to NDs. We have developed a mesofluidic platform technology to study gut-liver-cerebral interactions in the context of Parkinson's disease (PD). It connects microphysiological systems (MPSs) of the primary human gut and liver with a human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cerebral MPS in a systemically circulated common culture medium containing CD4+ regulatory T and T helper 17 cells. We demonstrate this approach using a patient-derived cerebral MPS carrying the PD-causing A53T mutation, gaining two important findings: (i) that systemic interaction enhances features of in vivo-like behavior of cerebral MPSs, and (ii) that microbiome-associated short-chain fatty acids increase expression of pathology-associated pathways in PD.

Gut-Liver Physiomimetics Reveal Paradoxical Modulation of IBD-Related Inflammation by Short-Chain Fatty Acids.

Although the association between the microbiome and IBD and liver diseases is known, the cause and effect remain elusive. By connecting human microphysiological systems of the gut, liver, and circulating Treg and Th17 cells, we created a multi-organ model of ulcerative colitis (UC) ex vivo. The approach shows microbiome-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to either improve or worsen UC severity, depending on the involvement of effector CD4 T cells. Using multiomics, we found SCFAs increased production of ketone bodies, glycolysis, and lipogenesis, while markedly reducing innate immune activation of the UC gut. However, during acute T cell-mediated inflammation, SCFAs exacerbated CD4+ T cell-effector function, partially through metabolic reprograming, leading to gut barrier disruption and hepatic injury. These paradoxical findings underscore the emerging utility of human physiomimetic technology in combination with systems immunology to study causality and the fundamental entanglement of immunity, metabolism, and tissue homeostasis.

Interconnected Microphysiological Systems for Quantitative Biology and Pharmacology Studies.

Microphysiological systems (MPSs) are in vitro models that capture facets of in vivo organ function through use of specialized culture microenvironments, including 3D matrices and microperfusion. Here, we report an approach to co-culture multiple different MPSs linked together physiologically on re-useable, open-system microfluidic platforms that are compatible with the quantitative study of a range of compounds, including lipophilic drugs. We describe three different platform designs - "4-way", "7-way", and "10-way" - each accommodating a mixing chamber and up to 4, 7, or 10 MPSs. Platforms accommodate multiple different MPS flow configurations, each with internal re-circulation to enhance molecular exchange, and feature on-board pneumatically-driven pumps with independently programmable flow rates to provide precise control over both intra- and inter-MPS flow partitioning and drug distribution. We first developed a 4-MPS system, showing accurate prediction of secreted liver protein distribution and 2-week maintenance of phenotypic markers. We then developed 7-MPS and 10-MPS platforms, demonstrating reliable, robust operation and maintenance of MPS phenotypic function for 3 weeks (7-way) and 4 weeks (10-way) of continuous interaction, as well as PK analysis of diclofenac metabolism. This study illustrates several generalizable design and operational principles for implementing multi-MPS "physiome-on-a-chip" approaches in drug discovery.

Beta-adrenergic receptor-stimulated apoptosis in cardiac myocytes is mediated by reactive oxygen species/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-dependent activation of the mitochondrial pathway.

Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors (betaARs) causes apoptosis in adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVMs). The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mediating betaAR-stimulated apoptosis is not known. Stimulation of betaARs with norepinephrine (10 micromol/L) in the presence of prazosin (100 nmol/L) for 24 hours increased the number of apoptotic myocytes as determined by TUNEL staining by 3.6- fold. The superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics Mn(III)tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin pentachloride (MnTMPyP; 10 micromol/L) and Euk-134 decreased betaAR-stimulated apoptosis by 89+/-6% and 76+/-10%, respectively. Infection with an adenovirus expressing catalase decreased betaAR-stimulated apoptosis by 82+/-15%. The mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitor bongkrekic acid (50 micromol/L) decreased betaAR-stimulated apoptosis by 76+/-8%, and the caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk (25 micromol/L) decreased betaAR-stimulated apoptosis by 62+/-11%. betaAR-stimulated cytochrome c release was inhibited by MnTMPyP. betaAR stimulation caused c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, which was abolished by MnTMPyP. Transfection with an adenovirus expressing dominant-negative JNK inhibited betaAR-stimulated apoptosis by 81+/-12%, and the JNK inhibitor SP600125 inhibited both betaAR-stimulated apoptosis and cytochrome c release. Thus, betaAR-stimulated apoptosis in ARVMs involves ROS/JNK-dependent activation of the mitochondrial death pathway.

Decreased efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in aging cardiomyocytes.

BACKGROUND: Aging is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Clinical application of myocardial gene transfer may be best suited in the elderly. In vivo gene transfer by adenovirus is less efficient in aging myocardium. METHODS AND RESULTS: When infected with adenovirus containing beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by cytomegalovirus promoters in vitro, aging rat cardiac myocytes exhibit significantly lower infectivity and delayed transgene expression compared with adult controls. Abnormalities of viral internalization may be one mechanism accounting for this difference. To investigate this, we studied expression levels of the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) as well as other potential integrins involved in the internalization of adenoviruses. CAR expression tended to be upregulated whereas among potential integrins, alpha(3)beta(1) was downregulated in aging cardiac myocytes. Blocking the beta(1) component of alpha(3)beta(1) further decreased infectivity, suggesting that the interaction between the penton base of the adenovirus and beta(1) maybe a crucial component of the viral entry mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that it is integrin-stimulated internalization rather than the adenovirus-CAR interaction that plays a vital role in adenoviral entry. The downregulation of integrins observed in senescent cells may be a key mechanism accounting for the decrease in viral infectivity seen in these cells. These findings have implications for the gene therapy treatment of myocardial failure in the elderly.

Externalization of endogenous annexin A5 participates in apoptosis of rat cardiomyocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Annexins are Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding proteins. Externalized annexin A5 has been recently suggested to have a proapoptotic effect. Our aim was to determine whether annexin A5, which is intracellular in cardiomyocytes, could be translocated and/or externalized and play a role during the apoptotic process. METHODS: Apoptosis was induced in rat cardiomyocytes by continuous incubation with staurosporine or 30 min treatment with H(2)O(2) and was measured by phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, TUNEL staining and DNA ladder. Immunofluorescence labeling of annexin A5 was performed on permeabilized or nonpermeabilized cardiomyocytes. RESULTS: Staurosporine or H(2)O(2) treatment of neonatal cardiomyocytes resulted in significant increases of apoptosis at 24 h, but H(2)O(2) treatment led to a faster and higher PS externalization than that observed with ST. In both neonatal and adult cardiomyocytes, annexin A5 was intracellular in control conditions but was found at the external face of sarcolemma during apoptosis. Furthermore, neonatal cardiomyocytes with externalized annexin A5 have apoptotic characteristics and their number increased with time. Interestingly, immediately after H(2)O(2) induction, the number of annexin A5-positive cells was higher than that of PS-positive cells (p

Redox-mediated reciprocal regulation of SERCA and Na+-Ca2+ exchanger contributes to sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ depletion in cardiac myocytes.

Myocardial failure is associated with increased oxidative stress and abnormal excitation-contraction coupling characterized by depletion of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) stores and a reduction in Ca(2+)-transient amplitude. Little is known about the mechanisms whereby oxidative stress affects Ca(2+) handling and contractile function; however, reactive thiols may be involved. We used an in vitro cardiomyocyte system to test the hypothesis that short-term oxidative stress induces SR Ca(2+) depletion via redox-mediated regulation of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) and the sodium-Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) and that this is associated with thiol oxidation. Adult rat ventricular myocytes paced at 5 Hz were superfused with H(2)O(2) (100 microM, 15 min). H(2)O(2) caused a progressive decrease in cell shortening followed by diastolic arrest, which was associated with decreases in SR Ca(2+) content, systolic [Ca(2+)](i), and Ca(2+)-transient amplitude, but no change in diastolic [Ca(2+)](i). H(2)O(2) caused reciprocal effects on the activities of SERCA (decreased) and NCX (increased). Pretreatment with the NCX inhibitor KB-R7943 before H(2)O(2) increased diastolic [Ca(2+)](i) and mimicked the effect of SERCA inhibition with thapsigargin. These functional effects were associated with oxidative modification of thiols on both SERCA and NCX. In conclusion, redox-mediated SR Ca(2+) depletion involves reciprocal regulation of SERCA and NCX, possibly via direct oxidative modification of both proteins.

beta1 integrins expression in adult rat ventricular myocytes and its role in the regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor-stimulated apoptosis.

We have shown that the stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-AR) increases apoptosis in adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVMs). Integrins, a family of alphabeta-heterodimeric cell surface receptors, are postulated to play a role in ventricular remodeling. Here, we show that norepinephrine (NE) increases beta1 integrins expression in ARVMs via the stimulation of alpha1-AR, not beta-AR. Inhibition of ERK1/2 using PD 98059, an inhibitor of ERK1/2 pathway, inhibited alpha1-AR-stimulated increases in beta1 integrins expression. Activation of beta1 integrins signaling pathway using laminin (LN) inhibited beta-AR-stimulated apoptosis as measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL)-staining and flow cytometry. Likewise, ligation of beta1 integrins with anti-beta1 integrin antibodies prevented beta-AR-stimulated apoptosis. Treatment of cells using LN or anti-beta1 integrin antibodies activated ERK1/2 pathway. PD 98059 inhibited activation of ERK1/2 by LN, and prevented the anti-apoptotic effects of LN. Thus (1) stimulation of alpha1-AR regulates beta1 integrins expression via the activation of ERK1/2, (2) beta1 integrins signaling protects ARVMs from beta-AR-stimulated apoptosis, (3) activation of ERK1/2 plays a critical role in the anti-apoptotic effects of beta1-integrin signaling. These data suggest that beta1 integrin signaling protects ARVMs against beta-AR-stimulated apoptosis possibly via the involvement of ERK1/2.

Functional consequences of caspase activation in cardiac myocytes.

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is present in many cardiac disease states, including heart failure and ischemic heart disease. Apoptosis is associated with the activation of caspases that mediate the cleavage of vital and structural proteins. However, the functional contribution of apoptosis to these conditions is not known. Furthermore, in cardiac myocytes, apoptosis may not be complete, allowing the cells to persist for a prolonged period within the myocardium. Therefore, we examined whether caspase-3 cleaved cardiac myofibrillar proteins and, if so, whether it affects contractile function. The effects of caspase-3 were studied in vitro on individual components of the cardiac myofilament including alpha-actin, alpha-actinin, myosin heavy chain, myosin light chain 1/2, tropomyosin, cardiac troponins (T, I, C), and the trimeric troponin complex. Exposure of the myofibrillar protein (listed above) to caspase-3 for 4 h resulted in the cleavage of alpha-actin and alpha-actinin, but not myosin heavy chain, myosin light chain 1/2, and tropomyosin, into three fragments (30, 20, and 15 kDa) and one major fragment (45 kDa), respectively. When cTnT, cTnI, and cTnC were incubated individually with caspase-3, there was no detectable cleavage. However, when the recombinant troponin complex was exposed to caspase-3, cTnT was cleaved, resulting in fragments of 25 kDa. Furthermore, rat cardiac myofilaments exposed to caspase-3 exhibited similar patterns of myofibrillar protein cleavage. Treatment with the caspase inhibitor DEVD-CHO or z-VAD-fmk abolished the cleavage. Myofilaments, isolated from adult rat ventricular myocytes after induction of apoptotic pathway by using beta-adrenergic stimulation, displayed a similar pattern of actin and TnT cleavage. Exposure of skinned fiber to caspase-3 decreased maximal Ca(2+)-activated force and myofibrillar ATPase activity. Our results indicate that caspase-3 cleaved myofibrillar proteins, resulting in an impaired force/Ca(2+) relationship and myofibrillar ATPase activity. Induction of apoptosis in cardiac cells was associated with similar cleavage of myofilaments. Therefore, activation of apoptotic pathways may lead to contractile dysfunction before cell death.

Reciprocal modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 and 2 in failing human myocardium.

BACKGROUND: Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), consisting of the ERK1/2, JNKs, and p38-kinase families, play a key role in the regulation of myocyte growth and apoptosis in vitro. The activity of MAPKs is regulated by dual-specificity MAPK phosphatases (MKPs). Because myocardial failure is associated with myocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis, MAPKs may play a pathophysiologic role in human myocardial failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured MAPKs activities and the protein levels of MAPKs and MKPs (MKP-1 and MKP-2) in the myocardium explanted at the time of transplantation from patients with end-stage failure caused by idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 5-7). Nonfailing donor hearts (n = 5-7) were used for comparison. Although the protein levels for JNK1/2 and p38-kinase in failing hearts were not different from levels in nonfailing hearts, the activities of both were decreased (P <.05). Despite a >3-fold increase in the protein level for ERK1/2 in failing hearts, ERK1/2 activity was not increased. Expression of MKP-2 was significantly increased in failing hearts, while expression of MKP-1 was increased in 5 of 7 failing hearts as measured by Western analysis. CONCLUSIONS: JNK1/2 and p38 activities are decreased in failing human myocardium. Increased expression of MKPs may therefore contribute to decreased MAPKs activity in failing human myocardium.