Human adipocyte function is impacted by mechanical cues.

Fibrosis is a hallmark of human white adipose tissue (WAT) during obesity-induced chronic inflammation. The functional impact of increased interstitial fibrosis (peri-adipocyte fibrosis) on adjacent adipocytes remains unknown. Here we developed a novel in vitro 3D culture system in which human adipocytes and decellularized material of adipose tissue (dMAT) from obese subjects are embedded in a peptide hydrogel. When cultured with dMAT, adipocytes showed decreased lipolysis and adipokine secretion and increased expression/production of cytokines (IL-6, G-CSF) and fibrotic mediators (LOXL2 and the matricellular proteins THSB2 and CTGF). Moreover, some alterations including lipolytic activity and fibro-inflammation also occurred when the adipocyte/hydrogel culture was mechanically compressed. Notably, CTGF expression levels correlated with the amount of peri-adipocyte fibrosis in WAT from obese individuals. Moreover, dMAT-dependent CTGF promoter activity, which depends on ß1-integrin/cytoskeleton pathways, was enhanced in the presence of YAP, a mechanosensitive co-activator of TEAD transcription factors. Mutation of TEAD binding sites abolished the dMAT-induced promoter activity. In conclusion, fibrosis may negatively affect human adipocyte function via mechanosensitive molecules, in part stimulated by cell deformation.

Indirect evidence of submicroscopic pores in giant unilamellar [correction of unilamelar] vesicles.

Formation of pore-like structures in cell membranes could participate in exchange of matter between cell compartments and modify the lipid distribution between the leaflets of a bilayer. We present experiments on two model systems in which major lipid redistribution is attributed to few submicroscopic transient pores. The first kind of experiments consists in destabilizing the membrane of a giant unilamellar vesicle by inserting conic-shaped fluorescent lipids from the outer medium. The inserted lipids (10% of the vesicle lipids) should lead to membrane rupture if segregated on the outer leaflet. We show that a 5-nm diameter pore is sufficient to ease the stress on the membrane by redistributing the lipids. The second kind of experiments consists in forcing giant vesicles containing functionalized lipids to adhere. This adhesion leads to hemifusion (merging of the outer leaflets). In certain cases, the formation of pores in one of the vesicles is attested by contrast loss on this vesicle and redistribution of fluorescent labels between the leaflets. The kinetics of these phenomena is compatible with transient submicroscopic pores and long-lived membrane defects.

Salt softening of polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules.

The changes in the morphology and the mechanical properties of hollow polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules made from poly(styrenesulfonate)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) in response to added salt were investigated. We found that capsules shrink in response to salt exposure. The effect depends strongly on the nature of the salt added and follows trends of the Hoffmeister series, with weakly hydrated cations inducing the strongest shrinking. For NaCl, we have investigated additional effects on capsule mechanical properties that are occurring above a 3 M salt concentration and we found that the morphological changes are accompanied by a pronounced softening of the capsule wall material, which we can quantify by analyzing the force response of capsules in the prebuckling regime. This shows that salts can act as plasticizers in the multilayers and induce annealing effects.

Hemifusion and fusion of giant vesicles induced by reduction of inter-membrane distance.

Proteins involved in membrane fusion, such as SNARE or influenza virus hemagglutinin, share the common function of pulling together opposing membranes in closer contact. The reduction of inter-membrane distance can be sufficient to induce a lipid transition phase and thus fusion. We have used functionalized lipids bearing DNA bases as head groups incorporated into giant unilamellar vesicles in order to reproduce the reduction of distance between membranes and to trigger fusion in a model system. In our experiments, two vesicles were isolated and brought into adhesion by the mean of micromanipulation; their evolution was monitored by fluorescence microscopy. Actual fusion only occurred in about 5% of the experiments. In most cases, a state of "hemifusion" is observed and quantified. In this state, the outer leaflets of both vesicles' bilayers merged whereas the inner leaflets and the aqueous inner contents remained independent. The kinetics of the lipid probes redistribution is in good agreement with a diffusion model in which lipids freely diffuse at the circumference of the contact zone between the two vesicles. The minimal density of bridging structures, such as stalks, necessary to explain this redistribution kinetics can be estimated.