Mechanically induced formation and maturation of 3D-matrix adhesions (3DMAs) in human mesenchymal stem cells.

Mechanical signal is important for regulating stem cell fate, but the molecular mechanisms involved are unclear. Cell-matrix adhesions are important molecular mechanosensors that their formation and maturation are force-dependent processes. However, most studies focused on the role of cell contractility or substrate stiffness in these processes. How external mechanical force stimulates the formation and maturation of cell-matrix adhesions is largely unknown. Here, by using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)-collagen microtissues as a 3D model, we found that upon short-term dynamic compression, integrin αV binding, focal adhesion formation, and subsequent FAK activation, are stimulated. This compression-stimulated FAK signaling also leads to YAP activation, suggesting crosstalk between integrin-based signaling and mechanosensing. More importantly, long-term compression induces maturation of α5-integrin based adhesions to form long, slender 3D-matrix adhesions (3DMAs), which are distinct from 2D focal adhesions in composition and morphology and previously found only in cell-derived matrices and native tissues. Mechanical preconditioning hMSCs with long-term compression loading induces the formation of mature integrin α5-dependent 3DMAs and potentiates their osteogenesis. Collectively, this work shows that active mechanical stimulation can modulate cell-matrix interactions significantly at the cell-material interfaces in a dynamic manner, and affects cell fate decisions, demonstrating the significance of loading-based functional tissue engineering.

Genipin-treated chitosan nanofibers as a novel scaffold for nerve guidance channel design.

Schwann cell-seeded nerve guidance channels are designed to assist post-traumatic nerve regeneration in the PNS. Chitosan is a natural polymer well suited for tissue engineering as it is biocompatible, non-immunogenic, and biodegradable. Electrospun chitosan nanofibers utilized in nerve guidance channels have the capacity for guiding axonal growth within the channel lumen yet are limited in their capacity to maintain structural integrity within physiological environments. To address this, we attempted genipin crosslinking of chitosan nanofibers. Compared to neat chitosan nanofibers, genipin-treated nanofibers exhibited increased stiffness, resistance to swelling and lysozymal degradation. Furthermore, alignment and proliferation of purified Schwann cell cultures upon genipin-treated substratum was enhanced. When dorsal root ganglion explants were utilized as an in vitro model of peripheral nerve regeneration, emigrating neurons and Schwann cells assumed the uniaxial pattern of aligned electrospun chitosan nanofibers. Neurite growth along the nanofibers led, reaching a frontier more than twice that of the pursuant Schwann cells. Critically, neurite growth rate upon genipin-treated nanofibers demonstrated a 100% increase. Altogether, genipin treatment improves upon the physical and biological properties of chitosan nanofibers towards their utility in nerve guidance channel design.