美国约翰霍普金斯大学Sharon Gerecht团队发现，水凝胶网络动力学可调节血管形态发生。相关论文于2020年9月14日在线发表在《细胞—干细胞》杂志上。

Title: Hydrogel Network Dynamics Regulate Vascular Morphogenesis

Author: Zhao Wei, Rahel Schnellmann, Hawley C. Pruitt, Sharon Gerecht

Issue&Volume: 2020-09-14

Abstract: Matrix dynamics influence how individual cells develop into complex multicellulartissues. Here, we develop hydrogels with identical polymer components but differentcrosslinking capacities to enable the investigation of mechanisms underlying vascularmorphogenesis. We show that dynamic (D) hydrogels increase the contractility of humanendothelial colony-forming cells (hECFCs), promote the clustering of integrin β1,and promote the recruitment of vinculin, leading to the activation of focal adhesionkinase (FAK) and metalloproteinase expression. This leads to the robust assembly ofvasculature and the deposition of new basement membrane. We also show that non-dynamic(N) hydrogels do not promote FAK signaling and that stiff D- and N-hydrogels are constrainedfor vascular morphogenesis. Furthermore, D-hydrogels promote hECFC microvessel formationand angiogenesis in vivo. Our results indicate that cell contractility mediates integrin signaling via inside-outsignaling and emphasizes the importance of matrix dynamics in vascular tissue formation,thus informing future studies of vascularization and tissue engineering applications.

DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.08.005

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/fulltext/S1934-5909(20)30401-X