A facile cell culture device for studying nuclear and mitochondrial response of endothelial cells to hydrostatic pressure

There is no clear consensus regarding how cells respond to hydrostatic pressure. This is largely attributable to the high heterogeneity among cell types and the diverse custom-made devices used in previous studies. The aim of this work was to develop a facile device that could mimic various pressure environments and then delineate the cellular response to pressure stimulus. The device described here achieved both stable and periodic pressurization without oxygen deprivation. The biological utility of the device was assessed using human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We found more stereoscopic nuclear morphology and re-distribution of lamin A/C under high hydrostatic pressure compared to control cells. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis showed significant changes in mitochondria-related pathways. Western blot analysis confirmed that high hydrostatic pressure induced a tendency toward mitochondrial fusion. Increased mitochondrial activity was observed as well. In conclusion, this device can be readily applied in biological research and extend our understanding of cellular mechano-sensation and the associated changes in mitochondrial behaviors.

A practical guide to promote informatics-driven efficient biotopographic material development

Micro/nano topographic structures have shown great utility in many biomedical areas including cell therapies,tissue engineering,and implantable devices.Computer-assisted informatics methods hold great promise for the design of topographic structures with targeted properties for a specific medical application.To benefit from these methods,researchers and engineers require a highly reusable“one structural parameter-one set of cell responses”database.However,existing confounding factors in topographic cell culture devices seriously impede the acquisition of this kind of data.Through carefully dissecting the confounding factors and their possible reasons for emergence,we developed corresponding guideline requirements for topographic cell culture device development to remove or control the influence of such factors.Based on these requirements,we then suggested potential strategies to meet them.In this work,we also experimentally demonstrated a topographic cell culture device with controlled confounding factors based on these guideline requirements and corresponding strategies.A“guideline for the development of topographic cell culture devices”was summarized to instruct researchers to develop topographic cell culture devices with the confounding factors removed or well controlled.This guideline aims to promote the establishment of a highly reusable“one structural parameter-one set of cell responses”database that could facilitate the application of informatics methods,such as artificial intelligence,in the rational design of future biotopographic structures with high efficacy.