Coupled modeling of tumour angiogenesis, tumour growth,and blood perfusion

This paper proposes a more realistic mathematical simulation method to investigate the dynamic process of tumour angio-genesis by fully coupling the vessel growth,tumour growth and associated blood perfusion.The tumour growth and angiogenesis are coupled by the chemical microenvironment and the cell-matrix interaction.The haemodynamic calculation is carried out on the new vasculature,and an estimation of vessel collapse is made according to the wall shear stress criterion.The results are consistent with physiological observations,and further confirm the application of the coupled model feedback mechanism.The model is available to examine the interactions between angiogenesis and tumour growth,to study the change in the dynamic process of chemical environment and the vessel remodeling.

Angiogenesis in a 3D model containing adipose tissue stem cells and endothelial cells is mediated by canonical Wnt signaling

Adipose-derived stromal cells （ASCs） have gained great attention in regenerative medicine. Progress in our understanding of adult neovascularization further suggests the potential of ASCs in promoting vascular regeneration, although the specific cues that stimulate their angiogenic behavior remain controversial In this study, we established a three-dimensional （3D） angiogenesis model by co-culturing ASCs and endothelial cells （ECs） in collagen gel and found that ASC-EC-instructed angiogenesis was regulated by the canonical Wnt pathway. Furthermore, the angiogenesis that occurred in implants collected after injections of our collagen gel- based 3D angiogenesis model into nude mice was confirmed to be functional and also regulated by the canonical Wnt pathway. Wnt regulation of angiogenesis involving changes in vessel length, vessel density, vessel sprout, and connection numbers occurred in our system. Wnt signaling was then shown to regulate ASC- mediated paracrine signaling during angiogenesis through the nuclear translocation of β-catenin after its cytoplasmic accumulation in both ASCs and ECs. This translocation enhanced the expression of nuclear cofactor Lef-1 and cyclin D1 and activated the angiogenic transcription of vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGFA）, basic fibroblast growth factor （bFGF）, and insulin-like growth factor 1 （IGF-1）. The angiogenesis process in the 3D collagen model appeared to follow canonical Wnt signaling, and this model can help us understand the importance of the canonical Wnt pathway in the use of ASCs in vascular regeneration.

Numerical simulation of tumor-induced angiogenesis influenced by the extra-cellular matrix mechanical environment

To investigate tumor-induced angiogenesis under the influence of the mechanical environments inside and outside the tumor, mathematical model of tumor angiogenesis was developed. In the model, extra-cellular matrix （ECM） was treated as a thin plane. The displacement of ECM is obtained from the force balance equation consisted of the ECs traction, the ECM visco-elastic forces and the exter- nal forces. Simulation results show that a layered capillary network is obtained with a well vascularized region at the periphery of the tumor. The present model can be used as a valid theoretical method in the basic researches in tumorinduced angiogenesis.

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of acellular nerves

Vascularization of acellular nerves has been shown to contribute to nerve bridging.In this study,we used a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect model in rats to determine whether cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of injured acellular nerves.The rat nerve defects were treated with acellular nerve grafting（control group） alone or acellular nerve grafting combined with intraperitoneal injection of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein（experimental group）.As shown through two-dimensional imaging,the vessels began to invade into the acellular nerve graft from both anastomotic ends at day 7 post-operation,and gradually covered the entire graft at day 21.The vascular density,vascular area,and the velocity of revascularization in the experimental group were all higher than those in the control group.These results indicate that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein enhances the vascularization of acellular nerves.