Preface:molecular,cellular,and tissue mechanobiology

Mechanics plays a crucial role in a diversity of biological processes at different length(from molecules,cells,tissues,organs to organisms)and time scales.As a rapidly growing field across the interfaces of mechanics,biology,and medical engineering,mechanobiology aims to identify the mechanical and biological responses of cells and tissues of

Tissue expression and immunolocalization of cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated gene in postinfarction dysfunctional myocardium

Background Cellular Repressor of E1A-stimu-lated gene(CREG) is widely expressed in adult tissues such as the brain,heart,lung,liver,intestine and kidney in mice.It is not known whether tissue CREG is decreased in the common setting of myocardial infarction which may lead to heart failure.We studied the expression and protein localization of CREG and its main receptor(IFR2R) in a mouse model of myocardial infarction.Methods Male mice were randomized to proximal left anterior descending ligation.The animals were killed on day 1,3,7,14,and 28 after ligation to examine gene expression and protein production of CREG and IGF2R from the infarct,peri-infarct,and contralateral zones of infarcted heart.Results There was decreased CREG mRNA production throughout the myocardium at dav 1,and the expression gradually increased at day 28 after myocardial infarction.The decreased expression of this glycoprotein was not confined strictly to the infarct or peri-infarct zones but also expressed by cardiac myocytes within the myocardium in the contralateral normal zone.Levels of CREG protein in the infarct and peri-infarct zones declined to 1/3- to 1/2-fold of normal levels and declined to 1/2- to 2/3- fold in the contralateral zone.Finally,the expression of the IGF2R mRNA transcripts was downregulated at day 3 and 7 after ligation in the infarct and peri-infarct zones,suggesting that the signal transduction pathways necessary for CREG in the heart remain intact as CREG biosynthesis decreases. Conclusions CREG is constantly present in a model of large myocardial infarction and is decreased at the early stage within the myocardium.The decreased expression of this glycoprotein is not only confined strictly to the infarct or periinfarct zone but also is expressed by cardiac myocytes within the myocardium contralateral to the infarct.Therefore CREG production decreased due to myocardial stress response to injury.

Advances in the engineering of the outer blood-retina barrier:From in-vitro modelling to cellular therapy

The outer blood-retina barrier(oBRB),crucial for the survival and the proper functioning of the overlying retinal layers,is disrupted in numerous diseases affecting the retina,leading to the loss of the photoreceptors and ultimately of vision.To study the oBRB and/or its degeneration,many in vitro oBRB models have been developed,notably to investigate potential therapeutic strategies against retinal diseases.Indeed,to this day,most of these pathologies are untreatable,especially once the first signs of degeneration are observed.To cure those patients,a current strategy is to cultivate in vitro a mature oBRB epithelium on a custom membrane that is further implanted to replace the damaged native tissue.After a description of the oBRB and the related diseases,this review presents an overview of the oBRB models,from the simplest to the most complex.Then,we propose a discussion over the used cell types,for their relevance to study or treat the oBRB.Models designed for in vitro applications are then examined,by paying particular attention to the design evolution in the last years,the development of pathological models and the benefits of co-culture models,including both the retinal pigment epithelium and the choroid.Lastly,this review focuses on the models developed for in vivo implantation,with special emphasis on the choice of the material,its processing and its characterization,before discussing the reported pre-clinical and clinical trials.