Tissue engineering strategies represent exciting potential therapies to repair cartilage injuries; however, difficulty regenerating the complex extracellular matrix (ECM) organization of native cartilage remains a significant challenge. Cartilaginous ECM molecules, specifically chondroitin sulfate (CS) glycosaminoglycan, may possess the ability to promote and direct MSC differentiation down a chondrogenic lineage. CS may interact with the stem cell microenvironment through its highly negative charge, generation of osmotic pressure, and sequestration of growth factors; however, the role of CS in directing differentiation down a chondrogenic lineage remains unclear. The overall goal of this dissertation was to develop versatile biomaterial platforms to control CS presentation to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in order to improve understanding of the interactions with CS that promote chondrogenic differentiation. To investigate chondrogenic response to a diverse set of CS materials, progenitor cells were cultured in the presence of CS proteoglycans and CS chains in a variety of 2D and 3D material systems. Surfaces were coated with aggrecan proteoglycan to alter cell morphology, CS-based nano- and microspheres were developed as small particle carriers for growth factor delivery, and desulfated chondroitin hydrogels were synthesized to examine electrostatic interactions with growth factors and the role of sulfation in the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. Together these studies provided valuable insight into the unique ability of CS-based materials to control cellular microenvironments via morphological and material cues to promote chondrogenic differentiation in the development of tissue engineering strategies for cartilage regeneration and repair.

Pour lutter efficacement contre une attaque, l’organisme est doté d’un système immunitaire lui permettant de reconnaître le danger et de se défendre contre celui-ci. Les lymphocytes T jouent le rôle de chef d'orchestre de la réponse immunitaire, organisant l'activité des autres cellules nécessaires à la défense contre les infections. Pour accomplir ce rôle, les cellules T sont dotées d’une forte mobilité, leur permettant ainsi de circuler constamment dans diverses régions de l’organisme et d’y établir de nombreuses interactions.<p><p>Durant ce travail, nous nous sommes intéressé aux mécanismes moléculaires responsables de la motilité des cellules T. En particulier, nous avons investigué le rôle de la protéine S100A4, dont l’expression a été démontrée au sein de cellules T, dans la motilité de ces cellules ainsi que son implication dans l’inflammation. La protéine S100A4 est connue pour son implication dans la motilité de divers types cellulaires tels que les fibroblastes, les macrophages ou encore les cellules cancéreuses. En outre, S100A4 est capable d’interagir avec de nombreuses protéines cruciales pour la migration cellulaire telles que la myosine-IIA, l’actine, la tropomyosine, la rhotékine, les septines 2,6 et 7, CCN3 ou encore la transglutaminase 2.<p><p>Nous avons montré que des souris déficientes pour S100A4 ne présentent aucune modification majeure au niveau des cellules T situées dans le thymus ou en périphérie. Nous avons observé que la protéine S100A4 est principalement exprimée par les cellules T mémoires effectrices des populations de LT CD4+ ou CD8+. Cependant, la présence de la protéine ne semble pas requise pour la migration in vitro des LT mémoires. De plus, des expériences d’infections bactériennes par Listeria monocytogenes nous ont permis de démontrer que la réponse immunitaire mémoire des cellules T n’est pas affectée par l’absence de S100A4. En outre, la différenciation in vitro de cellules T CD4+ naïves en diverses sous-populations effectrices n’est pas modifiée suite à l’absence de la protéine dans les cellules. Finalement, nous avons étudié l’implication de la protéine S100A4 dans le développement de maladies immunitaires impliquant la migration de cellules T. Nos modèles d’intérêts ont été la colite et l’encéphalomyélite auto-immunitaire expérimentales. La protéine S100A4 n’est pas cruciale pour l’induction de ces deux pathologies, puisque son absence ne modifie pas leur développement.<p><p>Notre étude démontre clairement que la protéine S100A4 n’est pas requise pour la motilité des cellules T. / Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

L’objectif de notre travail a été de caractériser le rôle de l’IL-6 dans la différenciation des lymphocytes Tfh et des lymphocytes Th2. Les lymphocytes Tfh ont pour fonction d’aider les lymphocytes B à produire des anticorps indispensables pour nous protéger contre divers pathogènes. Les lymphocytes Th2, quant à eux, sont spécialisés dans l’élimination de parasites extracellulaires tels que les helminthes.<p>Dans un premier temps, nous avons voulu identifier les gènes dont l’expression est induite par l’IL-6, avec comme objectif une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes permettant aux lymphocytes T de se différencier en cellules Tfh.<p>Au cours de notre travail, nous avons identifié le facteur de transcription, MyoR (Myogenic Repressor) comme étant exprimé au sein des lymphocytes T helper et dont l’expression est induite par l’IL-6. Nos observations expérimentales ont démontré que le facteur MyoR n’est pas indispensable pour la différenciation des lymphocytes Tfh, ni pour leur fonction. Cependant, l’expression de l’ARNm codant pour MyoR pourrait être utilisée comme un biomarqueur des cellules Tfh in vitro ou in vivo.<p>Nous avons ensuite caractérisé la réponse immune induite in vivo par des cellules présentatrices d’antigènes issues de souris déficientes pour l’IL-6. Cette approche nous a permis de mettre en évidence le rôle immunosuppresseur de l’IL-6 sur le développement des réponses de type Th2. En effet, nous avons montré que l’injection de BMDCs (Bone Marrow derived dendritic cells) IL-6-/- dans des souris receveuses de type sauvage induisent une réponse Th2 augmentée in vivo.<p>Nos résultats suggèrent que l’inhibition de la réponse Th2 par l’IL-6 in vivo et in vitro pourrait impliquer la présence d’un ou de plusieurs miRNAs.<p>Cette inhibition pourrait être un mécanisme de rétrocontrôle afin d’éviter une exacerbation de la réponse immune Th2. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Lens development and differentiation are strictly regulated processes. Various disturbances of these processes can lead to vision-limiting pathologies. The vertebrate lens is composed of epithelial cells and terminally differentiated fiber cells. Differentiation of fiber cells is connected with expression of fiber cell specific proteins (such as crystallins), cell cycle exit, and finally with the degradation of cell nucleus and organelles. Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays important roles during early eye development as well as later during the lens differentiation. To investigate the consequences of constitutive activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in lens fiber cells transgenic mouse strain, called CLEF, was created. Constitutive activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in fiber cells of CLEF mouse is achieved by transgenic protein CLEF that contains C-terminal activation domain of β-catenin fused to the amino terminus of full-length protein Lef1. The expression of CLEF transgene is under the control of αA-crystallin promoter. As a result of constitutive activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in fiber cells, adult CLEF mice develop cataracts and microphthalmia, and the morphology of adult mutant lenses is disrupted. Transgenic CLEF mRNA is expressed starting from E13.5 and by E16.5 transgenic CLEF protein is...

Bone transplantation is regarded as the preferred therapy to treat a variety of bone defects. Autologous bone tissue is often lacking at the source, and the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) responsible for bone repair mechanisms are extracted by invasive procedures. This study explores the potential of autologous mesenchymal stem cells derived from the hair follicle outer root sheath (MSCORS). We demonstrated that MSCORS have a remarkable capacity to differentiate in vitro towards the osteogenic lineage. Indeed, when combined with a novel gelatin-based hydrogel called Osteogel, they provided additional osteoinductive cues in vitro that may pave the way for future application in bone regeneration. MSCORS were also compared to MSCs from adipose tissue (ADMSC) and bone marrow (BMMSC) in a 3D Osteogel model. We analyzed gel plasticity, cell phenotype, cell viability, and differentiation capacity towards the osteogenic lineage by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium deposition, and specific gene expression. The novel injectable hydrogel filled an irregularly shaped lesion in a porcine wound model displaying high plasticity. MSCORS in Osteogel showed a higher osteo-commitment in terms of calcium deposition and expression dynamics of OCN, BMP2, and PPARG when compared to ADMSC and BMMSC, whilst displaying comparable cell viability and ALP activity. In conclusion, autologous MSCORS combined with our novel gelatin-based hydrogel displayed a high capacity for differentiation towards the osteogenic lineage and are acquired by non-invasive procedures, therefore qualifying as a suitable and expandable novel approach in the field of bone regeneration therapy

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Endothelial Colony Forming Cells (ECFCs) are highly proliferative endothelial progenitor cells with clonal proliferative potential and in vivo vessel forming ability. While endothelial cells have been derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPS) or human embryonic stem cells (hES), they are not highly proliferative and require ectopic expression of a TGFβ inhibitor to restrict plasticity. Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) has been reported to identify the emergence of endothelial precursor cells from human and mouse ES cells undergoing endothelial differentiation. However, the protocol used in that study was not well defined, used uncharacterized neuronal induction reagents in the culture medium, and failed to fully characterize the endothelial cells derived. We hypothesize that NRP-1 expression is critical for the emergence of stable endothelial cells with ECFC properties from hES cells. We developed a novel serum and feeder free defined endothelial differentiation protocol to induce stable endothelial cells possessing cells with cord blood ECFC-like properties from hES cells. We have shown that Day 12 hES cell-derived endothelial cells express the endothelial markers CD31+ NRP-1+, exhibit high proliferative potential at a single cell level, and display robust in vivo vessel forming ability similar to that of cord blood-derived ECFCs. The efficient production of the ECFCs from hES cells is 6 logs higher with this protocol than any previously published method. These results demonstrate progress towards differentiating ECFC from hES and may provide patients with stable autologous cells capable of repairing injured, dysfunctional, or senescent vasculature if these findings can be repeated with hiPS.

Poor skeletal health results from aging and metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes and involves impaired homeostatic balance between marrow osteogenesis and adipogenesis. Tissue engineering provides researchers with the ability to generate improved, highly controlled and tailorable in vitro model systems to better understand mechanisms of homeostasis, disease, and healing and regeneration. Model systems that allow assembly of modules of MSCs, osteoblasts, and adipocytes in a number of configurations to engage in signaling crosstalk offer the potential to study integrative physiological aspects and complex interactions in the face of changes in local and systemic microenvironments. Thus, the overall goal of this dissertation was to examine integrative physiological aspects between MSCs, osteoblasts, and adipocytes that exist within the marrow microenvironment. To investigate the effects of intercellular signaling in different microenvironmental contexts, methods were developed to photolithographically pattern and assemble cell-laden PEG-based hydrogels with high spatial fidelity and tissue-scale thickness for long-term 3D co-culture of multiple cell types. This platform was applied to study effects of crosstalk between MSCs, osteoblasts and adipocytes on markers of differentiation in each cell type. Additionally, responses of MSCs to systemic perturbations in glucose concentration were modulated by mono-, co-, and tri-culture with these cell types in a model of diabetes-induced skeletal disease. Together, these studies provided valuable insight into unique and differential effects of intercellular signaling within the niche environment of MSCs and their terminally differentiated progeny during homeostatic and pathological states, and offer opportunities further study of integrative physiological interactions between mesenchymal lineage cells.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / During pregnancy, maternal liver exhibits robust growth to meet the metabolic demands of the developing placenta and fetus. Although hepatocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia are seen in the maternal liver, the molecular and cellular mechanisms mediating the maternal hepatic adaptations to pregnancy is poorly understood. Previous microarray analysis revealed a most upregulated gene named Ascl1, a transcription factor essential for neural development, in the maternal liver at mid-gestation. The aims of the study were to (1) validate the activation of Ascl1 gene; (2) identify Ascl1-expressing cells; and (3) determine the fate of Ascl1-expressing cells, in the maternal liver during the course of gestation. Timed pregnancy was setup in mice and the maternal livers were collected at various stages of gestation. Maternal hepatic Ascl1 mRNA expression was evaluated by qRT-PCR and northern blotting. The results demonstrated that the transcript level of maternal hepatic Ascl1 is exponentially increased during the second half of pregnancy in comparison with a non-pregnant state. Using a Ascl1-GFP mouse model generated by others to monitor the behavior of neural progenitor cells, we found that maternal hepatic Ascl1-expressing cells are non-parenchymal cells, very small in size, and expanding during pregnancy. To map the fate of this cell population, we generated an in vivo tracing mouse model named Ascl1-CreERT2/ROSA26-LacZ. Using this model, we permanently labeled maternal hepatic Ascl1-expressing cells at midgestation by giving tamoxifen and analyzed the labeled cells in the maternal liver prior to parturition. We observed that the initial small Ascl1-expressing cells undergoing expansion at mid-gestation eventually became hepatocyte-like cells at the end stage of pregnancy. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that Ascl1-expressing cells represent a novel population of hepatic progenitor cells and they can differentiate along hepatocyte lineage and contribute to pregnancy-induced maternal liver growth. Further studies are needed to firmly establish the nature and property of maternal hepatic Ascl1-expressing cells. At this stage, we have gained significant insights into the cellular mechanism by which the maternal liver adapts to pregnancy.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The transcriptional repressor BCL6 has been shown to be essential for the differentiation of germinal center (GC) B cells and follicular T helper (TFH) cells. The interaction of TFH and GC B cells is necessary for the development of high affinity antibodies specific for an invading pathogen. Germline BCL6-deficient mouse models limit our ability to study BCL6 function in T cells due to the strong inflammatory responses seen in these mice. To overcome this, our lab has developed a new BCL6 conditional knockout (cKO) mouse using the cre/lox system, wherein the zinc finger region of the BCL6 gene is flanked by loxP sites. Mating to a CD4-Cre mouse allowed us to study the effects of BCL6 loss specifically in T cells, without the confounding effects seen in germline knockout models. Using this cKO model, we have reaffirmed the necessity of BCL6 for TFH differentiation, including its role in sustained CXCR5 surface expression, a signature marker for TFH cells. This model also allowed us to recognize the role of BCL6 in promoting the expression of PD-1, another key surface marker for TFH cells. Without BCL6, CD4+ T cells cannot express PD-1 at the high levels seen on TFH cells. Our discovery of DNMT3b as a target for BCL6 suggests BCL6-deficient T cells have increased DNA methyltransferase activity at the PD-1 promoter. This data establishes a novel pathway for explaining how BCL6, a transcriptional repressor, can activate genes. Experiments with the BCL6 cKO model have also established a role for BCL6 in naïve CD4+ T cell activation. Furthermore, we did not observe increased differentiation of other helper T cell subsets, in contrast to what has been reported elsewhere with germline BCL6-deficient models. Unexpectedly, we found decreased T helper type 2 (Th2) cells, whereas mouse models with a germline mutation of BCL6 have increased Th2 cells. These results indicate that BCL6 activity in non-T cells is critical for controlling T cell differentiation. Finally, using an HIV-1 gp120 immunization model, we have, for the first time, shown BCL6-dependent GCs to be limiting for antibody development and affinity maturation in a prime-boost vaccine scheme.