Current tissue microenvironment reports最新文献

Purpose of review: This review focuses on the development and progression of glioblastoma through the brain and glioma microenvironment. Specifically we highlight how the tumor microenvironment contributes to the hallmarks of cancer in hopes of offering novel therapeutic options and tools to target this microenvironment.

Recent findings: The hallmarks of cancer, which represent elements of cancers that contribute to the disease's malignancy, yet elements within the brain tumor microenvironment, such as other cellular types as well as biochemical and biophysical cues that can each uniquely affect tumor cells, have not been well-described in this context and serve as potential targets for modulation.

Summary: Here, we highlight how the brain tumor microenvironment contributes to the progression and therapeutic response of tumor cells. Specifically, we examine these contributions through the lens of Hanahan & Weinberg's Hallmarks of Cancer in order to identify potential novel targets within the brain that may offer a means to treat brain cancers, including the deadliest brain cancer, glioblastoma.

Purpose of review: Pericytes are essential components of capillaries in many tissues and organs, contributing to vessel stability and integrity, with additional contributions to microvascular function still being discovered. We review current and foundational studies identifying pericyte differentiation mechanics and their roles in the earliest stages of vessel formation.

Recent findings: Recent advances in pericyte-focused tools and models have illuminated critical aspects of pericyte biology including their roles in vascular development.Pericytes likely collaborate with endothelial cells undergoing vasculogenesis, initiating direct interactions during sprouting and intussusceptive angiogenesis. Pericytes also provide important regulation of vascular growth including mechanisms underlying vessel pruning, rarefaction, and subsequent regrowth.

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to describe the mechanobiological mechanisms of tendon repair as well as outline current and emerging tools in mechanobiology that might be useful for improving tendon healing and regeneration. Over 30 million musculoskeletal injuries are reported in the US per year and nearly 50% involve soft tissue injuries to tendons and ligaments. Yet current therapeutic strategies for treating tendon injuries are not always successful in regenerating and returning function of the healing tendon.

Recent findings: The use of rehabilitative strategies to control the motion and transmission of mechanical loads to repairing tendons following surgical reattachment is beneficial for some, but not all, tendon repairs. Scaffolds that are designed to recapitulate properties of developing tissues show potential to guide the mechanical and biological healing of tendon following rupture. The incorporation of biomaterials to control alignment and reintegration, as well as promote scar-less healing, are also promising. Improving our understanding of damage thresholds for resident cells and how these cells respond to bioelectrical cues may offer promising steps forward in the field of tendon regeneration.

Summary: The field of orthopaedics continues to advance and improve with the development of regenerative approaches for musculoskeletal injuries, especially for tendon, and deeper exploration in this area will lead to improved clinical outcomes.

Purpose of review: Stem cells are exquisitely sensitive to biophysical and biochemical cues within the native microenvironment. This review focuses on emerging strategies to manipulate neural cell behavior using these influences in three-dimensional (3D) culture systems.

Recent findings: Traditional systems for neural cell differentiation typically produce heterogeneous populations with limited diversity rather than the complex, organized tissue structures observed in vivo. Advancements in developing engineering tools to direct neural cell fates can enable new applications in basic research, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine.

Summary: This review article highlights engineering strategies that facilitate controlled presentation of biophysical and biochemical cues to guide differentiation and impart desired phenotypes on neural cell populations. Specific highlighted examples include engineered biomaterials and microfluidic platforms for spatiotemporal control over the presentation of morphogen gradients.

Purpose of review: This review focuses on biomechanical and cellular considerations required for development of biomaterials and engineered tissues suitable for implantation following PNI, as well as translational requirements relating to outcome measurements for testing success in patients.

Recent findings: Therapies that incorporate multiple aspects of the regenerative environment are likely to be key to improving therapies for nerve regeneration. This represents a complex challenge when considering the diversity of biological, chemical and mechanical factors involved. In addition, clinical outcome measures following peripheral nerve repair which are sensitive and responsive to changes in the tissue microenvironment following neural injury and regeneration are required.

Summary: Effective new therapies for the treatment of PNI are likely to include engineered tissues and biomaterials able to evoke a tissue microenvironment that incorporates both biochemical and mechanical features supportive to regeneration. Translational development of these technologies towards clinical use in humans drives a concomitant need for improved clinical measures to quantify nerve regeneration.