Biology subjects

Huang, Y. Y. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Huang, Y. Y. S..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Downregulation of Extraembryonic Tension Controls Body Axis Formation in Avian Embryos

Embryonic tissues undergoing shape change draw mechanical input from extraembryonic substrates. In avian eggs, the early blastoderm disk is under the tension of the vitelline membrane (VM). Here we report that the chicken VM characteristically downregulates tension and stiffness to facilitate stage-specific embryo morphogenesis. Experimental relaxation of the VM early in development impairs blastoderm expansion, while maintaining VM tension in later stages resists the convergence of the posterior body causing stalled elongation, failure of neural tube closure, and axis rupture. Biochemical and structural analysis shows that VM weakening is associated with the reduction of outer-layer glycoprotein fibers, which is caused by an increasing albumen pH due to CO2 release from the egg. Our results identify a previously unrecognized potential cause of body axis defects through mis-regulation of extraembryonic tissue tension.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

On-chip perivascular niche with patient-derived glioma cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most common and the most aggressive type of primary brain malignancy. Glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) are able to migrate in vascular niches within or away from the tumour mass, increasing tumour resistance to patient treatments and contributing to relapses. To study individual GSCs migration and their interactions with the microenvironment in the vasculature, there is a need to develop a model of human blood vessels in vitro. Herein, we report a systematic study on the interaction between patient-derived glioma stem-like cell lines with different organotypic perivascular niche models. A microfluidic chip integrated with an extracellular matrix was fabricated to support the culture of rounded microvessels, formed with endothelial cells from three different organs, (1) human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3), (2) human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and, (3) human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-L). Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture retains selected adherent and tight junction markers of the endothelial cells, and the stemness-related genes of GSCs. We optimized the experimental protocol to perform qPCR, and western blot on the co-cultured GSCs with endothelial cells forming microvessels. Endpoint biological assays showed upregulation of neovascularization-related genes in endothelial cells (e.g., angiopoietins, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors) resulted after their co-culture with GBM cells. Moreover, we measured cancer cell speed and polarization during migration towards the endothelial cell formed vessel by live-cell imaging showing that organotypic (brain cancer cells - brain endothelial microvessel) interactions differ from those within non-tissue specific vascular niches. The development and optimization of this 3D microfluidic device could provide the next level of complexity of an in vitro system to study the influence of glioma cells on normal brain endothelium. More importantly, it enables the possibility to conduct comparative studies to dissect the influence of 3D culture, microvessel architecture and organotypic vessel types on glioma cells stemness and migration.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2020

Bioassemblying Macro-Scale, Lumnized Airway Tubes of Defined Shape via Multi-Organoid Patterning and Fusion

Epithelial, stem-cell derived organoids are ideal building blocks for tissue engineering, however, scalable and shape-controlled bioassembly of epithelial organoids into larger and anatomical structures has yet to be achieved. Here, a robust organoid engineering approach, Multi-Organoid Patterning and Fusion (MOrPF), is presented to assemble individual airway organoids of different sizes into upscaled, scaffold-free airway tubes with pre-defined shapes. Multi-Organoid Aggregates (MOAs) undergo accelerated fusion in a matrix-depleted, free-floating environment, possess a continuous lumen and maintain prescribed shapes without an exogenous scaffold interface. MOAs in the floating culture exhibit a well-defined three-stage process of inter-organoid surface integration, luminal material clearance and lumina connection. The observed shape stability of patterned MOAs is confirmed by theoretical modelling based on organoid morphology and the physical forces involved in organoid fusion. Immunofluorescent characterization shows that fused MOA tubes possess an unstratified epithelium consisting mainly of tracheal basal stem cells. By generating large, shape-controllable organ tubes, MOrPF enables upscaled organoid engineering towards integrated organoid-devices and structurally complex organ tubes.

bioengineering↗