Biology subjects

Sano, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Sano, C..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Computational Analysis of Fibroblast Subpopulation Dynamics as a Driver of Fibrotic Foci Formation

Fibroblasts maintain the extracellular matrix (ECM) to support tissue homeostasis and wound healing. In fibrotic diseases, fibroblasts are a primary driver of disease progression through excess collagen secretion and enhanced contractility. Replacing native tissue with a collagen rich fibrotic scar leads to a decline in tissue function. Recent research into idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has identified fibroblast subpopulations that may be primed for the hyper-activation that leads to increased progression of fibrotic disease. Understanding the contribution of these subpopulations to disease progression requires integrating experimental and computational techniques to understand their dynamic contributions to tissue phenotype. Herein, we introduce a framework for modeling subpopulations using a multiscale mechanistic computational model to understand differences within subpopulations, at the intracellular level and how these differences contribute to cell-and tissue-level pathology. We build and validate this framework using two well-defined subpopulations of fibroblasts in IPF. The subpopulations are defined by the presence or absence of Thy-1, a cell-surface protein that regulates fibroblast mechanosensing. We first developed a logic-based network model of a fibroblast. We then applied this model to identify sub-networks that regulate myofibroblast marker expression in the two subpopulations. Coupling this with an agent-based model (ABM) of the lung microenvironment, we observed how different rules regulating cell fate decisions in each subpopulation affected collagen content. Computational image outputs were analyzed with the open-source biological image analysis software QuPath to quantify how changes in subpopulation dynamics change model-predicted foci characteristics such as size and collagen density. We find that the ability for Thy-1+ fibroblasts to transition to Thy-1- fibroblasts significantly increases total collagen content, as well as influences fibrotic foci characteristics. Overall, we present a combined experimental and computational framework for studying how dynamic changes in fibroblast subpopulations lead to tissue-level disease phenotypes. Author SummaryIn wound healing fibroblasts are responsible for rebuilding the scaffolding, called the extracellular matrix (ECM), of the damaged tissue to aid in regeneration. In fibrosis, the normal wound healing processes are hijacked leading to overproduction of ECM proteins, such as collagen, by fibroblasts leading to fibrosis. In fibrotic diseases with no known cause, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), subpopulations of fibroblasts have been identified as possible drivers of disease. Herein, we use a multiscale computational model that represents intracellular, cellular, and tissue level signaling to study how the presence or absence of a single protein on a fibroblasts surface, Thy-1, affects the formation of fibrotic scar in IPF. Thy-1 regulates how a fibroblast senses the stiffness of the microenvironment. The absence of Thy-1 impacted intracellular signaling and when combined across many cells led to fibrosis at the tissue level. Additionally, if normal Thy-1+ fibroblasts could dynamically lose Thy-1 expression the amount of collagen they produced correlated with that in end stage IPF lungs. This model presents a framework for studying different fibroblast subpopulations using multiscale computational modeling to understand how changes in a single protein in one cell can, over an entire population, affect the dynamics of disease progression.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2022

A role for axon-glial interactions and Netrin-G1 signaling in the formation of low-threshold mechanoreceptor end organs

Low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) and their cutaneous end organs convert light mechanical forces acting on the skin into electrical signals that propagate to the central nervous system. In mouse hairy skin, hair follicle-associated longitudinal lanceolate complexes, which are end organs comprising of LTMR axonal endings that intimately associate with terminal Schwann cell (TSC) processes, mediate LTMR responses to hair deflection and skin indentation. Here, we characterized developmental steps leading to the formation of A{beta} RA-LTMR and A{delta}-LTMR lanceolate complexes. During early postnatal development, A{beta} RA-LTMRs and A{delta}-LTMRs extend and prune cutaneous axonal branches in close association with nascent TSC processes. Netrin-G1 is expressed in these developing A{beta} RA-LTMR and A{delta}-LTMR lanceolate endings, and Ntng1 ablation experiments indicate that Netrin-G1 functions in sensory neurons to promote lanceolate ending elaboration around hair follicles. The Netrin-G ligand (NGL-1), encoded by Lrrc4c, is expressed in TSCs, and ablation of Lrrc4c phenocopies the lanceolate complex deficits observed in Ntng1 mutants. Moreover, NGL-1-Netrin-G1 signaling is a general mediator of LTMR end organ formation across diverse tissue types demonstrated by the fact that A{beta} RA-LTMR endings associated with Meissner corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles are also compromised in the Ntng1 and Lrrc4c mutant mice. Thus, axon-glia interactions mediated by NGL-1-Netrin-G1 signaling promote LTMR end organ formation. Significance statementOur sense of touch is essential for fundamental tasks ranging from object recognition to social exchange. Yet, touch remains one of the least understood senses at the developmental level. Here, we investigate the formation of lanceolate complexes, which are mechanosensory end organs associated with hair follicles. The axons of touch sensory neurons innervating hairy skin extend into the skin at late embryonic and neonatal times, prune excessive branches during early postnatal development, and closely associate with non-myelinating glial cells, called terminal Schwann cells (TSCs) during formation of mature endings around hair follicles. Moreover, NGL-1 and its receptor Netrin-G1 mediate a molecular dialogue between nascent TSCs and sensory neuron axonal endings to promote mechanosensory end organ formation in both hairy and non-hairy (glabrous) skin.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Associated With Bleomycin-Induced Lung Injury Supports Pericyte-To-Myofibroblast Transition

Of the many origins of pulmonary myofibroblasts, microvascular pericytes are a known source. Prior literature has established the ability of pericytes to transition into myofibroblasts, but provide limited insight into molecular cues that drive this process during lung injury repair and fibrosis. Fibronectin and RGD-binding integrins have long been considered pro-fibrotic factors in myofibroblast biology, and here we test the hypothesis that these known myofibroblast cues coordinate pericyte-to-myofibroblast transitions. Specifically, we hypothesized that v{beta}3 integrin engagement on fibronectin induces pericyte transition into myofibroblastic phenotypes in the murine bleomycin lung injury model. Myosin Heavy Chain 11 (Myh11)-CreERT2 lineage tracing in transgenic mice allows identification of cells of pericyte origin and provides a robust tool for isolating pericytes from tissues for further evaluation. We used this murine model to track and characterize pericyte behaviors during tissue repair. The majority of Myh11 lineage-positive cells are positive for the pericyte surface markers, PDGFR{beta} (55%) and CD146 (69%), and display typical pericyte morphology with spatial apposition to microvascular networks. After intratracheal bleomycin treatment of mice, Myh11 lineage-positive cells showed significantly increased contractile and secretory markers, as well as v integrin expression. According to RNASeq measurements, many disease and tissue-remodeling genesets were upregulated in Myh11 lineage-positive cells in response to bleomycin-induced lung injury. In vitro, blocking v{beta}3 binding through cyclo-RGDfK prevented expression of the myofibroblastic marker SMA relative to controls. In response to RGD-containing provisional matrix proteins present in lung injury, pericytes may alter their integrin profile. This altered matrix-integrin axis contributes to pericyte-to-myofibroblastic transition and represents a possible therapeutic target for limiting the myofibroblastic burden in lung fibrosis. HighlightsO_LIPericyte lineage model enables study of transdifferentiating pericytes C_LIO_LIHigh dimensional flow cytometry used to characterize pulmonary stromal cells C_LIO_LIPulmonary pericytes express matrix-remodeling genes and proteins in lung injury C_LIO_LIMyofibroblasts derived from pericytes have active v{beta}3 integrin C_LIO_LIIn vitro assay reveals necessity of RGD for pericyte transdifferentiation C_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2018

The hippocampus encodes delay and value information during delay-discounting decision making

The hippocampus, a region critical for memory and spatial navigation, has been implicated in delay discounting, the decline in subjective reward value when a delay is imposed. However, how delay discounting is encoded in the hippocampus is poorly understood. Here we recorded from the hippocampal CA1 region of mice performing a delay-discounting decision-making task, where delay lengths and reward amounts were changed across sessions, and identified subpopulations of neurons in CA1 which increased or decreased their firing rate during long delays. The activity of both delay-active and -suppressive cells reflected delay length, reward amount, and arm position, however manipulating reward amount differentially impacted the two populations, suggesting distinct roles in the valuation process. Further, genetic deletion of NMDA receptor in hippocampal pyramidal cells impaired delay-discount behavior and diminished delay-dependent activity in CA1. Our results suggest that distinct subclasses of hippocampal neurons concertedly support delay-discounting decision in a manner dependent on NMDA receptor function.

neuroscience↗