2d-and-3d-echocardiography-in-the-axolotl-ambystoma-mexicanum

2D and 3D Echocardiography in the Axolotl (<em>Ambystoma Mexicanum</em>)

Cardiac malfunction as a result of ischemic heart disease is a major challenge, and regenerative therapies to the heart are in high demand. A few model ...

cryo-injury-induced-heart-regeneration-axolotl-echocardiography

Cryo-injury Induced Heart Regeneration in the Axolotl and Echocardiography and Unbiased Quantitative Histology to Evaluate Regenerative Progression

The urodele amphibians, salamanders and newts, represent the phylogenetic group closest to mammals capable of performing complete myocardial regeneration ...

Aarhus University

Microgravity induces three-dimensional (3D) growth in numerous cell types. Despite substantial efforts to clarify the underlying mechanisms for spheroid formation, the precise molecular pathways are still not known. The principal aim of this paper is to compare static 1g-control cells with spheroid forming (MCS) and spheroid non-forming (AD) thyroid cancer cells cultured in the same flask under simulated microgravity conditions. We investigated the morphology and gene expression patterns in human follicular thyroid cancer cells (UCLA RO82-W-1 cell line) after a 24 h-exposure on the Random Positioning Machine (RPM) and focused on 3D growth signaling processes. After 24 h, spheroid formation was observed in RPM-cultures together with alterations in the F-actin cytoskeleton. qPCR indicated more changes in gene expression in MCS than in AD cells. Of the 24 genes analyzed VEGFA, VEGFD, MSN, and MMP3 were upregulated in MCS compared to 1g-controls, whereas ACTB, ACTA2, KRT8, TUBB, EZR, RDX, PRKCA, CAV1, MMP9, PAI1, CTGF, MCP1 were downregulated. A pathway analysis revealed that the upregulated genes code for proteins, which promote 3D growth (angiogenesis) and prevent excessive accumulation of extracellular proteins, while genes coding for structural proteins are downregulated. Pathways regulating the strength/rigidity of cytoskeletal proteins, the amount of extracellular proteins, and 3D growth may be involved in MCS formation. 

Pathways Regulating Spheroid Formation of Human Follicular Thyroid Cancer Cells under Simulated Microgravity Conditions: A Genetic Approach.

Cardiovascular complications are common in astronauts returning from a prolonged spaceflight. These health problems might be driven by complex modulations of gene expression and protein synthesis in endothelial cells (ECs). Studies on the influence of microgravity on phenotype, growth pattern and biological processes of ECs can help to understand these complications.

Key Proteins Involved in Spheroid Formation and Angiogenesis in Endothelial Cells After Long-Term Exposure to Simulated Microgravity.

The heart has a high-metabolic rate, and its "around-the-clock" vital role to sustain life sets it apart in a regenerative setting from other organs and appendages. The landscape of vertebrate species known to perform intrinsic heart regeneration is strongly biased toward ectotherms-for example, fish, salamanders, and embryonic/neonatal ectothermic mammals. It is hypothesized that intrinsic heart regeneration is exclusively limited to the low-metabolic hearts of ectotherms. The biomedical field of regenerative medicine seeks to devise biologically inspired regenerative therapies to diseased human hearts. Falsification of the ectothermy dependency for heart regeneration hypothesis may be a crucial prerequisite to meaningfully seek inspiration in established ectothermic regenerative animal models. Otherwise, engineering approaches to construct artificial heart components may constitute a more viable path toward regenerative therapies. A more strict definition of regenerative phenomena is generated and several testable sub-hypotheses and experimental avenues are put forward to elucidate the link between heart regeneration and metabolism. Also see the video abstract here https://youtu.be/fZcanaOT5z8.

Intrinsic Heart Regeneration in Adult Vertebrates May be Strictly Limited to Low-Metabolic Ectotherms.

Cardiac regeneration in the axolotl has been found to rely on the innate immune system, and especially macrophages have been demonstrated to play a vital role in regulating the regenerative process. In this study we wanted to induce a pro- and anti-inflammatory milieu in the axolotl during heart regeneration to test the resilience of the regenerative response.

Anita Dittrich

Department of Clinical Medicine,
Department of Clinical Medicine (Comparative Medicine Lab)

Aarhus University

2D and 3D Echocardiography in the Axolotl (Ambystoma Mexicanum)

Cryo-injury Induced Heart Regeneration in the Axolotl and Echocardiography and Unbiased Quantitative Histology to Evaluate Regenerative Progression

Anita Dittrich

Department of Clinical Medicine,Department of Clinical Medicine (Comparative Medicine Lab)

Aarhus University

2D and 3D Echocardiography in the Axolotl (Ambystoma Mexicanum)

Cryo-injury Induced Heart Regeneration in the Axolotl and Echocardiography and Unbiased Quantitative Histology to Evaluate Regenerative Progression

Department of Clinical Medicine,
Department of Clinical Medicine (Comparative Medicine Lab)