Electrospun Microfibers Modulate Intracellular Amino Acids in Liver Cells via Integrin β1
Loading...
Links to Files
Author/Creator
Author/Creator ORCID
Date
2021-05-14
Type of Work
Department
Program
Citation of Original Publication
Huang, Tianjiao, John A. Terrell, Jay H. Chung, and Chengpeng Chen. 2021. "Electrospun Microfibers Modulate Intracellular Amino Acids in Liver Cells via Integrin β1" Bioengineering 8, no. 7: 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering8070088
Rights
This work was written as part of one of the author's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.
Public Domain Mark 1.0
Public Domain Mark 1.0
Subjects
Abstract
Although numerous recent studies have shown the importance of polymeric microfibrous extracellular matrices (ECMs) in maintaining cell behaviors and functions, the mechanistic nexus between ECMs and intracellular activities is largely unknown. Nevertheless, this knowledge will be critical in understanding and treating diseases with ECM remodeling. Therefore, we present our findings that ECM microstructures could regulate intracellular amino acid levels in liver cells mechanistically through integrin β1. Amino acids were studied because they are the fundamental blocks for protein synthesis and metabolism, two vital functions of liver cells. Two ECM conditions, flat and microfibrous, were prepared and studied. In addition to characterizing cell growth, albumin production, urea synthesis, and cytochrome p450 activity, we found that the microfibrous ECM generally upregulated the intracellular amino acid levels. Further explorations showed that cells on the flat substrate expressed more integrin β1 than cells on the microfibers. Moreover, after partially blocking integrin β1 in cells on the flat substrate, the intracellular amino acid levels were restored, strongly supporting integrin β1 as the linking mechanism. This is the first study to report that a non-biological polymer matrix could regulate intracellular amino acid patterns through integrin. The results will help with future therapy development for liver diseases with ECM changes (e.g., fibrosis).