22 research outputs found
Three-dimensional spheroid cell culture of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells leads to enhanced paracrine induction of wound healing
Cytosolic DNA sensing through cGAS and STING is inactivated by gene mutations in pangolins
Co-assembly, spatiotemporal control and morphogenesis of a hybrid protein-peptide system
Controlling molecular interactions between bioinspired molecules can enable the development of new materials with higher complexity and innovative properties. Here we report on a dynamic system that emerges from the conformational modification of an elastin-like protein by peptide amphiphiles and with the capacity to access, and be maintained in, non-equilibrium for substantial periods of time. The system enables the formation of a robust membrane that displays controlled assembly and disassembly capabilities, adhesion and sealing to surfaces, self-healing and the capability to undergo morphogenesis into tubular structures with high spatiotemporal control. We use advanced microscopy along with turbidity and spectroscopic measurements to investigate the mechanism of assembly and its relation to the distinctive membrane architecture and the resulting dynamic properties. Using cell-culture experiments with endothelial and adipose-derived stem cells, we demonstrate the potential of this system to generate complex bioactive scaffolds for applications such as tissue engineering.The work was supported by the European Research Council Starting Grant
(STROFUNSCAFF), the European Commission under FP7 and H2020 programs ((NMP3-
LA-2011-263363, HEALTH-F4-2011-278557, PITN-GA-2012-317304, MSCA-ITN-2014-
ETN- 642687, 642687 H2020-NMP-2014-646075), the Ministry of Economy and
Competitiveness (Spain) (MAT2012-38043-C02-01, MAT2013-41723-R, MAT2013-
42473-R) the Junta de Castilla y Leon (VA244U13, VA313U14) and the Portuguese
Foundation for Science and Technology, grants PTDC/EBB-BIO/114523/2009 and SFRH/
BD/44977/2008. Additional support was obtained from the Bilateral Program Portugalâ
Spain Integrated Actions 2011 (E-50/11) and Marie Curie Career Integration Grant
618335. The authors thank the European Synchrotron Research Facility for access to
synchrotron beamline BM29 and P. Pernot for support during the experiments, and
C. LĂłpez (Centres CientĂfics i TecnolĂČgics University of Barcelona), C. Semino (Institut
QuĂmic de SarriĂ ), E. Rebollo (Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Unit in the Molecular
Biology Institute of Barcelona), J. P. Aguilar, R. Doodkorte, A. Amzour and the technical
staff of the Material Characterization Laboratory and Nanovision Laboratory at the Queen
Mary University of London for the constructive discussions and contributions in this study
IFI16 directly senses viral RNA and enhances RIG-I transcription and activation to restrict influenza virus infection
The intracellular DNA sensors cGAS and IFI16 do not mediate effective antiviral immune responses to HSV-1 in human microglial cells
Acellular Urethra Bioscaffold: Decellularization of Whole Urethras for Tissue Engineering Applications
STING-dependent sensing of self-DNA drives silica-induced lung inflammation
Silica particles induce intereukin-1 (IL-1) response to contribute to lung inflammation, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here the authors show that silica induces cell death and release of mitochondria and genomic DNA, which are sensed by STING with or without involving cGAS, respectively, for IL-1 induction and lung inflammation