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Viscoelastic Notch Signaling Hydrogel Induces Liver Bile Duct Organoid Growth and Morphogenesis
Author(s) -
Rizwan Muhammad,
Ling Christopher,
Guo Chengyu,
Liu Tracy,
Jiang JiaXin,
Bear Christine E.,
Ogawa Shinichiro,
Shoichet Molly S.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.202200880
Subject(s) - cholangiocyte , organoid , notch signaling pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular matrix , morphogenesis , biology , signal transduction , biochemistry , endocrinology , gene
Abstract Cholangiocyte organoids can be used to model liver biliary disease; however, both a defined matrix to emulate cholangiocyte self‐assembly and the mechano‐transduction pathways involved therein remain elusive. A series of defined viscoelastic hyaluronan hydrogels to culture primary cholangiocytes are designed and it is found that by mimicking the stress relaxation rate of liver tissue, cholangiocyte organoid growth can be induced and expression of Yes‐associated protein (YAP) target genes could be significantly increased. Strikingly, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) does not significantly affect organoid growth in 3D culture, suggesting that mechanical remodeling of the viscoelastic microenvironment—and not MMP‐mediated degradation—is the key to cholangiocyte organoid growth. By immobilizing Jagged1 to the hyaluronan, stress relaxing hydrogel, self‐assembled bile duct structures form in organoid culture, indicating the synergistic effects of Notch signaling and viscoelasticity. By uncovering critical roles of hydrogel viscoelasticity, YAP signaling, and Notch activation, cholangiocyte organogenesis is controlled, thereby paving the way for their use in disease modeling and/or transplantation.