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18 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 18

Abstract (Expand)

Hepatocytes form bile canaliculi that dynamically respond to the signalling activity of bile acids and bile flow. Little is known about their responses to intraluminal pressure. During embryonic development, hepatocytes assemble apical bulkheads that increase the canalicular resistance to intraluminal pressure. Here, we investigate whether they also protect bile canaliculi against elevated pressure upon impaired bile flow in adult liver. Apical bulkheads accumulate upon bile flow obstruction in mouse models and patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Their loss under these conditions leads to abnormally dilated canaliculi, resembling liver cell rosettes described in other hepatic diseases. 3D reconstruction reveals that these structures are sections of cysts and tubes formed by hepatocytes. Mathematical modelling establishes that they positively correlate with canalicular pressure and occur in early PSC stages. Using primary hepatocytes and 3D organoids, we demonstrate that excessive canalicular pressure causes the loss of apical bulkheads and formation of rosettes. Our results suggest that apical bulkheads are a protective mechanism of hepatocytes against impaired bile flow, highlighting the role of canalicular pressure in liver diseases.

Authors: C. Mayer, S. Nehring, M. Kucken, U. Repnik, S. Seifert, A. Sljukic, J. Delpierre, H. Morales-Navarrete, S. Hinz, M. Brosch, B. Chung, T. Karlsen, M. Huch, Y. Kalaidzidis, L. Brusch, J. Hampe, C. Schafmayer, M. Zerial

Date Published: 31st Jul 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Hepatocytes grow their apical surfaces anisotropically to generate a 3D network of bile canaliculi (BC). BC elongation is ensured by apical bulkheads, membrane extensions that traverse the lumen and the lumen and connect juxtaposed hepatocytes. We hypothesize that apical bulkheads are mechanical elements that shape the BC lumen in liver development but also counteract elevated biliary pressure. Here, by resolving their structure using STED microscopy, we found that they are sealed by tight junction loops, connected by adherens junctions, and contain contractile actomyosin, characteristics of mechanical function. Apical bulkheads persist at high pressure upon microinjection of fluid into the BC lumen, and laser ablation demonstrated that they are under tension. A mechanical model based on ablation results revealed that apical bulkheads double the pressure BC can hold. Apical bulkhead frequency anticorrelates with BC connectivity during mouse liver development, consistent with predicted changes in biliary pressure. Our findings demonstrate that apical bulkheads are load-bearing mechanical elements that could protect the BC network against elevated pressure.

Authors: Maarten P. Bebelman, Matthew J. Bovyn, Carlotta M. Mayer, Julien Delpierre, Ronald Naumann, Nuno P. Martins, Alf Honigmann, Yannis Kalaidzidis, Pierre A. Haas, Marino Zerial

Date Published: 3rd Apr 2023

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Lenka Belicova, Urska Repnik, Julien Delpierre, Elzbieta Gralinska, Sarah Seifert, José Ignacio Valenzuela, Hernán Andrés Morales-Navarrete, Christian Franke, Helin Räägel, Evgeniya Shcherbinina, Tatiana Prikazchikova, Victor Koteliansky, Martin Vingron, Yannis L. Kalaidzidis, Timofei Zatsepin, Marino Zerial

Date Published: 4th Oct 2021

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Lumen morphogenesis is key to the function of organs and results from the integration of molecular pathways and mechanical forces1–3. The mechanisms governing anisotropic lumen expansion remain elusive4–6. In contrast to epithelial cells which have simple apico-basal polarity and form tubes, hepatocytes are multi-polar and form narrow lumina that grow anisotropically between adjacent cells, collectively generating a complex 3D network of bile canaliculi (BC)7,8. Here, we studied lumen elongation and BC morphogenesis in differentiating primary mouse hepatoblasts in vitro. Remarkably, we discovered a pattern of specific extensions of the apical membrane traversing the lumen between adjacent hepatocytes and sealed by tight junctions, reminiscent of the bulkheads of boats. These structures were also present in the developing liver. A targeted screen revealed that silencing of Rab35 caused loss of the bulkheads, conversion of hepatocyte into simple epithelial polarity and formation of spherical lumina in vitro. Strikingly, we could re-engineer hepatocyte polarity and tissue morphogenesis in vivo in the embryonic liver, converting BC into simple epithelial tubes. Our results suggest that the apical bulkheads of hepatocytes are cell-intrinsic anisotropic mechanical elements that ensure stability of the elongating lumen between two cells, thus determining the structure of BC during liver tissue morphogenesis.

Authors: Lenka Belicova, Urska Repnik, Julien Delpierre, Elzbieta Gralinska, Sarah Seifert, José Ignacio Valenzuela, Hernán Andrés Morales-Navarrete, Christian Franke, Helin Räägel, Evgeniya Shcherbinina, Tatiana Prikazchikova, Victor Koteliansky, Martin Vingron, Yannis Kalaidzidis, Timofei Zatsepin, Marino Zerial

Date Published: 2021

Publication Type: Unpublished

Abstract (Expand)

How epithelial cells coordinate their polarity to form functional tissues is an open question in cell biology. Here, we characterize a unique type of polarity found in liver tissue, nematic cell polarity, which is different from vectorial cell polarity in simple, sheet-like epithelia. We propose a conceptual and algorithmic framework to characterize complex patterns of polarity proteins on the surface of a cell in terms of a multipole expansion. To rigorously quantify previously observed tissue-level patterns of nematic cell polarity (Morales-Navarrete et al., eLife 2019), we introduce the concept of co-orientational order parameters, which generalize the known biaxial order parameters of the theory of liquid crystals. Applying these concepts to three-dimensional reconstructions of single cells from high-resolution imaging data of mouse liver tissue, we show that the axes of nematic cell polarity of hepatocytes exhibit local coordination and are aligned with the biaxially anisotropic sinusoidal network for blood transport. Our study characterizes liver tissue as a biological example of a biaxial liquid crystal. The general methodology developed here could be applied to other tissues and in-vitro organoids.

Authors: A. Scholich, S. Syga, H. Morales-Navarrete, F. Segovia-Miranda, H. Nonaka, K. Meyer, W. de Back, L. Brusch, Y. Kalaidzidis, M. Zerial, F. Julicher, B. M. Friedrich

Date Published: 11th Dec 2020

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Can three-dimensional, microvasculature networks still ensure blood supply if individual links fail? We address this question in the sinusoidal network, a plexus-like microvasculature network, which transports nutrient-rich blood to every hepatocyte in liver tissue, by building on recent advances in high-resolution imaging and digital reconstruction of adult mice liver tissue. We find that the topology of the three-dimensional sinusoidal network reflects its two design requirements of a space-filling network that connects all hepatocytes, while using shortest transport routes: sinusoidal networks are sub-graphs of the Delaunay graph of their set of branching points, and also contain the corresponding minimum spanning tree, both to good approximation. To overcome the spatial limitations of experimental samples and generate arbitrarily-sized networks, we developed a network generation algorithm that reproduces the statistical features of 0.3-mm-sized samples of sinusoidal networks, using multi-objective optimization for node degree and edge length distribution. Nematic order in these simulated networks implies anisotropic transport properties, characterized by an empirical linear relation between a nematic order parameter and the anisotropy of the permeability tensor. Under the assumption that all sinusoid tubes have a constant and equal flow resistance, we predict that the distribution of currents in the network is very inhomogeneous, with a small number of edges carrying a substantial part of the flow-a feature known for hierarchical networks, but unexpected for plexus-like networks. We quantify network resilience in terms of a permeability-at-risk, i.e., permeability as function of the fraction of removed edges. We find that sinusoidal networks are resilient to random removal of edges, but vulnerable to the removal of high-current edges. Our findings suggest the existence of a mechanism counteracting flow inhomogeneity to balance metabolic load on the liver.

Authors: J. Karschau, A. Scholich, J. Wise, H. Morales-Navarrete, Y. Kalaidzidis, M. Zerial, B. M. Friedrich

Date Published: 1st Jul 2020

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

How epithelial cells coordinate their polarity to form functional tissues is an open question in cell biology. Here, we characterize a unique type of polarity found in liver tissue, nematic cell polarity, which is different from vectorial cell polarity in simple, sheet-like epithelia. We propose a conceptual and algorithmic framework to characterize complex patterns of polarity proteins on the surface of a cell in terms of a multipole expansion. To rigorously quantify previously observed tissue-level patterns of nematic cell polarity (Morales-Navarette et al., eLife 8:e44860, 2019), we introduce the concept of co-orientational order parameters, which generalize the known biaxial order parameters of the theory of liquid crystals. Applying these concepts to three-dimensional reconstructions of single cells from high-resolution imaging data of mouse liver tissue, we show that the axes of nematic cell polarity of hepatocytes exhibit local coordination and are aligned with the biaxially anisotropic sinusoidal network for blood transport. Our study characterizes liver tissue as a biological example of a biaxial liquid crystal. The general methodology developed here could be applied to other tissues or in-vitro organoids.

Authors: Andre Scholich, Simon Syga, Hernan Morales-Navarrete, Fabian Segovia Miranda, Hidenori Nonaka, Kirstin Meyer, Walter de Back, Lutz Brusch, Yannis Kalaidzidis, Marino Zerial, Frank Julicher, Benjamin M. Friedrich

Date Published: 22nd Apr 2020

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

The mechanisms of organ size control remain poorly understood. A key question is how cells collectively sense the overall status of a tissue. We addressed this problem focusing on mouse liver regeneration. Using digital tissue reconstruction and quantitative image analysis, we found that the apical surface of hepatocytes forming the bile canalicular network expands concomitant with an increase in F-actin and phospho-myosin, to compensate an overload of bile acids. These changes are sensed by the Hippo transcriptional co-activator YAP, which localizes to apical F-actin-rich regions and translocates to the nucleus in dependence of the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton. This mechanism tolerates moderate bile acid fluctuations under tissue homeostasis, but activates YAP in response to sustained bile acid overload. Using an integrated biophysical-biochemical model of bile pressure and Hippo signaling, we explained this behavior by the existence of a mechano-sensory mechanism that activates YAP in a switch-like manner. We propose that the apical surface of hepatocytes acts as a self-regulatory mechano-sensory system that responds to critical levels of bile acids as readout of tissue status.

Authors: K. Meyer, H. Morales-Navarrete, S. Seifert, M. Wilsch-Braeuninger, U. Dahmen, E. M. Tanaka, L. Brusch, Y. Kalaidzidis, M. Zerial

Date Published: 25th Feb 2020

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

The mechanisms of organ size control remain poorly understood. A key question is how cells collectively sense the overall status of a tissue. We addressed this problem focusing on mouse liver regeneration. Using digital tissue reconstruction and quantitative image analysis, we found that the apical surface of hepatocytes forming the bile canalicular network expands concomitant with an increase in F‐actin and phospho‐myosin, to compensate an overload of bile acids. These changes are sensed by the Hippo transcriptional co‐activator YAP, which localizes to apical F‐actin‐rich regions and translocates to the nucleus in dependence of the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton. This mechanism tolerates moderate bile acid fluctuations under tissue homeostasis, but activates YAP in response to sustained bile acid overload. Using an integrated biophysical–biochemical model of bile pressure and Hippo signaling, we explained this behavior by the existence of a mechano‐sensory mechanism that activates YAP in a switch‐like manner. We propose that the apical surface of hepatocytes acts as a self‐regulatory mechano‐sensory system that responds to critical levels of bile acids as readout of tissue status.

Authors: Kirstin Meyer, Hernan Morales‐Navarrete, Sarah Seifert, Michaela Wilsch‐Braeuninger, Uta Dahmen, Elly M Tanaka, Lutz Brusch, Yannis Kalaidzidis, Marino Zerial

Date Published: 24th Feb 2020

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

Early disease diagnosis is key to the effective treatment of diseases. Histopathological analysis of human biopsies is the gold standard to diagnose tissue alterations. However, this approach has low resolution and overlooks 3D (three-dimensional) structural changes resulting from functional alterations. Here, we applied multiphoton imaging, 3D digital reconstructions and computational simulations to generate spatially resolved geometrical and functional models of human liver tissue at different stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We identified a set of morphometric cellular and tissue parameters correlated with disease progression, and discover profound topological defects in the 3D bile canalicular (BC) network. Personalized biliary fluid dynamic simulations predicted an increased pericentral biliary pressure and micro-cholestasis, consistent with elevated cholestatic biomarkers in patients' sera. Our spatially resolved models of human liver tissue can contribute to high-definition medicine by identifying quantitative multiparametric cellular and tissue signatures to define disease progression and provide new insights into NAFLD pathophysiology.

Authors: F. Segovia-Miranda, H. Morales-Navarrete, M. Kucken, V. Moser, S. Seifert, U. Repnik, F. Rost, M. Brosch, A. Hendricks, S. Hinz, C. Rocken, D. Lutjohann, Y. Kalaidzidis, C. Schafmayer, L. Brusch, J. Hampe, M. Zerial

Date Published: 2nd Dec 2019

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

A quantitative understanding of complex biological systems such as tissues requires reconstructing the structure of the different components of the system. Fluorescence microscopy provides the means to visualize simultaneously several tissue components. However, it can be time consuming and is limited by the number of fluorescent markers that can be used. In this study, we describe a toolbox of algorithms based on convolutional neural networks for the prediction of 3D tissue structures by learning features embedded within single-marker images. As proof of principle, we aimed to predict the network of bile canaliculi (BC) in liver tissue using images of the cortical actin mesh as input. The actin meshwork has a characteristic organization in specific cellular domains, such as BC. However, the use of manually selected features from images of actin is not sufficient to properly reconstruct BC structure. Our deep learning framework showed a remarkable accuracy for the prediction of BC network and was successfully adapted (i.e. transfer learning) to predict the sinusoidal network. This approach allows for a complete reconstruction of tissue microarchitecture using a single fluorescent marker.

Authors: Hernan Morales-Navarrete, Fabian Segovia-Miranda, Marino Zerial, Yannis Kalaidzidis

Date Published: 1st Sep 2019

Publication Type: InProceedings

Abstract (Expand)

Functional tissue architecture originates by self-assembly of distinct cell types, following tissue-specific rules of cell-cell interactions. In the liver, a structural model of the lobule was pioneered by Elias in 1949. This model, however, is in contrast with the apparent random 3D arrangement of hepatocytes. Since then, no significant progress has been made to derive the organizing principles of liver tissue. To solve this outstanding problem, we computationally reconstructed 3D tissue geometry from microscopy images of mouse liver tissue and analyzed it applying soft-condensed-matter-physics concepts. Surprisingly, analysis of the spatial organization of cell polarity revealed that hepatocytes are not randomly oriented but follow a long-range liquid-crystal order. This does not depend exclusively on hepatocytes receiving instructive signals by endothelial cells, since silencing Integrin-beta1 disrupted both liquid-crystal order and organization of the sinusoidal network. Our results suggest that bi-directional communication between hepatocytes and sinusoids underlies the self-organization of liver tissue.

Authors: H. Morales-Navarrete, H. Nonaka, A. Scholich, F. Segovia-Miranda, W. de Back, K. Meyer, R. L. Bogorad, V. Koteliansky, L. Brusch, Y. Kalaidzidis, F. Julicher, B. M. Friedrich, M. Zerial

Date Published: 17th Jun 2019

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

Many cellular organelles, including endosomes, show compartmentalization into distinct functional domains, which however cannot be resolved by diffraction-limited light microscopy. Single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) offers nanoscale resolution but data interpretation is often inconclusive when the ultrastructural context is missing. Correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM) combining SMLM with electron microscopy (EM) enables correlation of functional sub-domains of organelles in relation to their underlying ultrastructure at nanometer resolution. However, the specific demands for EM sample preparation and the requirements for fluorescent single-molecule photo-switching are opposed. Here, we developed a novel superCLEM workflow that combines triple-colour SMLM (dSTORM & PALM) and electron tomography using semi-thin Tokuyasu thawed cryosections. We applied the superCLEM approach to directly visualize nanoscale compartmentalization of endosomes in HeLa cells. Internalized, fluorescently labelled Transferrin and EGF were resolved into morphologically distinct domains within the same endosome. We found that the small GTPase Rab5 is organized in nano-domains on the globular part of early endosomes. The simultaneous visualization of several proteins in functionally distinct endosomal sub-compartments demonstrates the potential of superCLEM to link the ultrastructure of organelles with their molecular organization at nanoscale resolution. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Authors: C. Franke, U. Repnik, S. Segeletz, N. Brouilly, Y. Kalaidzidis, J. M. Verbavatz, M. Zerial

Date Published: 17th Jun 2019

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

High-content screens (HCS) using chemical and genomic interference based on light microscopy and quantitative image analysis yielded a large amount of multi-parametric (MP) phenotypic data. Such data-sets hold great promise for the understanding of cellular mechanisms by systems biology. However, extracting functional information from data-sets, such as links between cellular processes and the functions of unknown genes, remains challenging. The limitation of HCS analysis lies in the complexity of cellular organization. Here, we assumed that cellular processes have a modular structure, and deconvolved the MP data into separate signals from different cellular modules by Blind Source Separation. We applied a combination of quantitative MP image analysis (QMPIA) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to an image-based HCS of endocytosis, the process whereby cells uptake molecules from the outside and distribute them to different sub-cellular organelles. We named our approach Independent Phenotypes Analysis (IPA). Phenotypic traits revealed by IPA are interpretable in terms of perturbation of specific endosomal populations (e.g. specific cargo, specific molecular markers) and of specific functional modules (early stages of endocytosis, recycling, cell cycle, etc.). The profile of perturbation of each gene in such basic phenotypic coordinates intrinsically suggest its possible mode of action.

Authors: Unknown, Kseniia Nikitina, Sandra Segeletz, Michael Kuhn, Yannis Kalaidzidis, Marino Zerial

Date Published: 2019

Publication Type: InProceedings

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Hernan Morales-Navarrete, Hidenori Nonaka, Andre Scholich, Fabian Segovia-Miranda, Walter de Back, Kirstin Meyer, Roman L Bogorad, Victor Koteliansky, Lutz Brusch, Yannis Kalaidzidis, Frank Julicher, Benjamin M. Friedrich, Marino Zerial

Date Published: 13th Dec 2018

Publication Type: Not specified

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