Ex Vivo Models to Decipher the Molecular Mechanisms of Genetic Notch Cardiovascular Disorders

Tommaso Ristori, Marika Sjöqvist, Cecilia M. Sahlgren (Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Notch is an evolutionary, conserved, cell-cell signaling pathway that is central to several biological processes, from tissue morphogenesis to homeostasis. It is therefore not surprising that several genetic mutations of Notch components cause inherited human diseases, especially cardiovascular disorders. Despite numerous efforts, current in vivo models are still insufficient to unravel the underlying mechanisms of these pathologies, hindering the development of utmost needed medical therapies. In this perspective review, we discuss the limitations of current murine models and outline how the combination of microphysiological systems (MPSs) and targeted computational models can lead to breakthroughs in this field. In particular, while MPSs enable the experimentation on human cells in controlled and physiological environments, in silico models can provide a versatile tool to translate the in vitro findings to the more complex in vivo setting. As a showcase example, we focus on Notch-related cardiovascular diseases, such as Alagille syndrome, Adams-Oliver syndrome, and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). In this review, a comprehensive overview of the limitations of current in vivo models of genetic Notch cardiovascular diseases is provided, followed by a discussion over the potential of microphysiological systems and computational models in overcoming these limitations and in potentiating drug testing and modeling of these pathologies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)167-176
Number of pages10
JournalTissue Engineering. Part C: Methods
Volume27
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021

Funding

This work has been supported by the Academy of Finland, project numbers 218062 and 33041, and the ERC-CoG 771168-ForceMorph to C.M.S., by the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland to M.S., and by the research program, NWO Rubicon, which is (partly) financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), with project number 019.183EN.025 to T.R.

Keywords

  • cardiovascular
  • ex vivo
  • in vitro
  • Notch
  • silico

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