2D/3D buccal epithelial cell self-assembling as a tool for cell phenotype maintenance and fabrication of multilayered epithelial linings in vitro

Biomed Mater. 2018 Jul 19;13(5):054104. doi: 10.1088/1748-605X/aace1c.

Abstract

Maintaining the epithelial status of cells in vitro and fabrication of a multilayered epithelial lining is one of the key problems in the therapy using cell technologies. When cultured in a monolayer, epithelial cells change their phenotype from epithelial to epithelial-mesenchymal or mesenchymal that makes it difficult to obtain a sufficient number of cells in a 2D culture and to use them in tissue engineering. Here, using buccal epithelial cells from the oral mucosa, we developed a novel approach to recover and maintain the stable cell phenotype and form a multilayered epithelial lining in vitro via the 2D/3D cell self-assembling. Transitioning the cells from the monolayer to non-adhesive 3D culture conditions led to formation of self-assembling spheroids, with restoration of their epithelial characteristics after epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In 7 days, the cells within spheroids restored the apical-basal polarity, and the formation of both tight (ZO1) and adherent (E-cadherin) intercellular junctions was shown. Thus, culturing buccal epithelial cells in a 3D system allowed us to recover and durably maintain the morphological and functional characteristics of epithelial cells. The multilayered epithelial lining formation was achieved after placing spheroids for 7 days onto a hybrid matrix, which consisted of collagen layers and reinforcing poly (lactide-co-glycolide) fibers and was proven promising for replacement of the urothelium. Thus, we offer an effective technique of forming multilayered epithelial linings on carrier-matrices using cell spheroids that was not previously described elsewhere and can find a wide range of applications in tissue engineering, replacement surgery, and regenerative medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Biopsy
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Culture Techniques*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Collagen / chemistry
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology*
  • Epithelium / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Junctions
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Mouth Mucosa / cytology*
  • Phenotype
  • Polyesters / chemistry
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Spheroids, Cellular
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Urothelium / cytology
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CDH1 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • Polyesters
  • TJP1 protein, human
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
  • poly(lactide)
  • Collagen