Engineering tissue morphogenesis: taking it up a Notch

Laura A Tiemeijer; Sami Sanlidag; Carlijn V C Bouten; Cecilia M Sahlgren

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.01.007

Engineering tissue morphogenesis: taking it up a Notch

Trends Biotechnol. 2022 Aug;40(8):945-957. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.01.007. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

Authors

Laura A Tiemeijer¹, Sami Sanlidag², Carlijn V C Bouten³, Cecilia M Sahlgren⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty for Science and Engineering, Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
² Faculty for Science and Engineering, Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Turku Bioscience Centre, Åbo Akademi University and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.v.c.bouten@tue.nl.
⁴ Faculty for Science and Engineering, Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Turku Bioscience Centre, Åbo Akademi University and University of Turku, Turku, Finland. Electronic address: cecilia.sahlgren@abo.fi.

Abstract

Recreating functional tissues through bioengineering strategies requires steering of complex cell fate decisions. Notch, a juxtacrine signaling pathway, regulates cell fate and controls cellular organization with local precision. The engineering-friendly characteristics of the Notch pathway provide handles for engineering tissue patterning and morphogenesis. We discuss the physiological significance and mechanisms of Notch signaling with an emphasis on its potential use for engineering complex tissues. We highlight the current state of the art of Notch activation and provide a view on the design aspects, opportunities, and challenges in modulating Notch for tissue-engineering strategies. We propose that finely tuned control of Notch contributes to the generation of tissues with accurate form and functionality.

Keywords: Notch signaling; Notch signaling modulation; ligand immobilization; morphogenesis; tissue patterning.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Differentiation
Morphogenesis / genetics
Receptors, Notch* / genetics
Receptors, Notch* / metabolism
Signal Transduction* / physiology
Tissue Engineering

Substances

Receptors, Notch

Grants and funding

771168/ERC_/European Research Council/International