Use of l-pNIPAM hydrogel as a 3D-scaffold for intestinal crypts and stem cell tissue engineering

Biomater Sci. 2019 Sep 24;7(10):4310-4324. doi: 10.1039/c9bm00541b.

Abstract

Intestinal stem cells hold great potential in tissue regeneration of the intestine, however, there are key limitations in their culture in vitro. We previously reported a novel synthetic non-biodegradable hydrogel as a 3D culture model for intestinal epithelium using Caco2 and HT29-MTX cells. Here, we investigated the potential of this system as a 3D scaffold for crypts and single intestinal stem cells to support long-term culture and differentiation. Intestinal crypts were extracted from murine small intestines and Lgr5+ stem cells isolated by magnetic activated cell sorting. Crypts and stem cells were suspended within Matrigel or l-pNIPAM for 14 days or suspended within Matrigel for 7 days then released, dissociated, and suspended within, or on l-pNIPAM hydrogel for 28 days. Cellular behaviour and phenotype were determined by histology and immunohistochemistry for stem cell and differentiation markers: Lgr5, E-cadherin MUC2 chromograninA and lysozymes. Isolated crypts and Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells formed enteroids with a central lumen surrounded by multiple crypt-like buds when cultured in Matrigel. In contrast, when crypts and stem cells were directly suspended within, or layered on l-pNIPAM hydrogel under dynamic culture conditions they formed spherical balls of cells, with no central lumen. When enteroids were initially formed in Matrigel from crypts or single Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells and dissociated into small fragments or single cells and transferred to l-pNIPAM hydrogel they formed new larger enteroids with numerous crypt-like buds. These crypt-like buds showed the presence of mucin-producing cells, which resembled goblet cells, scattered throughout their structures. Immunohistochemistry staining also showed the expression of Lgr5 and differentiation markers of all the main intestinal cell types including: enterocytes, goblet cells, enteroendocrine and Paneth cells. This demonstrated that l-pNIPAM hydrogel supported long-term culture of crypts and Lgr5+ stem cells and promoted intestinal cell differentiation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels
  • Intestinal Mucosa / cytology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestine, Small / cytology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • LGR5 protein, human
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled