Molecular mechanisms of esophageal epithelial regeneration following repair of surgical defects with acellular silk fibroin grafts

Gokhan Gundogdu,Kyle Costa,Rosalyn M Adam,Ali Hashemi Gheinani,Mehmet Tosun,Xuehui Yang,Khalid Algarrahi,Joshua R Mauney,Cinthia Galvez Alegria,Duncan Morhardt,Wei Yang

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-86511-9

Abstract

Constructive remodeling of focal esophageal defects with biodegradable acellular grafts relies on the ability of host progenitor cell populations to repopulate implant regions and facilitate growth of de novo functional tissue. Intrinsic molecular mechanisms governing esophageal repair processes following biomaterial-based, surgical reconstruction is largely unknown. In the present study, we utilized mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics and in silico pathway evaluations to identify signaling cascades which were significantly activated during neoepithelial formation in a Sprague Dawley rat model of onlay esophagoplasty with acellular silk fibroin scaffolds. Pharmacologic inhibitor and rescue experiments revealed that epithelialization of neotissues is significantly dependent in part on pro-survival stimuli capable of suppressing caspase activity in epithelial progenitors via activation of hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-MET), tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (Akt) signaling mechanisms. These data highlight the molecular machinery involved in esophageal epithelial regeneration following surgical repair with acellular implants.

Highlights

Constructive remodeling of focal esophageal defects with biodegradable acellular grafts relies on the ability of host progenitor cell populations to repopulate implant regions and facilitate growth of de novo functional tissue
Histological, IHC, and histomorphometric evaluations were first performed to characterize the various stages of tissue regeneration and host tissue responses in our rat model of onlay esophagoplasty with bi-layer SF (BLSF) scaffolds (Fig. 1)
Neotissues were lined by a stratified squamous, keratinized epithelium consisting of Krt5 + basal and suprabasal cells as well as FG + superficial cell layers

Summary

Introduction

Constructive remodeling of focal esophageal defects with biodegradable acellular grafts relies on the ability of host progenitor cell populations to repopulate implant regions and facilitate growth of de novo functional tissue. Pharmacologic inhibitor and rescue experiments revealed that epithelialization of neotissues is significantly dependent in part on pro-survival stimuli capable of suppressing caspase activity in epithelial progenitors via activation of hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-MET), tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (Akt) signaling mechanisms These data highlight the molecular machinery involved in esophageal epithelial regeneration following surgical repair with acellular implants. Pharmacologic inhibitor and rescue experiments demonstrated that epithelialization of neotissues is dependent in part on pro-survival stimuli capable of suppressing caspase activity in epithelial progenitors via activation of hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-MET), tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (Akt) signaling mechanisms These findings shed light on the molecular machinery involved in esophageal epithelial regeneration following surgical reconstruction

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Conclusion