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Role of the extracellular matrix during the postembryonic development of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana
No full textDynamic relationship among extracellular matrix and body wall cells in Hirudo verbana morphogenesis
Full text linkA great bulk of recent experimental evidence suggests the key role of the complex crosstalk between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the cellular component of tissues during morphogenesis and embryogenesis. In particular, remodeling of the ECM and of its physical interactions pattern with surrounding cells represent two crucial processes that might be involved in muscle development. However, little information is available on this topic, especially on invertebrate species. To obtain new insights on how tuning the ECM microenvironment might drive cellular fate during embryonic development, we used the invertebrate medicinal leech Hirudo verbana as a valuable experimental model, due to its simple anatomy and the recapitulation of many aspects of the basic biological processes of vertebrates. Our previous studies on leech post-embryonic development have already shown the pivotal role of ECM changes during the growth of the body wall and the role of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) in mechanotransduction. Here, we suggest that the interactions between stromal cell telocytes and ECM might be crucial in driving the organization of muscle layers during embryogenesis. Furthermore, we propose a possible role of the pleiotropic enzyme HvRNASET2 as a possible modulator of collagen deposition and ECM remodeling not only during regenerative processes (as previously demonstrated) but also in embryogenesis
Spatio-Temporal Changes of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Stiffness in the Development of the Leech Hirudo verbana
Full text linkThe invertebrate leech Hirudo verbana represents a powerful experimental animal model for improving the knowledge about the functional interaction between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells within the tissue microenvironment (TME), and the key role played by ECM stiffness during development and growth. Indeed, the medicinal leech is characterized by a simple anatomical organization reproducing many aspects of the basic biological processes of vertebrates and in which a rapid spatiotemporal development is well established and easily assessed. Our results show that ECM structural organization, as well as the amount of fibrillar and non-fibrillar collagen are deeply different from hatching leeches to adult ones. In addition, the changes in ECM remodelling occurring during the different leech developmental stages, leads to a gradient of stiffness regulating both the path of migratory cells and their fates. The ability of cells to perceive and respond to changes in ECM composition and mechanics strictly depend on nuclear or cytoplasmic expression of Yes-Associated Protein 1 (YAP1), a key mediator converting mechanical signals into transcriptional outputs, expression, and activation
HvRNASET2 regulate connective tissue and collagen i remodeling during wound healing process
Full text linkSeveral studies have recently demonstrated that the correct regeneration of damaged tissues and the maintaining of homeostasis after wounds or injuries are tightly connected to different biological events, involving immune response, fibroplasia, and angiogenetic processes, in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In this context, our previous data demonstrated that the Hirudo verbana recombinant protein rHvRNASET2 not only plays a pivotal role in innate immune modulation, but is also able to activate resident fibroblasts leading to new collagen production, both in vivo and in vitro. Indeed, when injected in the leech body wall, which represents a consolidated invertebrate model for studying both immune response and tissue regeneration, HvRNASET2 induces macrophages recruitment, fibroplasia, and synthesis of new collagen. Based on this evidence, we evaluate the role of HvRNASET2 on muscle tissue regeneration and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in rHvRNASET2-injected wounded leeches, compared to PBS-injected wounded leeches used as control. The results presented here not only confirms our previous evidence, reporting that HvRNASET2 leads to an increased collagen production, but also shows that an overexpression of this protein might influence the correct progress of muscle tissue regeneration. Moreover, due to its inhibitory effect on vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, HvRNASET2 apparently interfere with the recruitment of the myoendothelial vessel-associated precursor cells that in turn are responsible for muscle regeneration during wound healing repair
Hirudo verbana as a freshwater invertebrate model to assess the effects of polypropylene nano and microplastic dispersion
No full textExploring the impact of pet nanoplastic dispersion in water on the activation of the innate immune response in Hirudo verbana
No full textThe medicinal leech as a valuable model to evaluate the effect of polypropylene micro and nanoplastics on innate immune response activation
No full textThe medicinal leech as a model to study the effects of nano and microplastics on tissue regeneration
No full textInflammatory and oxidative responses to PET nanoplastics in the leech Hirudo verbana: a comparative analysis of acute and chronic exposure
Full text linkNanoplastics (NPs) are emerging environmental contaminants with the potential to induce cellular stress and immune dysregulation in aquatic organisms. In this study, the freshwater leech Hirudo verbana was used as a non-conventional invertebrate model to investigate the effects of acute (24-72 hours) and chronic (1 week-1 month) exposure to polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics (PET NPs). A multidisciplinary approach combining microscopy, histology, immunocytochemistry, and qPCR was employed to evaluate PET NP uptake and biological responses. PET NPs were internalised in leech tissues and detected in macrophage-like cells. Both exposure regimes triggered a time- and dose-dependent inflammatory response, characterised by macrophage-like cell recruitment, angiogenic remodelling, and upregulation of the pro-inflammatory marker HmAIF-1. Endothelial activation was confirmed by increased CD31 expression and neovascularisation. Furthermore, oxidative stress was evidenced by altered expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes. Overall, PET NPs induced conserved immune and stress responses in H. verbana, supporting its relevance as an alternative model for nanoplastic ecotoxicology. These findings contribute to our understanding of NP-induced pathophysiology and reinforce the need for further investigation into the ecological impact of plastic pollution on freshwater invertebrates
Commentary: A new cellular type in invertebrates: first evidence of telocytes in leech Hirudo medicinalis
No full textIn our paper, here commented we have provided evidences
about the presence in the leech of telocytes (TC), a new type of cell
involved in surveillance and protection that has just been recently
described as ubiquitous in vertebrates, including human
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