Dynamic Reciprocity Between Cells and Their Microenvironment in Reproduction1

Abstract

Dynamic reciprocity (DR) refers to the ongoing, bidirectional interaction between cells and their microenvironment, specifically the extracellular matrix (ECM). The continuous remodeling of the ECM exerts mechanical force on cells and modifies biochemical mediators near the cell membrane, thereby initiating cell-signaling cascades that produce changes in gene expression and cell behavior. Cellular changes, in turn, affect the composition and organization of ECM components. These continuous interactions are the fundamental principle behind DR, and its critical role throughout development and adult tissue homeostasis has been extensively investigated. While DR in the mammary gland has been well described, we provide direct evidence that similar dynamic interactions occur in other areas of reproductive biology as well. In order to establish the importance of DR in the adaptive functioning of the female reproductive tract, we present our most current understanding of DR in reproductive tissues, exploring the mammary gland, ovary, and uterus. In addition to explaining normal physiological function, investigating DR may shed new light into pathologic processes that occur in these tissues and provide an exciting opportunity for novel therapeutic intervention.

Bottom‐up Nanoencapsulation from Single Cells to Tunable and Scalable Cellular Spheroids for Hair Follicle Regeneration

“…On the one hand, 3D model not only resembles a native morphology but also recapitulates an in vivo environmental cues . On the other hand, formation of ECM in the DP spheroids enhances cell–cell and cell–matrix interaction, especially for ultrathin matrices nanocoating on single DPC, triggers cell signaling cascades that impose a restorative effect on the expressional profile in vitro and trichogenic property in vivo …”

Amount of stroma is associated with mammographic density and stromal expression of oestrogen receptor in normal breast tissues

“…Nonetheless, the relation between mammographic density and stromal expression of hormone receptors in normal breast tissue needs to be further assessed. Stromal architecture and composition can exert important influences on normal epithelial biology [35,36] as well as stromal biology [37]. Endocrine treatment with tamoxifen reduces mammographic density and breast cancer risk in moderate and high-risk patients [38].…”

Stromal dynamic reciprocity in cancer: intricacies of fibroblastic-ECM interactions

“…These intracellular and extracellular events allow cells to mechanically and biochemically “sense” the changing environment thereby effectively addressing the dynamic needs of the tissue. This is accomplished by modifications in cell shape, polarity, differentiation, survival, motility, gene expression and more [22,39]. As such, SDR is possibly best conceptualized when contrasting acute vs. chronic wound healing processes [3,21,25] or innate (i.e.…”

“…The second process involves an ECM-imposed cellular influence. During both SDR processes, biochemical signaling cascades are regulated through cell-ECM receptors which stimulate intracellular changes mediated by cytoskeletal reorganization [22,43]. Although literature reports suggest that the alterations incurred during desmoplastic progression fuel the tumorigenic features of cancer cells [58,62,63], many others imply that desmoplasia stalls cancer aggressiveness [64-69].…”

“…As such, ECM remodeling in response to environmental insults correlates with loss of homeostatic tissue-specific coordination that is known to be driven by actomyosin cytoskeletal reorganization [14,27-30]. Taken together, these facts suggest interdependence between stromal architecture and function whereby maintenance of tissue homeostasis relies on the dynamic and reciprocal influences imparted amongst stromal elements [11,16,20,22,31-33]. …”