Tissue engineering of nearly transparent corneal stroma

We determined whether a polyglycolic acid (PGA) scaffold bearing an adherent corneal stromal cell insert could be integrated into the ultrastructure of rabbit corneal stroma without compromising tissue transparency. Stromal cells were isolated from 10 newborn rabbits and expanded by tissue culture. After reaching confluence, the cells were harvested and mixed with nonwoven PGA fibers to form cell-scaffold constructs. After 1 week of culturing, they were implanted into the corneal stroma of female rabbit recipients. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in transplanted corneal stromal cells was monitored at the protein level to determine cellular origin in the reconstructed stroma. Eight weeks after implantation, transmission electron microscopy and histological evaluation were performed on stromal tissue. Insertion of PGA scaffold alone served as a sham control. After stromal implantation, implants gradually became transparent over an 8-week period. During this time stromal histology was gradually restored, as collagen fibril organization approached that of their normal counterpart. GFP-labeled corneal stromal cells were preponderant in the regions bearing inserted scaffolds, suggesting that they were derived from the implants rather than from neighboring corneal stromal cells. No reconstructed stroma developed in regions where naked PGA was implanted instead. We conclude that intrastromal implantation of PGA fiber scaffold implants bearing corneal stromal cells is a useful procedure for corneal stromal tissue reconstruction because, over an 8-week period, the implants become progressively more transparent. Marked losses of translucence during this period combined with restoration of ultrastructure indicate that the implants provide the functions needed for deturgescing initially swollen stroma.     

生物工程活性角膜基质的研制及相容性研究

研究生物工程活性角膜的生物相容性，为进一步临床应用提供理论基础。猪角膜基质脱细胞并去除免疫源性物质形成网状半透明生物材料，将培养的角膜基质细胞与生物材料复合构建生物工程活性角膜基质。对复合物进行倒置显微镜和扫描电镜检测细胞附着情况及材料的细胞相容性；将活性角膜基质移植入新西兰兔角膜囊袋内．细胞用BrdU标记检测在体内移植过程中的存活及转归，不同时间观察角膜的生物相容性及改建情况。结果显示脱细胞基质材料的细胞相容性较好，细胞种植后可存活、黏附并增殖；移植区细胞可有BrdU阳性着色，4周后角膜开始透明，8周后角膜改建基本完成。     

Repair of tendon defect with dermal fibroblast engineered tendon in a porcine model

Harvesting autologous tenocytes for tendon engineering may cause secondary tendon defect at the donor site. Dermal fibroblasts are an easily accessible cell source and do not cause major donor site defect. This study aims to explore the possibility of tendon engineering using dermal fibroblasts. A total of 45 hybrid pigs were randomly divided into three groups: experimental group (n = 15)--repair of tendon defect with a dermal fibroblast engineered tendon; control group 1 (n = 15)--repair of defect with a tenocyte engineered tendon; and control group 2 (n = 15)-repair of defect with a scaffold alone. Both autologous dermal fibroblasts and tenocytes were seeded on polyglycolic acid (PGA) unwoven fibers to form a cell-scaffold construct and cultured in vitro for 7 days before in vivo implantation to repair a defect of flexor digital superficial tendon. Specimens were harvested at weeks 6, 14, and 26 for gross, histological, and mechanical analyses. Microscopy revealed good attachment of both dermal fibroblasts and tenocytes on PGA fibers and matrix production. In vivo results showed that fibroblast and tenocyte engineered tendons were similar to each other in their gross view, histology, and tensile strength. At 6 weeks, parallel collagen alignment was observed at both ends, but not in the middle in histology, with more cellular components than natural tendons. At weeks 14 and 26, both engineered tendons exhibited histology similar to that of natural tendon. Collagens became parallel throughout the tendon structure, and PGA fibers were completely degraded. Interestingly, dermal fibroblast and tenocyte engineered tendons did not express type III collagen at 26 weeks, which remained observable in normal pig skin and control group 2 tissue using polarized microscopy, suggesting a possible phenotype change of implanted dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, both fibroblast and tenocyte engineered tendons shared similar tensile strength, about 75% of natural tendon strength. At 6 weeks in control group 2, neo-tissue was formed only at the peripheral area by host cells. A cord-like tissue was formed at weeks 14 and 26. However, the formed tissue was histologically disorganized and mechanically weaker than both cell-engineered tendons (p < 0.05). These results suggest that dermal fibroblasts may have the potential as seed cells for tendon engineering.     

A novel population of repair cells identified in the stroma of the human cornea

The transmembrane protein CD133 is expressed on somatic stem cells of various adult human tissues. To investigate whether human corneal stroma also contains CD133-expressing cells and to analyze their functional features, stromal cells were isolated by collagenase digestion, immunophenotyped, and transferred to different culture systems to determine their stem cell properties as well as their differentiation potentials. For comparison, the embryonic keratocyte cell line EK1.Br, the dermal stromal cell line NHDF, and stromal cells of diseased corneas were studied. On average, 5.3% of the normal stromal cells expressed the stem cell marker CD133 and 3.6% co-expressed CD34. Expression of CD133 but not CD34 was also demonstrated for EK1.Br cells, whereas NHDF cells were negative for both markers. Further analysis of CD133(+) normal corneal cells revealed that a significant proportion displayed a monocytic phenotype with co-expression of CD45 and CD14. In diseased corneas, up to 26.8% of the stromal cells showed expression of CD133, and virtually all CD133(+) cells co-expressed CD14 but not CD45. Moreover, using a standard clonogenic assay, normal stromal cells had the capacity to form colonies of the macrophage lineage. These colonies could be further differentiated into lumican-expressing keratocytes. Our data suggest that the human corneal stroma harbors CD133(+) monocytic progenitor cells, which possess the potential to differentiate into the fibrocytic lineage. Thus, CD133(+) /CD45(+) /CD14(+) cells might represent stromal repair cells that differentiate into keratocytes via a CD133(+)/CD45()/CD14(+) intermediate stage. The findings from our study may shed new light on regenerative processes of the human corneal stroma.     

Corneal splitting in the developing lamprey Petromyzon marinus L. eye

The cornea of the adult lamprey has both dermal (spectacle) and scleral components. These are separated by a thin mucoid layer that allows free movement of the globe. This study has shown that during the larval (ammocoete) stage, the lamprey cornea develops in a manner similar to that of other lower vertebrates. Just prior to the period of transformation to the adult parasite, the outer dermal portion of the ammocoete cornea (spectacle) consists of an anterior stratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells at the surface. The stroma of the dermal cornea consists of a thick outer layer of orthogonally oriented collagen with branching fibroblasts and a thin, loosely organized inner layer with slender elongated fibroblasts. The scleral cornea is lined internally by a flattened monolayer of mesodermal cells, the corneal endothelium. Its narrow stroma is composed entirely of thin, orthogonally aranged, collagen-fiber lamellae, and is bounded externally by a thin continuous mesothelial layer of cells that abuts directly onto the loose stromal component of the dermal cornea. During the early stages of transformation, the anterior epithelium of the dermal cornea becomes stratified squamous in type. Later, the inner loose stroma of the dermal cornea (spectacle) begins to separate from the scleral cornea components, and a third complete mesothelial layer forms a distinct inner border for the dermal cornea. A mucoid layer is formed between the dermal (spectacle) and scleral corneas and remains throughout the adult life.     

IFATS collection: Using human adipose-derived stem/stromal cells for the production of new skin substitutes

The ability to harvest and culture stem cell populations from various human postnatal tissues is central to regenerative medicine applications, including tissue engineering. The discovery of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells within the stromal fraction of adipose tissue prompted their use for the healing and reconstruction of many tissues. Here, we examined the influence of adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) on skin's regenerative processes, from a tissue engineering perspective. Using a self-assembly approach, human skin substitutes were produced. They featured a stromal compartment containing human extracellular matrix endogenously produced from either dermal fibroblasts or adipose-derived stem/stromal cells differentiated or not toward the adipogenic lineage. Human keratinocytes were seeded on each stroma and cultured at the air-liquid interface to reconstruct a bilayered skin substitute. These new skin substitutes, containing an epidermis and a distinctive stroma devoid of synthetic biomaterial, displayed characteristics similar to human skin. The influence of the type of stromal compartment on epidermal morphogenesis was assessed by the evaluation of tissue histology, the expression of key protein markers of the epidermal differentiation program (keratin [K] 14, K10, transglutaminase), the expression of dermo-epidermal junction components (laminins, collagen VII), and the presence of basement membrane and hemidesmosomes. Our findings suggest that adipose-derived stem/stromal cells could usefully substitute dermal fibroblasts for skin reconstruction using the self-assembly method. Finally, by exploiting the adipogenic potential of ASCs, we also produced a more complete trilayered skin substitute consisting of the epidermis, the dermis, and the adipocyte-containing hypodermis, the skin's deepest layer. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.     

异种脱细胞角膜基质囊袋移植的生物相容性研究

目的探讨脱细胞猪角膜基质移植入兔角膜囊袋后的生物学反应。方法猪角膜通过不同方式去除细胞及免疫源性成分，保留角膜组织基质的弹力纤维及胶原纤维，将其切取为直径为4mm的植片，植入兔角膜囊袋内，在不同时间点观察生物材料在角膜内生物学反应。结果材料植入兔角膜囊袋3个月，生物相容性良好，材料逐渐降解，材料内有胶原和角膜基质细胞长人。结论新型可降解角膜基质材料植入后未见兔角膜有明显的炎症反应，材料的组织相容性好，可作为组织工程角膜的支架材料。     

胶原酶二步消化法分离培养牛角膜基质成纤维细胞*

背景：获得纯度高、活性强、生物学特性更接近体内状态的角膜基质成纤维细胞是角膜损伤后修复研究的基础。 目的：探索体外培养牛角膜基质成纤维细胞的新方法。 方法：用Ⅰ型胶原酶对牛角膜基质层进行二步消化分离后制成细胞悬液转入培养瓶中培养,取生长良好的细胞进行传代培养。采用锥虫蓝染色检测消化分离后细胞即刻存活率;倒置相差显微镜动态观察细胞的生长状态;波形蛋白免疫组织化学染色鉴定角膜成纤维细胞;MTT法检测细胞增殖情况;取处于对数生长期的细胞,绘制细胞生长曲线并计算细胞群倍增时间。 结果与结论：在体外成功分离培养牛角膜基质成纤维细胞,显微镜下观察及波形蛋白免疫组织化学染色后证实所培养的细胞为角膜基质成纤维细胞。锥虫蓝染色,细胞即刻成活率达93.5%。细胞生长曲线近似“S”形,其群体倍增时间为        38.70 h。说明二步消化法细胞培养技术简便、经济、高效,为原代培养角膜基质成纤维细胞提供了有效渠道。 关键词：角膜;成纤维细胞;细胞原代培养;细胞形态;生物学特性;消化法 doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2012.07.015     

Effect of substrate composition and alignment on corneal cell phenotype

Corneal blindness is a significant problem treated primarily by corneal transplants. Donor tissue supply is low, creating a growing need for an alternative. A tissue-engineered cornea made from patient-derived cells and biopolymer scaffold materials would be widely accessible to all patients and would alleviate the need for donor sources. Previous work in this lab led to a method for electrospinning type I collagen scaffolds for culturing corneal fibroblasts ex vivo that mimics the microenvironment in the native cornea. This electrospun scaffold is composed of small-diameter, aligned collagen fibers. In this study, we investigate the effect of scaffold nanostructure and composition on the phenotype of corneal stromal cells. Rabbit-derived corneal fibroblasts were cultured on aligned and unaligned collagen type I fibers ranging from 50 to 300?nm in diameter and assessed for expression of α-smooth muscle actin, a protein marker upregulated in hazy corneas. In addition, the optical properties of the cell-matrix constructs were assessed using optical coherence microscopy. Cells grown on collagen scaffolds had reduced myofibroblast phenotype expression compared to cells grown on tissue culture plates. Cells grown on aligned collagen type I fibers downregulated α-smooth muscle actin protein expression significantly more than unaligned collagen scaffolds, and also exhibited reduced overall light scattering by the tissue construct. These results suggest that aligned collagen type I fibrous scaffolds are viable platforms for engineering corneal replacement tissue.     

纤维蛋白胶与兔角膜3种细胞构建组织工程细胞片研究

目的： 观察兔角膜3种细胞能否在体外构建的纤维蛋白胶体上良好生长，探讨纤维蛋白胶作为组织工程细胞片支架材料的可行性。方法: 将培养扩增的兔角膜3种细胞分别接种于纤维蛋白胶表面,采用倒置显微镜,HE染色和扫描电子显微镜,观察兔角膜3种细胞在纤维蛋白胶表面生长情况。结果: 制备的薄层纤维蛋白胶支架光滑、透明，随培养细胞的生长部分降解，可获得仅带少量纤维蛋白胶的细胞片。角膜3种细胞在纤维蛋白胶表面生长良好，可保持生理状态的细胞形态。角膜上皮细胞可形成单层和复层，细胞间连接紧密。角膜内皮细胞呈圆形或多角形，细胞大小一致，排列紧密。角膜基质细胞拉长生长，呈三角形或树枝状，细胞间连接明显，可形成网状连接。结论: 体外构建的纤维蛋白胶与角膜3种细胞有组织相容性,纤维蛋白胶有望作为角膜3种细胞的生长载体构建可供移植的组织工程细胞片。     

Concise review: Stem cells in the corneal stroma

The cornea is a tough transparent tissue admitting and focusing light in the eye. More than 90% of the cornea is stroma, a highly organized, transparent connective tissue maintained by keratocytes, quiescent mesenchymal cells of neural crest origin. A small population of cells in the mammalian stroma displays properties of mesenchymal stem cells, including clonal growth, multipotent differentiation, and expression of an array of stem cell-specific markers. Unlike keratocytes, the corneal stromal stem cells (CSSCs) undergo extensive expansion in vitro without loss of the ability to adopt a keratocyte phenotype. Several lines of evidence suggest CSSCs to be of neural crest lineage and not from bone marrow. CSSCs are localized in the anterior peripheral (limbal) stroma near to stem cells of the corneal epithelium. CSSCs may function to support potency of the epithelial stem cells in their unique limbal niche. On the other hand, little information is available documenting a role for CSSCs in vivo in stromal wound healing or regeneration. In vitro CSSCs reproduce the highly organized connective tissue of the stroma, demonstrating a potential use of these cells in tissue bioengineering. Direct introduction of CSSCs into the corneal stroma generated transparent tissue in a mouse model of corneal opacity. Human CSSCs injected into mice corneas did not elicit immune rejection over an extended period of time. The CSSCs therefore appear offer an opportunity to develop cell- and tissue-based therapies for irreversible corneal blindness, conditions affecting more than 10 million individuals worldwide.     

Adipose-derived stem cells are a source for cell therapy of the corneal stroma

Most corneal diseases affect corneal stroma and include immune or infectious diseases, ecstatic disorders, traumatic scars, and corneal dystrophies. Cell-based therapy is a promising therapeutic approach to overcome the current disadvantages of corneal transplantation. We intended to search for a cell source to repopulate and regenerate corneal stroma. We investigated the ability of human processed lipoaspirate derived (PLA) cells to regenerate corneal stroma in experimental animals. In the first set of experiments, we tested the biosafety and immunogenicity of human PLA stem cells transplanted into the corneal stroma of rabbits. No immune response was elicited even though we used immune-competent animals. PLA cells survived up to 10 weeks post-transplant, maintained their shape, and remained intermingled in the stroma without disrupting its histological pattern. Interestingly, transparency was preserved even 10 weeks after the transplant, when PLA cells formed a discontinuous layer in the stroma. In the second set of experiments, regeneration of the corneal stroma by PLA cells was assessed, creating a niche by partial ablation of the stroma. After 12 weeks, human cells were disposed following a multilayered pattern and differentiated into functional keratocytes, as assessed by the expression of aldehyde-3-dehydrogenase and cornea-specific proteoglycan keratocan. Based on our results, we believe that adipose-derived adult stem cells can be a cell source for stromal regeneration and repopulation in diseased corneas. The low health impact of the surgical procedure performed to obtain the PLA cells provides this cell source with an additional beneficial feature for its possible future autologous use in human patients.     

Heparin-modified gelatin scaffolds for human corneal endothelial cell transplantation

Although one of the most transplanted tissues, a shortage of cadaveric corneas for transplantation still exists in the western society and elsewhere. The goal of this study was to develop a biological scaffold to support transfer of cultured human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) into the anterior chamber of the eye, potentially a replacement for cadaveric donor tissue. A series of transparent scaffolds were fabricated from gelatin and modified with heparin. Mechanical parameters of the scaffolds, such as stiffness, affected cell proliferation, phenotype and cell surface marker expression were determined. The heparin-modified scaffolds had a greater capacity to absorb basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and showed better release kinetics for up to 20 days. The release of bFGF from the scaffolds improved HCECs survival and reduced cellular loss. The scaffolds were flexible and could be folded and implanted in rabbits' eyes, through a small incision in the cornea. The scaffolds adhered to the inner surface of the corneal stroma and gradually integrated with the surrounding tissue. These results indicate that gelatin based corneal scaffolds modified to absorb and release growth factors and seeded with HCECs, might be a suitable alternative for cadaveric cornea transplantation.     

Irreversible optical clearing of rabbit dermis for autogenic corneal stroma transplantation

Tissue engineering and transplantation of autogenic grafts have been widely investigated for solving problems on current allograft treatments (i.g., donor shortage and rejection). However, it is difficult to obtain an autogenic corneal stromal replacement that is composed of transparent, tough, and thick collagen constructs by current cell culture-based tissue engineering. Aim of this study is to develop transparent dermis for an autogenic corneal stroma transplantation. This study examined dehydration at 4-8°C and carbodiimide cross-linking on cloudy rabbit dermis (approx. 1.8%-3.8% light transmittance at 550 nm) for dermis optical clearing. Transparency of dehydrated rabbit dermis was founded to be approx. 37.9%-41.4% at 550 nm. Additional cross-linking treatment on dehydrated dermis prevented from swelling and clouding in saline, and improved its transparency to be 56.9% at 550 nm. Rabbit corneal epithelium was found to regenerate on optically cleared dermis in vitro. Furthermore, no abnormal biological response (i.e., inflammation, vascularization, and the barrier defect of epithelia) or no optical functional change on optically cleared dermis was observed during its 4-week autogenic transplantation into rabbit corneal stromal pocket.     

Methacrylated gelatin hydrogels as corneal stroma substitutes: in vivo study

Abstract

Methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogels were prepared to serve as corneal stroma equivalents. They were highly transparent (ca. 95% at 700?nm), mechanically strong and withstood handling and had high human corneal keratocyte viability (98%) after 21?days of culture period. In order to test the in vivo performance of the cell free GelMA hydrogels a pilot in vivo study was carried out using eyes of two white New Zealand rabbits. Hydrogel was implanted in a mid-stromal pocket created and without suture fixation, and observed for 8?weeks under a slit lamp. No edema, ulcer formation, inflammation or infection was observed in both the control (sham) and hydrogel implanted corneas. Corneal vascularization on week 3 was treated with one dose of anti-VEGF application. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining showed that the hydrogel was integrated with the host tissue with only a minimal foreign body reaction. Results demonstrated some degradation in the construct within 8?weeks as evidenced by the decrease of the diameter of the hydrogel from 4?mm to 2.6?mm. High transparency, adequate mechanical strength, biocompatibility and well integration with the host tissue, indicates that this hydrogel is a viable alternative to the current methods for the treatment of corneal blindness and deserves testing on larger number of rabbits and more extensively using microscopy, histology and immune histochemistry.     

Culturing of skin fibroblasts in a thin PLGA-collagen hybrid mesh

A thin biodegradable hybrid mesh of synthetic poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and naturally derived collagen was used for three-dimensional culture of human skin fibroblasts. The hybrid mesh was constructed by forming web-like collagen microsponges in the openings of a PLGA knitted mesh. The behaviors of the fibroblasts on the hybrid mesh and PLGA knitted mesh were compared. The efficiency of cell seeding was much higher and the cells grew more quickly in the hybrid mesh than in the PLGA mesh. The fibroblasts in the PLGA mesh grew from the peripheral PLGA fibers toward the centers of the openings, while those in the hybrid mesh also grew from the collagen microsponges in the openings of the mesh resulting in a more homogenous growth. The proliferated cells and secreted extracellular matrices were more uniformly distributed in the hybrid mesh than in the PLGA mesh. Histological staining of in vitro cultured fibroblast/mesh implants indicated that the fibroblasts were distributed throughout the hybrid mesh and formed a uniform layer of dermal tissue having almost the same thickness as that of the hybrid mesh. However, the tissue formed in the PLGA mesh was thick adjacent to the PLGA fibers and thin in the center of the openings. Fibroblasts cultured in the hybrid mesh were implanted in the back of nude mouse. Dermal tissues were formed after 2 weeks and became epithelialized after 4 weeks. The results indicate that the web-like collagen microsponges formed in the openings of the PLGA knitted mesh increased the efficiency of cell seeding, improved cell distribution, and therefore facilitated rapid formation of dermal tissue having a uniform thickness. PLGA-collagen hybrid mesh may be useful for skin tissue engineering.     

The engineering of organized human corneal tissue through the spatial guidance of corneal stromal stem cells

Corneal stroma is an avascular connective tissue characterized by layers of highly organized parallel collagen fibrils, mono-disperse in diameter with uniform local interfibrillar spacing. Reproducing this level of structure on a nano- and micro-scale may be essential to engineer corneal tissue with strength and transparency similar to that of native cornea. A substrate of aligned poly(ester urethane) urea (PEUU) fibers, 165 ± 55 nm in diameter, induced alignment of cultured human corneal stromal stem cells (hCSSCs) which elaborated a dense collagenous matrix, 8-10 μm in thickness, deposited on the PEUU substratum. This matrix contained collagen fibrils with uniform diameter and regular interfibrillar spacing, exhibiting global parallel alignment similar to that of native stroma. The cells expressed high levels of gene products unique to keratocytes. hCSSCs cultured on PEUU fibers of random orientation or on a cast film of PEUU also differentiated to keratocytes and produced abundant matrix, but lacked matrix organization. These results demonstrate the importance of topographic cues in instructing organization of the transparent connective tissue of the corneal stroma by differentiated keratocytes. This important information will help with design of biomaterials for a bottom-up strategy to bioengineer spatially complex, collagen-based nano-structured constructs for corneal repair and regeneration.     

脱细胞猪角膜基质支架的制备及其生物相容性

BACKGROUND: Studies have found that a variety of biological materials can be used for preparing corneal stroma scaffolds that have good biocompatibility, but research on preparation and biocompatibility of the acellular porcine corneal stroma scaffold is little. OBJECTIVE: To explore the preparation and biocompatibility of the acellular porcine corneal stroma scaffold. METHODS: Acellular porcine corneal stroma scaffold and its extract were prepared. Well-grown human corneal stromal cells were selected and cultured in the extract of acellular porcine corneal stroma scaffold (experimental group) or in the complete medium (control group), respectively. After 1, 2 and 3 days of culture, the proliferation ability of human corneal stromal cells was detected by MTT assay. In the meanwhile, human corneal cells were directly seeded onto the acellular porcine corneal stroma scaffold, and then the cell growth on the scaffold was detected using immunochemical method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The number of human corneal stromal cells was in a rise with time in the two groups, and absorbance values had no significant difference between two groups at different time points of culture. Human corneal stromal cells grew well on the scaffold, and were positive for cell integrin β1, vimentin, aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1, as well as CD34, CDK2 and K-Ras. These results show that the acellular porcine corneal stroma scaffold has no cytotoxicity, and has good biocompatibility.     

The functional interplay between EGFR overexpression, hTERT activation, and p53 mutation in esophageal epithelial cells with activation of stromal fibroblasts induces tumor development, invasion, and differentiation

Esophageal cancer is a prototypic squamous cell cancer that carries a poor prognosis, primarily due to presentation at advanced stages. We used human esophageal epithelial cells as a platform to recapitulate esophageal squamous cell cancer, thereby providing insights into the molecular pathogenesis of squamous cell cancers in general. This was achieved through the retroviral-mediated transduction into normal, primary human esophageal epithelial cells of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT), and p53(R175H), genes that are frequently altered in human esophageal squamous cell cancer. These cells demonstrated increased migration and invasion when compared with control cells. When these genetically altered cells were placed within the in vivo-like context of an organotypic three-dimensional (3D) culture system, the cells formed a high-grade dysplastic epithelium with malignant cells invading into the stromal extracellular matrix (ECM). The invasive phenotype was in part modulated by the activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Using pharmacological and genetic approaches to decrease MMP-9, invasion into the underlying ECM could be suppressed partially. In addition, tumor differentiation was influenced by the type of fibroblasts within the stromal ECM. To that end, fetal esophageal fibroblasts fostered a microenvironment conducive to poorly differentiated invading tumor cells, whereas fetal skin fibroblasts supported a well-differentiated tumor as illustrated by keratin "pearl" formation, a hallmark feature of well-differentiated squamous cell cancers. When inducible AKT was introduced into fetal skin esophageal fibroblasts, a more invasive, less-differentiated esophageal cancer phenotype was achieved. Invasion into the stromal ECM was attenuated by genetic knockdown of AKT1 as well as AKT2. Taken together, alterations in key oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in esophageal epithelial cells, the composition and activation of fibroblasts, and the components of the ECM conspire to regulate the physical and biological properties of the stroma.