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Updated: Oct 18, 2025

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality
Published on: March 11, 2022
Chirality Bias Tissue Homeostasis by Manipulating Immunological Response.
Shengjie Jiang1,2, Qiang Zeng1,2, Kai Zhao1,2
1Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China.
Pathology-mimetic M-nanofibrils, unlike physiology-mimetic P-nanofibrils, inhibit inflammation and promote tissue repair. This occurs by enhancing M2 macrophage polarization via Ca2+ influx and STAT activation, offering insights for immunotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Immunology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Extracellular environment's physiological chirality is altered in disease, impacting host immunity.
- The role of stereochemical variations in driving immune responses is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how pathology-mimetic (M-) and physiology-mimetic (P-) nanofibrils influence immune responses and tissue homeostasis.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which chirality affects cellular processes and immune signaling.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative multi-omics analysis (in vivo and in vitro).
- Molecular analysis and theoretical simulations.
- Investigation of cellular contractile stress and mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 activation.
Main Results:
- M-nanofibrils, not P-nanofibrils, act as a defense mechanism restoring tissue homeostasis.
- M-nanofibrils significantly inhibit inflammation and promote tissue regeneration.
- M-nanofibrils upregulate M2 macrophage polarization and downstream immune signaling compared to P-nanofibrils.
- M-chirality exhibits higher stereo-affinity for cellular binding, inducing greater contractile stress and PIEZO1-mediated Ca2+ influx, which promotes M2 polarization via STAT nuclear transfer.
Conclusions:
- Pathology-mimetic M-nanofibrils can manipulate immunological responses to restore tissue homeostasis.
- The study reveals the structural basis of disease-related stereochemical variations in immunity.
- Findings provide a design foundation for developing bionic functional materials for immunotherapy.
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Chirality in Nature
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