title: Renal myofibroblasts contract collagen I matrix lattices in vitro.
abstract: Myofibroblasts, cells with both fibroblastic and smooth muscle cell features, have been implicated in renal scarring. In addition to synthetic properties, contractile features and integrin expression may allow myofibroblasts to rearrange and contract interstitial collagenous proteins. Myofibroblasts from normal rat kidneys were grown in cell-populated collagen lattices to measure cell generated contraction. Following detachment of cell populated collagen lattices, myofibroblasts progressively contracted collagen lattices, reducing lattice diameter by 42% at 24 h. Alignment of myofibroblasts, rearrangement of fibrils and beta(1) integrin expression were observed within lattices. We postulate that interstitial myofibroblasts contribute to renal scarring through manipulation of collagenous proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kelynack
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Hewitson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pedagogos
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D019012:Integrin beta1; D007633:Keratins; D003094:Collagen