title: Methylglyoxal-modified collagen promotes myofibroblast differentiation.
abstract: Fibrosis is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus in many organs and tissues but the mechanism of how diabetes-induced glycation of extracellular matrix proteins impacts the formation of fibrotic lesions is not defined. As fibrosis is mediated by myofibroblasts, we investigated the effect of collagen glycation on the conversion of human cardiac fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. Collagen glycation was modeled by the glucose metabolite, methylglyoxal (MGO). Cells cultured on MGO-treated collagen exhibited increased activity of the α-smooth muscle actin promoter and enhanced expression of α-smooth muscle actin, ED-A fibronectin and cadherin, which are markers for myofibroblasts. In cells remodeling floating or stress-relaxed collagen gels, MGO treatment promoted more contraction (p<0.025) than vehicle controls, which was MGO dose-dependent. Transwell assays showed that cell migration was increased by MGO-treated collagen (p<0.025). In shear-force detachment assays, cells on MGO-treated collagen were less adherent than untreated collagen, and the formation of high affinity, β1 integrin-dependent adhesions was inhibited. MGO-collagen-induced expression of SMA was dependent on TGF-β but not on Rho kinase. We conclude that collagen glycation augments the formation and migration of myofibroblasts, critical processes in the development of fibrosis in diabetes.
authors.affiliation: CIHR Group in Matrix Dynamics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laschinger
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Talior
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birek
authors.forename: Edmond W K
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Konesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sivagurunathan
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McCulloch
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D005782:Gels / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; D015820:Cadherins; D005353:Fibronectins; D005782:Gels; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde; D003094:Collagen