title: Breakdown of cell-collagen networks through collagen remodeling.
abstract: Collagen model tissues, consisting of cells embedded in a collagen matrix at different concentrations (of cells and collagen) were analyzed. Rheological properties were measured and complementary confocal microscopy analysis carried out. An important feature, corresponding to the breakdown of the collagen network (i.e., decrease in network elasticity) was observed at high collagen concentrations, due to the presence of cells. Thanks to confocal microscopy, we showed that cells elongated within the gel and could remodel it, this being a concentration-dependent feature. A careful analysis of the remodeling process showed that cells can attract collagen in their close neighborhood, this being an irreversible process and that migrating cells create collagen-depleted regions behind them.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Physique, CNRS-Université Grenoble I, 140 Avenue de la Physique, Saint-Martin d’Hères cedex, France.
authors.forename: Andreea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iordan
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duperray
authors.forename: Anaïs
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gérard
authors.forename: Alexeï
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grichine
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verdier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004548:Elasticity; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012212:Rheology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D003094:Collagen