Chick tendon fibroblast transcriptome and shape depend on whether the cell has made its own collagen matrix.
Collagen- and fibrin-based gels are extensively used to study cell behaviour. However, 2D-3D and collagen-fibrin comparisons of gene expression, cell shape and mechanotransduction, with an in vivo reference, have not been reported. Here we compared chick tendon fibroblasts (CTFs) at three stages of embryonic development with CTFs cultured in collagen- or fibrin-based tissue engineered constructs (TECs). CTFs synthesised their own collagen matrix in fibrin-based TECs and better recapitulated the gene expression, collagen fibril alignment and cell shape seen in vivo. In contrast, cells in 3D collagen gels exhibited a 2D-like morphology and expressed fewer of the genes expressed in vivo. Analysis of YAP/TAZ target genes showed that collagen gels desensitise mechanotransduction pathways. In conclusion, gene expression and cell shape are similar on plastic and 3D collagen whereas cells in 3D fibrin have a shape and transcriptome better resembling the in vivo situation. Implications for wound healing are discussed.
Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.|Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.
Ching-Yan Chloé
CY
Yeung
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.
Leo A H
LA
Zeef
Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.|Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.
Chloe
C
Lallyett
Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.
Yinhui
Y
Lu
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.|The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), United Kingdom.
Elizabeth G
EG
Canty-Laird
Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.|Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.
Karl E
KE
Kadler
D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000737:chemistry; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D013710:Tendons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D024042:Collagen Type I; D005337:Fibrin