TY - JOUR
T1 - The mechanisms of fibroblast-mediated compaction of collagen gels and the mechanical niche around individual fibroblasts
AU - Feng, Zhonggang
AU - Wagatsuma, Yusuke
AU - Kikuchi, Masato
AU - Kosawada, Tadashi
AU - Nakamura, Takao
AU - Sato, Daisuke
AU - Shirasawa, Nobuyuki
AU - Kitajima, Tatsuo
AU - Umezu, Mitsuo
PY - 2014/9
Y1 - 2014/9
N2 - Fibroblast-mediated compaction of collagen gels attracts extensive attention in studies of wound healing, cellular fate processes, and regenerative medicine. However, the underlying mechanism and the cellular mechanical niche still remain obscure. This study examines the mechanical behaviour of collagen fibrils during the process of compaction from an alternative perspective on the primary mechanical interaction, providing a new viewpoint on the behaviour of populated fibroblasts. We classify the collagen fibrils into three types - bent, stretched, and adherent - and deduce the respective equations governing the mechanical behaviour of each type; in particular, from a putative principle based on the stationary state of the instantaneous Hamiltonian of the mechanotransduction system, we originally quantify the stretching force exerted on each stretched fibrils. Via careful verification of a structural elementary model based on this classification, we demonstrate a clear physical picture of the compaction process, quantitatively elucidate the panorama of the micro mechanical niche and reveal an intrinsic biphasic relationship between cellular traction force and matrix elasticity. Our results also infer the underlying mechanism of tensional homoeostasis and stress shielding of fibroblasts. With this study, and sequel investigations on the putative principle proposed herein, we anticipate a refocus of the research on cellular mechanobiology, in vitro and in vivo.
AB - Fibroblast-mediated compaction of collagen gels attracts extensive attention in studies of wound healing, cellular fate processes, and regenerative medicine. However, the underlying mechanism and the cellular mechanical niche still remain obscure. This study examines the mechanical behaviour of collagen fibrils during the process of compaction from an alternative perspective on the primary mechanical interaction, providing a new viewpoint on the behaviour of populated fibroblasts. We classify the collagen fibrils into three types - bent, stretched, and adherent - and deduce the respective equations governing the mechanical behaviour of each type; in particular, from a putative principle based on the stationary state of the instantaneous Hamiltonian of the mechanotransduction system, we originally quantify the stretching force exerted on each stretched fibrils. Via careful verification of a structural elementary model based on this classification, we demonstrate a clear physical picture of the compaction process, quantitatively elucidate the panorama of the micro mechanical niche and reveal an intrinsic biphasic relationship between cellular traction force and matrix elasticity. Our results also infer the underlying mechanism of tensional homoeostasis and stress shielding of fibroblasts. With this study, and sequel investigations on the putative principle proposed herein, we anticipate a refocus of the research on cellular mechanobiology, in vitro and in vivo.
KW - Cell culture
KW - Collagen
KW - Fibroblast
KW - Hydrogel
KW - Modelling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84903733163&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84903733163&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.05.072
DO - 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.05.072
M3 - Article
C2 - 24976242
AN - SCOPUS:84903733163
VL - 35
SP - 8078
EP - 8091
JO - Biomaterials
JF - Biomaterials
SN - 0142-9612
IS - 28
ER -