Year: 2023
Type: editorial
Abstract: The mechanobiology of collagen remodeling in health and disease Extracellular matrices composed of collagen provide structural support to soft tissues and have an impact on cellular behavior, including the cells responsible for producing and modifying the matrix.The mechanobiological effects of matrix on cells have emerged as important factors in driving the behavior of pathogens, immune cells, neurons, stem cells, and cancer cells.Improving our understanding of collagen mechanobiology has the potential to advance research across organ systems in health and the myriad of fibrotic disease conditions which disrupt the collagen network.This Research Topic includes articles that reflect the major challenges and open questions in the collagen mechanobiology field today: the impact of mechanics on collagen degradation and synthesis, the relationship between collagen structure and function, and the best modalities for imaging collagen at different length scales.Ita and Winkelstein studied collagen function and degradation, specifically in the perception of pain during the deformation of collagen-rich ligaments above the threshold of injury.They devised a unique experimental approach that combined analysis of the degradation of collagen matrices by matrix metalloproteinases, biaxial mechanical testing, and analysis of collagen fiber kinematics with the factors involved in signaling pain.Their results uncover a new mechanistic connection between matrix metalloproteinases, collagen degradation, and pain in the context of injury to the facet ligament of the spine.Using a neuron-fibroblast co-culture collagen gel model, the researchers found that a sub-failure equibiaxial stretch induced a significant reorganization of collagen fibers, and doubled the expression of substance P, a nociceptive neuropeptide.Treatment with the MMP inhibitor ilomastat prevented the stretch-induced increase in substance P expression, but did not affect MMP-1 and MMP-9 expression.The study suggests that MMPs may play a role in ligamentous injury and pain, and may be involved in nociceptive-related signaling pathways.On the side of collagen synthesis, van Haasterecht et al. carried out a meta-analysis of the existing literature on the in vitro response of human dermal fibroblasts to mechanical strain.They searched research databases and analyzed 48 existing studies, assessing the correlation
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,285
OpenAlex ID: W4382312351