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Collagen Organization during Cardiac Fibroblast‐mediated Collagen Gel Contraction
Author(s) -
Goldsmith Edie C.,
Morales Mary O.,
Price Robert L.,
Murphy Catherine J.,
Baxter Sarah C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.lb57-c
Subject(s) - extracellular matrix , fibroblast , microbiology and biotechnology , type i collagen , chemistry , cell , matrix (chemical analysis) , cell type , collagen, type i, alpha 1 , biophysics , anatomy , pathology , biology , biochemistry , in vitro , medicine , chromatography
Collagen within the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the heart is responsible for connecting myocytes to one another and mechanically couples neighboring cells. In the developing heart, the collagen matrix accumulates rapidly during early post‐natal life and develops an organization which is maintained in the adult heart. The mechanisms by which cardiac fibroblasts organize collagen within the cardiac ECM are unclear; although probably involve a combination of mechanical tension and enzymatic remodeling. To investigate this process, neonatal cardiac fibroblasts were dispersed within a collagen gel and cultured in either a mechanically loaded or unloaded environment. Using confocal reflection microscopy combined with circular statistical analysis, both cell distribution, cell morphology and collagen fiber distribution have been analyzed. While initially cells display a rounded morphology and are surrounded by randomly organized collagen, over time as the fibroblasts extend cell processes the collagen network develops a radial organization around the cell with some areas on the cell surface displaying numerous collagen attachments and others lacking any visible collagen interaction. In addition, areas devoid of collagen are also visible, suggesting enzymatic degradation of collagen. Fibroblasts appear to differentially orient within the gels, having a more circumferential orientation in the outer regions of the gels and a more random orientation in the center of the gel. These studies provide direct insight into the organizational changes which occur during collagen remodeling.