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Maturation State and Matrix Microstructure Regulate Interstitial Cell Migration in Dense Connective Tissues
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Maturation State and Matrix Microstructure Regulate Interstitial Cell Migration in Dense Connective Tissues

Feini Qu, Qing Li, Xiao Wang, Xuan Cao, Miltiadis H Zgonis, John L Esterhai, Vivek B Shenoy, Lin Han and Robert L Mauck
Scientific reports, v 8(1), pp 3295-13
19 Feb 2018
PMID: 29459687
url
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21212-4View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0 Open

Abstract

Few regenerative approaches exist for the treatment of injuries to adult dense connective tissues. Compared to fetal tissues, adult connective tissues are hypocellular and show limited healing after injury. We hypothesized that robust repair can occur in fetal tissues with an immature extracellular matrix (ECM) that is conducive to cell migration, and that this process fails in adults due to the biophysical barriers imposed by the mature ECM. Using the knee meniscus as a platform, we evaluated the evolving micromechanics and microstructure of fetal and adult tissues, and interrogated the interstitial migratory capacity of adult meniscal cells through fetal and adult tissue microenvironments with or without partial enzymatic digestion. To integrate our findings, a computational model was implemented to determine how changing biophysical parameters impact cell migration through these dense networks. Our results show that the micromechanics and microstructure of the adult meniscus ECM sterically hinder cell mobility, and that modulation of these ECM attributes via an exogenous matrix-degrading enzyme permits migration through this otherwise impenetrable network. By addressing the inherent limitations to repair imposed by the mature ECM, these studies may define new clinical strategies to promote repair of damaged dense connective tissues in adults.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Multidisciplinary Sciences
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