Fibroblasts retain their tissue phenotype when grown in three-dimensional collagen gels.

摘要: Fibroblasts are responsible for the synthesis, assembly, deposition, and organization of extracellular matrix molecules, thus determine morphology connective tissues. Deposition molecules occurs in compartments, where sequential stages under cellular control. Cell orientation/polarity is important determining how cell orients these extracytoplasmic compartments therefore assembled oriented. However, control orientation not understood. from three tissues with different morphologies were studied to whether cells maintained their characteristic phenotype. cornea, which vivo oriented orthogonal layers along matrix; tendon, a uniaxial tissue, orient parallel each other; dermis, tissue no apparent orientation, used study three-dimensional collagen gels. The grown 3 7 days identical gels nonoriented matrix. Confocal fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that corneal fibroblasts perpendicular one another at days, after hydrated formed sheets. Tendon shown by same methods bundles both throughout depth gel. Dermal showed either time point examined. types was consistent origin as structure polarity. These studies imply phenotype innate differentiated will tissue-specific manner regardless present.