Abstract
The pathology of progressive renal disease is characterized by glomerular and interstitial inflammation, glomerulosclerosis, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. This is a consequence of excessive matrix synthesis, reduced matrix degradation, and contraction (reorganization) of extracellular matrix. Fibroblasts, and to a lesser degree, other mesenchymal cells, are known to contribute to renal scar formation through local proliferation, synthesis, and reorganization of matrix proteins.
Although much work has focused on the balance between collagen synthesis and degradation, the mechanisms of parenchymal collapse and contraction are becoming increasingly important. Like their counterparts in the skin, the contractile properties of renal fibroblasts are now well recognized.
This chapter details an in vitro method for studying the contraction of collagens by homogeneous populations of cultured cells. The method can be altered so that reagents influencing this process may also be studied.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Wardle, (2000) Modulatory proteins and processes in alliance with immune cells, mediators and extracellular proteins in renal fibrosis. Renal Failure 21, 121–133.
Kelynack, K.J., Hewitson, T.D., Nicholls, K.M., Darby, I.A., and Becker, G.J. (2000) Human renal fibroblast contraction of collagen I lattices is an integrin mediated process. Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. 15, 1766–1772.
Johnson, R., Floege, J., Yoshimura, A., Iida, H., Couser, W., and Alpers, C. (1992) The activated mesangial cell: a glomerular myofibroblast? J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 2, S190–S197.
Bell, E., Ivarsson, B., and Merrill, C. (1979) Production of a tissue like structure by contraction of collagen lattices by human fibroblasts of different proliferative potential in vitro. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76, 1274–1278.
Tomasek, J., Haaksma, C., Eddy, R., and Vaughan, M. (1992) Fibroblast contraction occurs on release of tension in attached collagen lattices: dependency on an organized actin cytoskeleton and serum. Anat. Rec. 232, 359–368.
Grinnell, F. (1994) Fibroblasts, myofibroblasts and wound contraction. J. Cell Biol. 124, 401–404.
Hewitson, T.D., Martic, M., Kelynack, K.J., Pagel, C., Mackie, E.J., and Becker, G.J. (2005) Thrombin is a pro-fibrotic factor for rat renal fibroblasts in vitro. Nephron-Exp. Nephrol. 101, e42–e49.
Hewitson, T.D., Martic, M., Kelynack, K.J., Pedagogos, E., and Becker, G.J. (2000) Pentoxyfilline reduces in vitro renal myofibroblast proliferation and collagen secretion. Am. J. Nephrol. 20, 82–88.
Kelynack, K.J., Hewitson, T.D., Martic, M., McTaggart, S., and Becker, G.J. (2002) Lovastatin downregulates renal myofibroblast function in vitro. Nephron 91, 701–707.
Sharma, A, Mauer, S, Kim, Y, and Michael, A. (1993) Interstitial fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy. Kidney Int. 44, 774–788.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Kelynack, K.J. (2009). Cell-Populated Floating Collagen Lattices: An In Vitro Model of Parenchymal Contraction. In: Becker, G., Hewitson, T. (eds) Kidney Research. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 466. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-352-3_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-352-3_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-945-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-352-3
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols