O146: Investigating the cell-matrix interplay in fibrotic remodelling using renal 3D in vitro models Free

The dynamic biophysical microenvironment of the renal extracellular matrix is integral in regulating tissue homeostasis. Matrix remodelling is an iterative process, which guides cell behaviour and pathological fibrosis occurs due to aberrant tissue repair. Fibrosis, characterised by the desmoplastic ECM deposition and tissue stiffening, is prominent in CKD and renal carcinomas. We engineered biomimetic 3D constructs to recapitulate cell-matrix interactions in fibrotic disease progression.

Soft collagen-I and laminin constructs (0.2%w/v) were engineered with renal cancer cells (786-O or ACHN) or renal fibroblasts (TK188). Plastic compression was used to generate dense collagen constructs, at 6%w/v collagen density. Mechanical properties were analysed using shear rheology. Gene expression of markers defining the healthy/diseased kidney matrix was determined using qPCR.

Over 21 days, 786-O cancer cells softened the collagen matrix. Matrix degradation was supported by collagen-I downregulation and MMP7 and vimentin upregulation. Whereas metastatic cancer cells (ACHN) stiffened the dense matrix to ∼1.25kPa, with significant gene upregulation of collagen-I, collagen-IV and LOX. Fibrotic fibroblasts soften the dense matrix by ∼1kPa, with α-SMA and MMP9 upregulation. However, matrix stiffness significantly increases with cancer cell co-cultures.

Renal cancer cells remodel their biophysical environment, altering the construct’s material properties. In our models, collagen density and stromal complexity influences cell behaviour, causing alterations in biomechanics and gene expression. These models can generate physiologically relevant stiffness, enabling investigation between key cell types and the physical environment. Drugs targeting MMPs and LOX will be used to determine if we can disrupt the fibrotic remodelling.