Dynamic fibroblast contractions attract remote macrophages in fibrillar collagen matrix

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 1850
• Main Authors: Pakshir, Pardis, Alizadehgiashi, Moien, Wong, Boaz, Coelho, Nuno Miranda, Chen, Xingyu, Gong, Ze, Shenoy, Vivek B, McCulloch, Christopher A, Hinz, Boris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 23.04.2019; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Adhesion - immunology; Cell Movement - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Collagen; Contractility; Deformation; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Fibrillar Collagens - metabolism; Fibroblasts; Fibroblasts - immunology; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Fibrosis; Intravital Microscopy; Leukocyte migration; Macrophages; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Micrometers; Microscopy, Video; Needles; Primary Cell Culture; Substrates
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09709-6

Macrophage (Mϕ)-fibroblast interactions coordinate tissue repair after injury whereas miscommunications can result in pathological healing and fibrosis. We show that contracting fibroblasts generate deformation fields in fibrillar collagen matrix that provide far-reaching physical cues for Mϕ. Within collagen deformation fields created by fibroblasts or actuated microneedles, Mϕ migrate towards the force source from several hundreds of micrometers away. The presence of a dynamic force source in the matrix is critical to initiate and direct Mϕ migration. In contrast, collagen condensation and fiber alignment resulting from fibroblast remodelling activities or chemotactic signals are neither required nor sufficient to guide Mϕ migration. Binding of α2β1 integrin and stretch-activated channels mediate Mϕ migration and mechanosensing in fibrillar collagen ECM. We propose that Mϕ mechanosense the velocity of local displacements of their substrate, allowing contractile fibroblasts to attract Mϕ over distances that exceed the range of chemotactic gradients.