Development of a 3D In Vitro Model of Dupuytren’s Disease as a Platform for Drug Screening

The study successfully developed a 3D in vitro model of Dupuytren’s disease using decellularized pathological tissue seeded with patient-derived fibroblasts. This model retains the pathological architecture and mechanical properties of native tissue, allowing for the proliferation and differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. The model's relevance was demonstrated by its complex response to the antifibrotic drug minoxidil, which was more intricate than in conventional 2D cultures. This 3D model provides a reproducible platform for antifibrotic drug screening and investigating the contributions of cells and the extracellular matrix to palmar fascial fibrosis.