Harnessing the Biomimetic Effect of Macromolecular Crowding in the Cell-Derived Model of Clubfoot Fibrosis
August 2024
in “
Biomacromolecules
”
TLDR The model helps test drugs for clubfoot fibrosis by mimicking cell environments and shows minoxidil reduces harmful collagen links.
The study investigates the effects of macromolecular crowding (MMC) on fibroblast cultures from 7 patients with relapsed idiopathic clubfoot, aiming to replicate the fibrotic environment of this condition. MMC, particularly at 18% FVO concentration, enhances collagen synthesis and deposition, accelerates collagen fiber maturation, and promotes a pro-fibrotic phenotype. The study also examines minoxidil's antifibrotic potential, finding it reduces collagen production and downregulates collagen-modifying enzymes, especially in the MMC environment. These findings suggest MMC as a valuable model for studying fibrosis and testing antifibrotic drugs, despite limitations like variability in primary cells and limited tissue samples.
