Co-culture with fibroblasts in stiff 3D scaffolds increases CD54 and CD140a expression on macrophages - Takeaways - MDSpire

Co-culture with fibroblasts in stiff 3D scaffolds increases CD54 and CD140a expression on macrophages

  • By

  • Jennessa WX Ng

  • Santosh TRB Rao

  • Emily H. Field

  • Kaitlyn Ritchie

  • Mark D. Wright

  • Nicholas P. Reynolds

  • Sean W. Cutter

  • Katrina J. Binger

  • June 3, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Vascular fibrosis contributes to hypertension and cardiovascular disease through excessive extracellular matrix deposition and tissue stiffening.

  • 2

    Three-dimensional collagen-based scaffolds with tunable stiffness were developed to study macrophage and fibroblast interactions in fibrotic environments.

  • 3

    Macrophages in co-culture with fibroblasts showed stiffness-dependent upregulation of CD54 and CD140a, markers linked to inflammation and fibrosis.

  • 4

    The altered macrophage phenotype was influenced by mechanical and soluble cues rather than direct cell-cell interactions.

  • 5

    This study emphasizes the significance of dimensionality and stiffness in macrophage-fibroblast crosstalk and vascular fibrosis mechanisms.

Original Source(s)

Co-culture with fibroblasts in stiff 3D scaffolds increases CD54 and CD140a expression on macrophages

  • by Jennessa WX Ng, Santosh TRB Rao, Emily H. Field, Kaitlyn Ritchie, Mark D. Wright, Nicholas P. Reynolds, Sean W. Cutter, Katrina J. Binger

  • June 3, 2026

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