Fibroblast contraction of a collagen–GAG matrix

Contractile cells, found in wounded or diseased tissues, are associated with the formation of scar tissue. The complexity of contraction in vivo has led to the development of models of contraction by cells in vitro. In this work, a device was developed which quantitatively measured the contractile force developed by fibroblasts seeded into a collagen–glycosaminoglycan porous matrix in vitro. This device differed from most of those previously described in that it directly transferred cellular contractile force to the force transducer (a cantilever beam) and that it used a porous matrix rather than a collagen gel. The data for the increase in contractile force with time were fit to a mathematical equation using two fitting parameters. Data were then compared using the fitting parameters and the cell density. A study of the effect of cell density on the contractile force resulted in a linearly proportional relationship. Subsequent normalization of force by cell density or number resulted in a value of contractile force per cell, 1 nN, that was independent of cell density. The time for the contractile force to develop was also independent of cell density. These results suggest that, in this system, cells develop contractile force individually, irrespective of the force generated by surrounding cells.