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Updated: May 1, 2026

Observing and Quantifying Fibroblast-mediated Fibrin Gel Compaction
Published on: January 16, 2014
The matrix-binding domain of microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 targets active connective tissue growth factor to
Justin S Weinbaum1, Robert T Tranquillo, Robert P Mecham
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-105 Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. weijus@umn.edu
Abstract:
It is advantageous to use biomaterials in tissue engineering that stimulate extracellular matrix (ECM) production by the cellular component. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) stimulates type I collagen (COL1A1) transcription, but is functionally limited as a free molecule. Using a matrix-binding domain (MBD) from microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1, the fusion protein MBD-CTGF was targeted to the ECM and tested for COL1A1 transcriptional activation. MBD-CTGF produced by the ECM-synthesizing fibroblasts, or provided exogenously, localized to the elastic fiber ECM. MBD-CTGF, but not CTGF alone, led to a two-fold enhancement of COL1A1 expression. This study introduces a targeting technology that can be used to elevate collagen transcription in engineered tissues and thereby improve tissue mechanics.
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