Contracting scars from fibrin drops

This paper describes a microscale fibroplasia and contraction model that is based on fibrin-embedded lung fibroblasts and provides a convenient visual readout of fibrosis. Cell-laden fibrin microgel drops are formed by aqueous two-phase microprinting. The cells deposit extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules such as collagen while fibrin is gradually degraded. Ultimately, the cells contract the collagen-rich matrix to form a compact cell-ECM spheroid. The size of the spheroid provides the visual readout of the extent of fibroplasia. Stimulation of this wound-healing model with the profibrotic cytokine TGF-β1 leads to an excessive scar formation response that manifests as increased collagen production and larger cell-ECM spheroids. Addition of drugs also shifted the scarring profile: the FDA-approved fibrosis drugs (nintedanib and pirfenidone) and a PAI-1 inhibitor (TM5275) significantly reduced cell-ECM spheroid size. Not only is the assay useful for evaluation of antifibrotic drug effects, it is relatively sensitive; one of the few in vitro fibroplasia assays that can detect pirfenidone effects at submillimolar concentrations. Although this paper focuses on lung fibrosis, the approach opens opportunities for studying a broad range of fibrotic diseases and for evaluating antifibrotic therapeutics.