Influence of lung extracellular matrix from non-IPF and IPF donors on primary human lung fibroblast biology

Fibrosis, a pathological hallmark of various chronic diseases, involves the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components leading to tissue scarring and functional impairment. Understanding how cells interact with the ECM in fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. This study explores the effects of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) coatings derived from non-IPF and IPF donor lung tissue samples on the behavior of primary human lung fibroblasts (HLFs). Utilizing a substrate coating method that preserves the diversity of in situ ECM, we studied both the concentration-dependent effects and the intrinsic biochemical cues of ECM on cell morphology, protein expression, mechanobiology biomarkers, and gene expression. Morphological analysis revealed that HLFs displayed altered spreading, shape, and nuclear characteristics in response to dECM coatings relative to control plastic, indicating a response to the physical and biochemical cues. Protein expression studies showed an upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in cells interacting with both non-IPF and IPF dECM coatings, that was more prominent at IPF dECM-coated surface. In addition, YAP localization, a marker of mechanotransduction, was also dysregulated on dECM coatings, reflecting changes in mechanical signaling pathways. Gene expression profiles were differentially regulated by the different dECM coatings. The developed dECM coating strategy in this work facilitates the integration of tissue-specific biochemical cues onto standard cell culture platforms, which is ideal for high-throughput screening. Importantly, it minimizes the requirement for human tissue samples, especially when compared to more sample-intensive 3D models like dECM-based hydrogels.