Immunomodulation by collagen VI across fibrotic and tumor microenvironmental contexts

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays fundamental roles in modulating tissue structure and function under normal and pathological conditions. ECM composition is an essential consideration for studying cellular microenvironments, as varied composition leads to changes in cell behavior and delivery of therapeutics. Collagen VI is a non-fibrillar collagen that is found in both fibrotic and tumor microenvironments, where it promotes disease progression and suppresses the immune system. In this review, we summarize the contributions of collagen VI to fibrosis and tumor progression, followed by a focus on its ability to modulate the immune system in these contexts. Finally, we explore whether collagen VI could be a suitable therapeutic target for future study. While many studies have demonstrated the importance of collagen VI in disease progression, further studies of its immunomodulation abilities are needed to fully realize its potential as a therapeutic target in fibrosis and the tumor microenvironment.