Skin equivalent tensional force applied to novel 3D collagen lattice model alters keloid fibroblast behaviour, morphology, mechano-responsive gene expression and matrix production

Skin tension may influence keloid behaviour, development, and spreading, e.g. butterfly-shaped keloids in the sternum. Here, we developed a 3D in-vitro model to mimic in-vivo tension and evaluate keloid fibroblast (KF) behaviour and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis under tension. In-vivo skin tension measured in volunteers (n=4) using 3D-image photogrammetry enabled prediction of actual force (35mN). A novel cell force monitor (CFM) applied tension in a fibroblast-populated 3D collagen lattice replicating the in-vivo force. The effect of tension on keloid (n=10) and normal skin (n=10) fibroblasts (NF) at set time points (6, 12 and 24hr) was measured in Hsp27, PAI-2 and α2β1-integrin, tension-related genes demonstrating significant (p<0.05) time-dependent regulation of these genes in NF versus KF with and without tension. KF showed higher (p