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3D Culture of human lung fibroblasts decreases proliferative and increases extracellular matrix remodeling genes

ABSTRACT: Fibroblasts are the main producers of extracellular matrix (ECM) responsible for ECM maintenance and repair, a process often disrupted in chronic lung diseases. The accompanying mechanical changes adversely affect resident cells and overall lung function. Numerous models have been used to elucidate fibroblast behavior which are now evolving towards complex 3D models incorporating ECM, aiming to replicate the cells’ native environment. Little is known about the cellular changes that occur when moving from 2D to 3D cell culture. This study compared gene expression profiles of primary human lung fibroblasts from 7 subjects with normal lung function, cultured for 24 hours on 2D collagen I-coated tissue culture plastic and in 3D collagen I hydrogels, which are commonly used to mimic ECM in various models, from contraction assays to organ-on-a-chip models. Comparing 3D to 2D cell culture, 6,771 differentially expressed genes (2,896 up, 3,875 down) were found; enriched gene sets within the downregulated genes, identified through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Ingenuity pathway analysis, were involved in the initiation of DNA replication which implied downregulation of fibroblast proliferation in 3D. Observation of cells for 72 hours in 2D and 3D environments confirmed the reduced progression through the cell cycle in 3D. A focused analysis examining the Hippo pathway and ECM-associated genes, showed differential patterns of gene expression in the 3D versus 2D culture. Altogether, the transcriptional response of fibroblasts cultured in 3D indicated inhibition of proliferation, and alterations in Hippo and ECM pathways indicating a complete switch from proliferation to ECM remodeling.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE247220 | GEO | 2023/11/13

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The traditional method for studying cancer in vitro is to grow immortalized cancer cells in two-dimensional (2D) monolayers on plastic. However, many cellular features are impaired in these unnatural conditions and big alterations in gene expression in comparison to tumors have been reported. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models have become increasingly popular and are suggested to be better models than 2D monolayers due to improved cell-to-cell contacts and structures that resemble in vivo architecture. The aim of this study was to develop a simple high-throughput 3D drug screening method and to compare drug responses in JIMT1 breast cancer cells when grown in 2D, in polyHEMA coated anchorage independent 3D models and in Matrigel on-top 3D cell culture models. We screened 102 compounds with multiple concentrations and biological replicates for their effects on cell proliferation. The cells were either treated immediately upon plating or they were allowed to grow in 3D for four days prior to the drug treatment. Big variations in drug responses were observed between the models indicating that comparisons of culture model influenced drug sensitivities cannot be made based on effects of a single drug. However, we show with the 63 most prominent drugs that, in general, JIMT1 cells grown on Matrigel were significantly more sensitive to drugs than cells grown in 2D cultures, while responses of cells grown in polyHEMA resembled those of 2D. Furthermore, comparison of gene expression profiles of the cell culture models to xenograft tumors indicated that cells cultured in Matrigel and as xenografts most closely resembled each other. In this study we also suggest that 3D cultures can provide a platform for systematic experimentation of larger compound collections in a high-throughput mode and be used as alternatives for traditional 2D screens towards better comparability to in vivo state. Gene expression analysis of JIMT1 breast cancer cells cultured as xenografts for 43 days, in two dimensional cultures for seven days (2D7d), in polyHEMA three dimensional cell culture models for four and seven days (PH7d and PH7d), and in Matrigel three dimensional cultures for four and seven days (MG4d and MG7d). Two biological replicates was included for each sample.

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3D Culture of human lung fibroblasts decreases proliferative and increases extracellular matrix remodeling genes

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