Inhibitory Effects of Epithelial Cells on Fibrosis Mechanics of Microtissue and Their Spatiotemporal Dependence on the Epithelial–Fibroblast Interaction

Cell-generated contraction force is the primary physical drive for fibrotic densification of biological tissues. Previous studies using two-dimensional culture models have shown that epithelial cells inhibit the myofibroblast-derived contraction force via the regulation of the fibroblast/myofibroblast transition (FMT). However, it remains unclear how epithelial cells interact with fibroblasts and myofibroblasts to determine the mechanical consequences and spatiotemporal regulation of fibrosis development. In this study, we established a three-dimensional microtissue model using an NIH/3T3 fibroblast-laden collagen hydrogel, incorporated with a microstring-based force sensor, to assess fibrosis mechanics. When Madin–Darby canine kidney epithelial cells were cocultured on the microtissue's surface, the densification, stiffness, and contraction force of the microtissue greatly decreased compared to the monocultured microtissue without epithelial cells. The key fibrotic features, such as enhanced protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and collagen indicating FMT and matrix deposition, respectively, were also significantly reduced. The antifibrotic effects of epithelial cells on the microtissue were dependent on the intercellular signaling molecule prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) with an effective concentration of 10 μM and their proximity to the fibroblasts, indicating paracrine cellular signaling between the two types of cells during tissue fibrosis. The effect of PGE2 on microtissue contraction was also dependent on the time point when PGE2 was delivered or blocked, suggesting that the presence of epithelial cells at an early stage is critical for preventing or treating advanced fibrosis. Taken together, this study provides insights into the spatiotemporal regulation of mechanical properties of fibrosis by epithelial cells, and the cocultured microtissue model incorporated with a real-time and sensitive force sensor will be a suitable system for evaluating fibrosis and drug screening.