Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Open Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Advisor 1
Sangyoon Han
Committee Member 1
Muhammad Rizwan
Committee Member 2
Jeremy Goldman
Abstract
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, classical type, (cEDS) is a hereditary connective tissue disorder causing excessive elasticity and fragility of the connective tissue and problems with wound healing. Most cases of cEDS are caused by haploinsufficiency for collagen V. Collagen V regulates collagen fibril diameter. In cEDS fibroblast migration is impaired and integrin expression is altered.
The effects of collagen V on collagen gel ultrastructure and how it alters its mechanical properties were measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and rheology respectively. Fibroblast contractility and adhesion dynamics were investigated to better understand the role of fibroblast disfunction in wound healing in cEDS. To quantify these, traction force microscopy (TFM) and time lapse imaging were used.
Collagen V decreased fibril diameter and curvature, and increased gel stiffness, indicating that the fibrils themselves were likely stiffer. Cells cultured on collagen V were more contractile and adhesions assembled faster.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Royer-Weeden, Shaina P., "Collagen V Promotes Fibroblast Contractility, And Adhesion Formation, And Stability", Open Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2023.