Mechanosensing regulates tissue repair program in macrophages

Sci Adv. 2024 Mar 15;10(11):eadk6906. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adk6906. Epub 2024 Mar 13.

Abstract

Tissue-resident macrophages play important roles in tissue homeostasis and repair. However, how macrophages monitor and maintain tissue integrity is not well understood. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a key structural and organizational component of all tissues. Here, we find that macrophages sense the mechanical properties of the ECM to regulate a specific tissue repair program. We show that macrophage mechanosensing is mediated by cytoskeletal remodeling and can be performed in three-dimensional environments through a noncanonical, integrin-independent mechanism analogous to amoeboid migration. We find that these cytoskeletal dynamics also integrate biochemical signaling by colony-stimulating factor 1 and ultimately regulate chromatin accessibility to control the mechanosensitive gene expression program. This study identifies an "amoeboid" mode of ECM mechanosensing through which macrophages may regulate tissue repair and fibrosis.

MeSH terms

  • Cytoskeleton
  • Extracellular Matrix* / metabolism
  • Integrins / metabolism
  • Macrophages* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Integrins