Effect of extracellular matrix stiffness on the progression of renal fibrosis

Medical University,Shenyang 110122,China.The mechanical microenvironment of cells is recently reported to associate with the progression of renal fibrosis.However,the mechanism has not been fully elucidated.In the present study,based on the precision measurement of atom force microscope(AFM),hydrogel substrates of various stiffness were prepared to simulate the hardness of extracellular matrix(ECM)in normal and fibrotic kidney tissue.Renal mesangial cells were then cultured on the hydrogel matrix with different hardness.