New Approach to Enhancing Collagen Production in Mammalian Cells
Research at the School of Dental Medicine
A new study led by PhD student Bar Shahar from the research groups of Prof. Lihi Adler-Abramovich and Prof. Maayan Gal at the Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, presents a new approach to enhancing collagen production in mammalian cells, with potential future applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
What do skin regeneration, cosmetic product development, and cultivated meat production have in common? All rely on collagen, a key structural protein that provides support to tissues. Today, collagen is primarily extracted from animal connective tissues, an approach that raises concerns regarding variability, sustainability, and potential immune responses.
The researchers asked whether mammalian cells could be encouraged to produce more collagen themselves.
To investigate this, the team used small molecules that mimic the cellular response to low oxygen levels, a condition known as hypoxia, while maintaining the cells under normal oxygen conditions.
The treatment increased the activity of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), a transcription factor involved in the cellular response to oxygen deprivation, as well as the expression of key enzymes involved in collagen processing. In fibroblast cells, the researchers observed a 10- to 29-fold increase in collagen-associated fluorescence signal.
The findings suggest a potential approach to increasing collagen production without relying exclusively on conventional animal-derived sources. Further research will be needed to evaluate its potential applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
The study was conducted by Bar Shahar, together with Itay Kilimnik, Dr. Lucia Adriana Lipschitz, Dr. Francesca Netti, Dr. Marina Sova, Dr. Dalia Rosin-Grunewald, and Dr. Ayelet Di Segni, under the leadership of Prof. Lihi Adler-Abramovich and Prof. Maayan Gal.
The work is dedicated to the memory of PhD student Itay Kilimnik, who contributed to the research and passed away before its completion.
The study was published in Scientific Reports.
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