Study links tissue stiffness to activation of an inflammatory pathway
A Nature study found that the stiffness of surrounding tissue affected activation of the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in human and mouse immune cells.
Researchers reported that extracellular-matrix stiffness influenced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a pathway involved in immune responses. The study examined human and mouse cells and animal models.
The findings identify a possible factor behind differences between laboratory and in-body observations, but do not establish a clinical treatment.