RNA-seq of human skin fibroblasts from healthy and systemic sclerosis patients with varying matrix stiffness

This study explores how increased matrix stiffness alters fibroblast transcription and its impact on the lineage specification of fibroblast subpopulations in fibrotic skin. Fibroblasts from healthy and systemic sclerosis patients were cultured in a collagen I-based 3D system with varying matrix stiffness levels, and RNA sequencing was performed to identify stiffness-responsive genes.