Figure 1

Effect of monocytes on fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction and degradation in long term co-culture. Fibroblasts (4 × 10⁵/ml) or blood monocytes (4 × 10⁵/ml) alone, or in combination, were cast into type I collagen gels and floated in serum-free DMEM. (a) The medium was changed every 5 days. Gel area was measured daily. Vertical axis: gel area expressed as percent of initial size. Horizontal axis: Time (days). (b) Replica gels were harvested on day 5, 10, 15 and 21, and hydroxyproline was quantified. Vertical axis: hydroxyproline content (percent of initial control). Horizontal axis: Time (days). BM, blood monocytes; HFL, human fetal lung fibroblasts. ^*P < 0.05 compared to baseline; ^**P < 0.01 compared to baseline.