We have revealed that fibroblasts or macrophages accumulate and are activated in the hypoxic area. The results illuminate the importance of a hypoxic niche where fibroblasts actively interact with macrophages or inflammatory cells. While the cell-cell contact in the hypoxic niche influences the behavior of fibroblasts, its multicellular interaction still remains unclear.
We are currently developing a novel technique to spatiotemporally investigate cell-cell communications based on genetically-encoded fluorescent probes and omics technologies (Nat Commun 2023; 14: 8031.). This technique would illuminate cell-cell communications involving macrophages and fibroblasts in murine models for cardiovascular diseases.