{
  "abstract": "Stromal repair requires newly formed matrix to persist while the contractile response to TGF-{beta} is controlled. We developed patient-derived bioprinted gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) stroma to connect material-dependent cell responses with matrix retention after timed receptor blockade. In constructs from six keratoconus (KC) and six normal donors, KC cells retained disease-associated transcription while secreting procollagen I and lumican at normal-donor levels per unit DNA. Comparisons with two-dimensional culture and matched cast GelMA showed that the three-dimensional environment increased matrix induction and lowered resting contractile expression. Printing added a stromal identity response that persisted as retained lumican. Delayed blockade after a TGF-{beta}1 pulse preserved matrix transcription and late secretion. Eleven days after withdrawal, this finite course left more native collagen and lower contractile-gene expression than vehicle in 9/12 donors. Across the tested blockade regimens, at least one regimen achieved both outcomes at the final endpoint in 11/12 donors, including every KC donor. Culture format changed the preferred regimen. Choosing finite blockade by retained collagen instead of secretion changed the schedule in half the donors; the selected arms contained 22.2% more collagen. Retained collagen and contractile expression therefore provide joint endpoints for designing when TGF-{beta}-pathway courses, including losartan and TGF-{beta}3 treatment for keratoconic and scarred corneas, should start and stop.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "H. Jiang"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Zhou"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. Gao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Pang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Jie"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. Yang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Y. Jiang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aecpt8ya92eyx.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.11.04.764220",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.04.764220v1.full",
  "id": "aecpt8ya92eyx",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.04.764220v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "bioengineering"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.04.764220v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-04",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aecpt8ya92eyx.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-06T12:21:02Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.11.04.764220",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.04.764220v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:bioengineering",
      "subfield": "systems-synthetic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Material context and TGF-β blockade timing determine retained matrix in patient-derived bioprinted keratoconus stroma",
  "title_text": "Material context and TGF-β blockade timing determine retained matrix in patient-derived bioprinted keratoconus stroma",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:20:27Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aecpt8ya92eyx",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}