Myofibroblast

J Cell Sci 1 July ; 13 : jcs

Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, St. Myofibroblasts are the unique population of smooth muscle-like fibroblasts. These cells have a role in growth factors secretion, matrix deposition and degradation. Thereby, myofibroblast contributes in both human physiology and pathology. This review explains the myofibroblastic lesions, imperative role of myofibroblasts in organogenesis, repair, regeneration, inflammation and tumorigenesis.

Myofibroblast

Fibroblasts are cells present throughout the human body that are primarily responsible for the production and maintenance of the extracellular matrix ECM within the tissues. They have the capability to modify the mechanical properties of the ECM within the tissue and transition into myofibroblasts, a cell type that is associated with the development of fibrotic tissue through an acute increase of cell density and protein deposition. This transition from fibroblast to myofibroblast—a well-known cellular hallmark of the pathological state of tissues—and the environmental stimuli that can induce this transition have received a lot of attention, for example in the contexts of asthma and cardiac fibrosis. Recent efforts in understanding how cells sense their physical environment at the micro- and nano-scales have ushered in a new appreciation that the substrates on which the cells adhere provide not only passive influence, but also active stimulus that can affect fibroblast activation. These studies suggest that mechanical interactions at the cell—substrate interface play a key role in regulating this phenotype transition by changing the mechanical and morphological properties of the cells. Here, we briefly summarize the reported chemical and physical cues regulating fibroblast phenotype. We then argue that a better understanding of how cells mechanically interact with the substrate mechanosensing and how this influences cell behaviors mechanotransduction using well-defined platforms that decouple the physical stimuli from the chemical ones can provide a powerful tool to control the balance between physiological tissue regeneration and pathological fibrotic response. Fibroblasts are cells belonging to the mesenchyme that are capable of producing and modifying extracellular matrix ECM components such as fibronectin and collagen Kanekar et al. They are present in various tissues. For example, in neonatal and adult heart tissues, fibroblasts arise from endogenous cell populations via epithelial to mesenchymal transition EMT and from bone marrow derived cells Visconti et al. Cardiac fibroblasts play a crucial role during fetal development and neonatal growth by contributing ECM to several specific structures of the heart Figure 1 Manso et al.

In particular, myofibroblast, recent efforts have focused in producing 3D in vitro environments myofibroblast capture factors that normally are neglected or overlooked in 2D studies. Veeren B, myofibroblast. Distribution In oral cavity, myofibroblasts are found in gingiva, palatal mucosa, periodontal ligament, bone-marrow, reticular cells of lymph nodes, capillary and venular pericytes.

Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. No new data were created or analysed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article. Myofibroblasts mediate wound contractions, but their persistent presence in tissues is central to driving fibrosis, making them attractive cell targets for the development of therapeutic treatments.

Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. Cardiac myocytes, although large enough to make up most of the heart volume, are only a minority of cells within the heart with fibroblasts and blood vessel components endothelial and smooth muscle cells making up the remainder of the heart. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the non-myocyte population within the heart. This is due, in part, to our increasing understanding of the biology of the non-myocyte cell types and additionally it is due to our awakening realization that these cells are not static but rather, that they are dynamic in nature indicating that they play a more active role in cardiac function than previously imagined. Studies now show that fibroblasts are involved in formation of the extracellular matrix and they control of the size of the extracellular matrix. Additionally they participate in the repair process by differentiating into myofibroblasts which are cells involved in the inflammatory response to injury.

Myofibroblast

Cell Communication and Signaling volume 22 , Article number: Cite this article. Metrics details. Pulmonary fibrosis PF is a progressive interstitial inflammatory disease with a high mortality rate. Patients with PF commonly experience a chronic dry cough and progressive dyspnoea for years without effective mitigation. The pathogenesis of PF is believed to be associated with dysfunctional macrophage polarization, fibroblast proliferation, and the loss of epithelial cells.

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This demonstrates the capability of mechanical stretch of the substrate to change the sensitivity of the cells to biochemical stimuli present within the environment. PMC These cells, activated by growth factors provided by neovascularization following a rupture of the blood—retinal barrier, are responsible for sub-retinal fibrosis of age-related macular degeneration [ 31 ], fibrovascular membranes in diabetic retinopathy [ 32 , 33 ], and for vitreoretinal proliferation observed as a result of rhegmatogenic retinal detachment after transdifferentiation of pigment epithelial cells [ 34 , 35 ]. Transdifferentiated retinal pigment epithelial cells are immunoreactive for vascular endothelial growth factor in surgically excised age-related macular degeneration-related choroidal neovascular membranes. Cao L. A function for filamentous alpha-smooth muscle actin: retardation of motility in fibroblasts. Salvianolic acid B inhibits myofibroblast transdifferentiation in experimental pulmonary fibrosis via the up-regulation of Nrf2. The intermediate stage is known as the proto-myofibroblast, and can be distinguished by increased proliferation, migration, and the rearrangement of cortical, membrane-associated actin into cytoplasmic filamentous actin stress fibres, which form focal adhesion sites at membrane—ECM junctions. Kaidar-Person O. Swaminathan, V. Here they not only act as a regulator of the shape of the crypts and villi, but also act as stem-niche cells in the intestinal crypts and as parts of atypical antigen-presenting cells. A culture force monitor for measurement of contraction forces generated in human dermal fibroblast cultures: evidence for cell-matrix mechanical signalling. Age-related changes in pericellular hyaluronan organization leads to impaired dermal fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation. Myofibroblasts revert to an inactive phenotype during regression of liver fibrosis.

Intestinal fibrotic stenosis is a major reason for surgery in Crohn's disease [CD], but the mechanism is unknown. Thus, we asked whether intestinal adipocytes contribute to intestinal fibrosis.

Cell Motil. Subsequently, vinculin binds in the same way along talin, but in proximity of the link between talin and F-actin. Fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition in bronchial asthma. Figure 5. Mechanotransduction is the ability of stress force to convert extracellular to intracellular signalling. Kohan M. Misra S. Denton C. Mitomycin C in corneal refractive surgery. Extreme Mech. This kind of coupling between mechanical and physical features of the environment seems to be the key to reach in a more controlled way different cell fates, by only exploiting the physical and mechanical characteristics of the substrates. Presence of MCT cells in the skin and evidence of mast cell activation.