Linked Life Data

7921410

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/7921410

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1994-11-10
pubmed:abstractText
Granulation tissue fibroblasts (myofibroblasts) develop several ultrastructural and biochemical features of smooth muscle (SM) cells, including the presence of microfilament bundles and the expression of alpha-SM actin, the actin isoform present in SM cells and myoepithelial cells and particularly abundant in vascular SM cells. Myofibroblasts have been suggested to play a role in wound contraction and in retractile phenomena observed during fibrotic diseases. When contraction stops and the wound is fully epithelialized, myofibroblasts containing alpha-SM actin disappear, probably as a result of apoptosis, and the scar classically becomes less cellular and composed of typical fibroblasts with well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum but with no more microfilaments. In contrast, alpha-SM actin expressing myofibroblasts persist in hypertrophic scars and in fibrotic lesions of many organs, including stroma reaction to epithelial tumours, where they are allegedly involved in retractile phenomena as well as in extracellular matrix accumulation. The mechanisms leading to the development of myofibroblastic features remain to be investigated. In vivo and in vitro investigations have shown that gamma-interferon exerts an antifibrotic activity at least in part by decreasing alpha-SM actin expression whereas heparin increases the proportion of alpha-SM actin positive cells. Recently, we have observed that the subcutaneous administration of transforming growth factor-beta 1 to rats results in the formation of a granulation tissue in which alpha-SM actin expressing myofibroblasts are particularly abundant. Other cytokines and growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, despite their profibrotic activity, do not induce alpha-SM actin in myofibroblasts. In conclusion, fibroblastic cells are relatively undifferentiated and can assume a particular phenotype according to the physiological needs and/or the microenvironmental stimuli. Further studies on fibroblast adaptation phenomena appear to be useful for the understanding of the mechanisms of development and regression of pathological processes such as wound healing and fibrocontractive diseases.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0945-6317
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
425
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
3-24
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1994
pubmed:articleTitle
Heterogeneity of myofibroblast phenotypic features: an example of fibroblastic cell plasticity.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pathology, Centre Médical Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't