Abstract
The recognition of the role of the myofibroblast in granulation tissue contraction and connective tissue remodeling during fibrocontractive diseases has allowed a theoretical and practical progress in the understanding of these pathologies. The observation that TGF-β is the key cytokine in myofibroblast differentiation, correlated with its role in collagen synthesis promotion, shows a coordinated mechanism in connective tissue remodeling. Recent work has furnished new knowledge concerning the molecular mechanisms of tension production by the myofibroblast and indicated that the N-terminal peptide of α-smooth muscle actin exerts an inhibitory action on myofibroblast contraction. Moreover the multiple derivation, both local and from circulating cells, of the myofibroblast begins to be understood. These data point to the myofibroblast as a major regulator of connective tissue remodeling and in turn of epithelial organization.
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© 2006 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media
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Desmoulière, A., Chaponnier, C., Gabbiani, G. (2006). Introduction. In: Tissue Repair, Contraction and the Myofibroblast. Biotechnology Intelligence Unit. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-33650-8_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-33650-8_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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