The Myofibroblast One Function, Multiple Origins
Boris Hinz, Sem H Phan, Victor J Thannickal, Andrea Galli, Marie-Luce Bochaton-Piallat, Giulio Gabbiani
Key takeaways
- 01
Myofibroblasts, key cells in tissue repair and fibrosis, can originate from different cell types depending on the affected organ.
The crucial role played by the myofibroblast in wound healing and pathological organ remodeling is well established; the general mechanisms of extracellular matrix synthesis and of tension production by this cell have been amply clarified. This review discusses the pattern of myofibroblast accumulation and fibrosis evolution during lung and liver fibrosis as well as during atheromatous plaque formation. Special attention is paid to the specific features characterizing each of these processes, including the spectrum of different myofibroblast precursors and the distinct pathways involved in the formation of differentiated myofibroblasts in each lesion. Thus, whereas in lung fibrosis it seems that most myofibroblasts derive from resident fibroblasts, hepatic stellate cells are the main contributor for liver fibrosis and media smooth muscle cells are the main contributor for the atheromatous plaque. A better knowledge of the molecular mechanisms conducive to the appearance of differentiated myofibroblasts in each pathological situation will be useful for the understanding of fibrosis development in different organs and for the planning of strategies aiming at their prevention and therapy.
The episode was first published on the Swedish podcast Fasciaguiden on June 4, 2025. In this unique episode, we meet Professor Gerald Pollack — one of the world’s most influential…
Fascia as a flow is a new way of understanding the body and explaining the body’s function. All that lives has a flow. Each living cell or organism has a flow of water, energies,…