Myofibroblast persistence with real-time changes in boundary stiffness.

ABSTRACT: Myofibroblasts are critical for connective tissue remodeling and wound healing since they can close wound beds and shape tissues rapidly by generating high traction forces and secreting abundant extracellular matrix proteins and matrix metalloproteinases. However, their presence in excessive numbers is associated with fibrotic and calcific diseases and tissue thickening in engineered tissues. While activation of the myofibroblast phenotype has been studied extensively, whether myofibroblasts are "cleared" by phenotypic reversal or by apoptosis remains controversial. The goal of this work is to test the hypothesis that mechanical inhibition of myofibroblast force generation leads to de-differentiation or apoptosis depending upon the magnitude of the decrease in tension. To test this hypothe

SUBMITTER: Kural MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4754153 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature