biostudies-literaturePfeiferova LCharles UniversityMinistry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech RepublicMinistry of Health of the Czech RepublicCharles University in Prague38https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11893657biostudies-literatureUnknown163(1)Fibroblasts, the most abundant cell type in the human body, play crucial roles in biological processes such as inflammation and cancer progression. They originate from the mesoderm or neural-crest-derived ectomesenchyme. Ectomesenchyme-derived fibroblasts contribute to facial formation and do not express HOX genes during development. The expression and role of the HOX genes in adult fibroblasts is not known. We investigated whether the developmental pattern persists into adulthood and under pathological conditions, such as cancer. We collected adult fibroblasts of ectomesenchymal and mesodermal origins from distinct body parts. The isolated fibroblasts were characterised by immunocytochemistry, and their transcriptome was analysed by whole genome profiling. Significant differences were obsHistochemistry and cell biologyThe HOX code of human adult fibroblasts reflects their ectomesenchymal or mesodermal origin.PMC11893657NW24-03-00459COOPERATIO-OncoLX22NPO5102NU22-03-00318Hradilova MVymolova BSachova JPienta KJSzabo PBusek PGal PSmetana KPfeiferova LSpanko MMachon VLacina LKolar MValach JSedo AfalseThe HOX code of human adult fibroblasts reflects their ectomesenchymal or mesodermal origin.Fibroblasts, the most abundant cell type in the human body, play crucial roles in biological processes such as inflammation and cancer progression. They originate from the mesoderm or neural-crest-derived ectomesenchyme. Ectomesenchyme-derived fibroblasts contribute to facial formation and do not express HOX genes during development. The expression and role of the HOX genes in adult fibroblasts is not known. We investigated whether the developmental pattern persists into adulthood and under pathological conditions, such as cancer. We collected adult fibroblasts of ectomesenchymal and mesodermal origins from distinct body parts. The isolated fibroblasts were characterised by immunocytochemistry, and their transcriptome was analysed by whole genome profiling. Significant differences were obs2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2026-06-06T17:39:05.966Z2025-04-06T03:20:30.185ZS-EPMC118936574006318110.1007/s00418-025-02362-9