ATP is released from the bladder mucosa in response to stretch, but the cell types responsible are unclear. Our aim was to isolate and characterize individual populations of urothelial, myofibroblast, and detrusor muscle cells in culture, and to examine agonist-stimulated ATP release. Using female pig bladders, urothelial cells were isolated from bladder mucosa following trypsin-digestion of th...

PURPOSE This study was undertaken to investigate the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and fibroblast-mediated collagen matrix contraction in the presence of mechanical stress. METHODS An in vitro three-dimensional contraction model of human corneal-fibroblast-seeded collagen lattices (FSCLs) in the presence of mechanical stress gene...

: Excessive scar formation caused by myofibroblast aggregations is of great clinical importance during skin wound healing. Studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can promote skin regeneration, but whether MSCs contribute to scar formation remains undefined. We found that umbilical cord-derived MSCs (uMSCs) reduced scar formation and myofibroblast accumulation in a skin-defect mou...

Objective to analyze the effect of bevacizumab on α-smooth muscle actin expression and fibroblast count in trabeculectomy area rabbit models order find a safer modulator wound healing improve surgical outcome. Material methods 16 New Zealand white rabbits aged 4-6 months weigh between 2,5-3,5 kg were performed their right eyes with postoperative subconjunctival injection BSS Bevacizumab. Rabbit...

Generally speaking, the excessive expression of myofibroblasts is associated with excessive collagen production. One exception is seen in patients and animal models of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV in which the COL3A1 gene mutation results in reduced collagen III but with concurrent increased myofibroblast expression. This paradox has not been examined with the use of external drugs/modalities...

Background Among grape skin polyphenols, trans-resveratrol (RES) has been reported to slow the development of cardiac fibrosis and to affect myofibroblast (MFB) differentiation. Because MFBs induce slow conduction and ectopic activity following heterocellular gap junctional coupling to cardiomyocytes, we investigated whether RES and its main metabolites affect arrhythmogenic cardiomyocyteMFB in...

A mouse platelet-derived growth factor A chain (PDGF-A) null allele is shown to be homozygous lethal, with two distinct restriction points, one prenatally before E10 and one postnatally. Postnatally surviving PDGF-A-deficient mice develop lung emphysema secondary to the failure of alveolar septation. This is apparently caused by the loss of alveolar myofibroblasts and associated elastin fiber d...

The small G proteins Rac1 and RhoA regulate actin cytoskeleton, cell shape, adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Recent studies in our laboratory have shown that NADPH oxidase Nox4-derived ROS are involved in transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced rat kidney myofibroblast differentiation assessed by the acquisition of an α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) phenotype and expression of an alter...

PURPOSE Under certain pathophysiologic conditions, the corneal endothelium can produce an abnormal posterior collagenous layer (PCL) that reduces light transmission. Previous studies suggest that formation of PCLs can result from transformation of endothelial cells to a proliferative myofibroblast phenotype. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential role of transforming growth fa...

Myofibroblasts are reparative connective tissue cells that contribute to the reconstruction of injured tissue by secreting new extracellular matrix and by exerting high contractile force. Deregulation of these activities results in tissue contracture and development of fibrosis which makes the myofibroblast an important target for anti-fibrotic therapies. Two principle factors drive the develop...