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Clonal Analysis of Myofibroblast Differentiation
Author(s) -
Chukwuma Sarah,
Vaughan Melville
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.823.12
Subject(s) - myofibroblast , fibroblast , microbiology and biotechnology , actin , wound healing , population , cytoplasm , transforming growth factor , phenotype , biology , immunology , cell culture , pathology , fibrosis , medicine , genetics , gene , environmental health
The objective of this study was to observe the growth and transition of the fibroblast cell into a myofibroblast. Fibroblasts make up the cells that maintain the dermis of skin, and slowly transform into the intermediary stage of the protomyofibroblast and finally the myofibroblast. We have observed cultured cells from tissue containing a mixed population of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Myofibroblasts are evident in normal wound healing due to the contraction effect of stress fibers. Alpha‐smooth muscle actin is an identifying protein found in stress fibers of these highly contractile cells that participate in normal wound healing. Protomyofibroblasts are made up of the necessary stress fibers that contain beta and gamma‐cytoplasmic actins, yet lack alpha‐smooth muscle actin to become a complete myofibroblast. After making an informative conclusion that fibroblasts are not genetically programmed to become myofibroblasts based on earlier experiments of isolating single cells and growing clonal populations, we wanted to observe this transition phase and determine the factors affecting the completion of this transition and inhibiting the protomyofibroblasts from becoming myofibroblasts. CT4hT cells were cultivated to isolate the protomyofibroblast cells, the phenotype is then induced with TGF‐beta, a transforming growth factor, and then grown in clonal populations. Grant Funding Source : NSF SureStep/UCO Research & Grants