Publication :

The role of myofibrolasts in normal skin wound healing

Cutaneous myofibroblasts are cells that appear during normal wound healing when the wounded area requiring repair is significant. These cells differentiate from fibroblasts and, for many years, it was believed that their only role was to facilitate wound contraction to decrease the surface area to be reconstituted. However, it has recently been demonstrated that these specialized cells have numerous important roles owing to their capability to produce abundant extracellular matrix and to stimulate angiogenesis, functions that myofibroblasts have higher capacities for than fibroblasts. Similar to fibroblasts, myofibroblasts can also support epidermal growth and differentiation. The important aforementioned functions of myofibroblasts are supported by the production of secreted growth factors, but also by the production of microvesicles that stimulate the growth of endothelial and mesenchymal cells. Contrary to previous understanding, myofibroblasts play a central role during normal cutaneous healing.