What's New in Human Wound-Healing Myofibroblasts?

During wound healing and fibrocontractive diseases, clinical and experimental investigations have shown that fibroblastic cells acquire some morphological and biochemical features similar to those of smooth muscle cells [33]. These modified fibroblasts, called myofibroblasts, express de novo α-SM actin temporarily during wound healing and permanently in fibrotic situations, such as hypertrophic scars or fibromatosis. Myofibroblasts are thought to be involved in contraction and have been observed in practically all fibrotic conditions involving retraction and reorganization of connective tissue