Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Fibroblast Derived Human Engineered Connective Tissue for Screening Applications
09:50

Fibroblast Derived Human Engineered Connective Tissue for Screening Applications

Published on: August 20, 2021

Cyclical cell stretching of skin-derived fibroblasts downregulates connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) production

Yuichiro Kanazawa1, Jun Nomura, Shinya Yoshimoto

  • 1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Esthetic Surgery, Chiba University, Japan.

Connective Tissue Research
|October 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Mechanical stretching of skin fibroblasts reduces extracellular matrix production by downregulating connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). This finding suggests a new approach for preventing scar contracture and improving wound healing.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cell Biology
  • Wound Healing Research

Background:

  • Delayed skin wound healing can result from instability, leading to scar contracture.
  • Mechanical stress, such as massage or exercise, can mitigate these effects.
  • The precise mechanisms linking mechanical stress to wound healing require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of mechanical stretching on fibroblast extracellular matrix (ECM) production.
  • To identify specific genes and growth factors affected by mechanical stimulation in fibroblasts.

Main Methods:

  • Skin fibroblasts were cultured in collagen-coated elastic silicone chambers.
  • Cells were subjected to mechanical stretching using a specialized apparatus.
  • Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to analyze gene expression levels for 17 ECM and growth factor-related genes.

Main Results:

  • Cyclic mechanical stretching significantly downregulated connective tissue growth factor (CTGF).
  • CTGF mRNA levels decreased to 50% of control levels after 24 hours of stretching.
  • CTGF protein levels were reduced to 48% of control levels, indicating a substantial inhibitory effect.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanical stretching of fibroblasts reduces extracellular matrix production.
  • The downregulation of CTGF by mechanical stretching suggests a potential anti-fibrotic mechanism.
  • These findings offer insights into therapeutic strategies for improving wound healing and preventing scar formation.

More Related Videos

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Primary Dermal Fibroblasts from Human Keloid Tissue04:41

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Primary Dermal Fibroblasts from Human Keloid Tissue

Published on: July 28, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Fibroblasts01:09

Introduction to Fibroblasts

Rudolph Virchow discovered spindle-shaped cells called fibroblasts in 1858. Inactive fibroblasts, called fibrocytes, become activated by various stimuli, such as growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. Activated fibroblasts play a crucial role in wound healing, inflammation, formation of new blood vessels, and cancer progression. Uncontrolled activation of fibroblasts results in fibrosis, the excess deposition of fibrous tissue, which can lead to scarring and affect normal organs. This...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells01:23

Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells

After cellular or tissue damage, the resident stem cells present in the human body can locally repair and regenerate the damaged tissue or organ. However, even though some tissues do not have stem cells, they can repair and regenerate with the help of pre-existing cells. For example, beta cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of the liver can divide to renew and regenerate the tissue. Here, both cell division and cell death are well regulated by homeostasis.
However, failure of such a system...
Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells01:12

Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells

The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
Healing I: Introduction01:11

Healing I: Introduction

Healing is the physiological process by which the body restores the integrity and function of damaged tissues following injury. It involves a coordinated interplay of cellular proliferation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and growth factor signaling. The extent and nature of the tissue damage determine whether healing occurs by resolution, regeneration, or replacement.ResolutionResolution represents the most complete form of healing, occurring when the injury is minimal and tissue...