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Related Concept Videos

Smooth Muscle Contraction01:25

Smooth Muscle Contraction

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Smooth muscle contraction is a complex process vital for various bodily functions, from maintaining blood vessel tension to facilitating the movement of food through the digestive tract. Unlike striated muscles, smooth muscle contraction begins more slowly and lasts longer.
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
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Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction01:16

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Actin and myosin are contractile proteins that form the sarcomere found in skeletal muscle tissues for regulating muscle contraction. Actin, a globular contractile protein, interacts with myosin for muscle contraction. The skeletal tissue appears striped or striated under a microscope due to the repeated arrangement of contractile proteins actin and myosin along the length of myofibrils. Dark A bands and light I bands repeat along myofibrils, and the alignment of myofibrils in the cell causes...
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The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells01:10

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Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They  are held...
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Muscle Contraction01:10

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In skeletal muscles, acetylcholine is released by nerve terminals at the motor endplate—the point of synaptic communication between motor neurons and muscle fibers. The binding of acetylcholine to its receptors on the sarcolemma allows entry of sodium ions into the cell and triggers an action potential in the muscle cell. Thus, electrical signals from the brain are transmitted to the muscle. Subsequently, the enzyme acetylcholinesterase breaks down acetylcholine to prevent excessive...
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Muscle Contraction01:15

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Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts01:13

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De novo myogenesis, or the formation of muscle fibers, begins during the early embryonic stages. The skeletal muscle is formed from somites– blocks of embryonic cell layers. The somites are further divided into dermatomes, myotomes, sclerotomes, and syndetomes. Among these, the myotomes give rise to muscle fibers.
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Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Development of an In Vitro Assay to Evaluate Contractile Function of Mesenchymal Cells that Underwent Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
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Myofibroblast-Mediated Contraction.

Wae M Al Kattan1, Seham F Alarfaj2, Bayan M Alnooh2

  • 1Department of Surgery, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP
|March 16, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Myofibroblast contraction involves four steps, from initial stimulation to extracellular matrix interaction. Understanding this cycle offers targets for preventing excessive scarring and fibrosis.

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High-Throughput Contractile Measurements of Hydrogel-Embedded Intact Mouse Muscle Fibers Using an Optics-Based System
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Myofibroblasts are key effector cells in wound healing and fibrosis.
  • Their contractile function drives tissue remodeling but can lead to excessive scarring.
  • A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms of myofibroblast contraction is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the four-step cycle of myofibroblast-mediated contraction.
  • To identify key molecular players involved in each step of the contraction cycle.
  • To explore the clinical relevance of these steps for preventing fibrosis.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on myofibroblast biology and contraction.
  • Analysis of molecular pathways including G protein signaling, actin-myosin complex, focal adhesions, and extracellular matrix interactions.
  • Discussion of potential therapeutic targets based on the identified steps.

Main Results:

  • Myofibroblast activation is initiated by lysophospholipids, engaging G proteins and the actin-myosin complex.
  • Intracellular contractile force is transmitted via focal adhesions involving proteins like talin, vinculin, paxillin, Hic-5, and integrins.
  • Fibronectin acts as an extracellular linker between integrins and collagen, facilitating force transmission.
  • Myofibroblasts sense tension, which maintains their activity, a critical factor in fibrosis.

Conclusions:

  • The four-step model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding myofibroblast contraction.
  • Targeting specific steps, such as initial stimulation or focal adhesion signaling, may offer novel anti-fibrotic strategies.
  • Interventions aimed at modulating myofibroblast activity hold promise for managing excessive scarring.