Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Fibroblasts01:09

Introduction to Fibroblasts

3.6K
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...
3.6K
Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts01:13

Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts

5.6K
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.
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription...
5.6K
The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells01:10

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

4.2K
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...
4.2K
Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles01:13

Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles

21.5K
Skeletal muscle cells, also called muscle fibers, are distinctly elongated, multi-nucleated, slender biological units. They are packed with specialized structures designed to facilitate their primary function, which is contraction.
The muscle sarcolemma is a plasma membrane enclosing each muscle cell that conducts electrical signals called action potentials. The sarcolemma extends into the cell to form T-tubules, ensuring the neural impulses are uniformly distributed across the entire muscle...
21.5K
Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

2.3K
Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
2.3K
Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction01:16

Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction

19.1K
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...
19.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Glycated and Non-Glycated Human Alpha-1 Antitrypsin in Hyperglycemic Wound Healing: In Vivo and In Vitro Models.

Biology·2026
Same author

A Circuit of Mechanically Regulated Transcription Factors Balances Regenerative and Fibrotic Memory of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Corrigendum to "Lecanemab for treatment of individuals with early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) who are apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4) non-carriers or heterozygotes" [The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease (2026) 100507].

The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease·2026
Same author

Lecanemab for treatment of individuals with early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) who are apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4) non-carriers or heterozygotes.

The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease·2026
Same author

Correction: Enhancing post-operative hypothyroidism treatment: rat thyroid autotransplantation into a pre-vascularized, retrievable cell pouchâ„¢ device.

Frontiers in endocrinology·2025
Same author

Targeting myeloid cell-mediated fibrosis through FAK.

Nature biomedical engineering·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Ultrasonic-augmented Primary Adult Fibroblast Isolation
06:51

Ultrasonic-augmented Primary Adult Fibroblast Isolation

Published on: July 29, 2019

8.0K

The myofibroblast at a glance.

Pardis Pakshir1,2, Nina Noskovicova1, Monika Lodyga1

  • 1Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1G6, Canada.

Journal of Cell Science
|July 12, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Myofibroblasts, discovered in 1971, are crucial for tissue repair and fibrosis development. Understanding their biology, activation, and signaling pathways is key for developing anti-fibrotic therapies targeting these cells.

Keywords:
FibrosisGrowth factor activationTissue repairWound healing

More Related Videos

Isolation and Characterization of Adult Cardiac Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts
10:45

Isolation and Characterization of Adult Cardiac Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts

Published on: March 12, 2020

16.8K
Refined CLARITY-Based Tissue Clearing for Three-Dimensional Fibroblast Organization in Healthy and Injured Mouse Hearts
07:10

Refined CLARITY-Based Tissue Clearing for Three-Dimensional Fibroblast Organization in Healthy and Injured Mouse Hearts

Published on: May 16, 2021

5.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Ultrasonic-augmented Primary Adult Fibroblast Isolation
06:51

Ultrasonic-augmented Primary Adult Fibroblast Isolation

Published on: July 29, 2019

8.0K
Isolation and Characterization of Adult Cardiac Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts
10:45

Isolation and Characterization of Adult Cardiac Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts

Published on: March 12, 2020

16.8K
Refined CLARITY-Based Tissue Clearing for Three-Dimensional Fibroblast Organization in Healthy and Injured Mouse Hearts
07:10

Refined CLARITY-Based Tissue Clearing for Three-Dimensional Fibroblast Organization in Healthy and Injured Mouse Hearts

Published on: May 16, 2021

5.1K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Pathology
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Myofibroblasts were first identified in 1971 by Gabbiani et al. as modified fibroblasts capable of contraction.
  • Initially recognized for their role in wound healing, myofibroblasts are now known to be central to the development of fibrosis across all organs.
  • Their contribution extends beyond physiological repair to pathological conditions involving excessive matrix deposition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of myofibroblast biology.
  • To detail myofibroblast activation, signaling pathways, and common experimental models.
  • To contextualize myofibroblasts within the fibrotic microenvironment and discuss therapeutic targeting strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of current research on myofibroblast biology.
  • Discussion of cellular precursors and activation mechanisms.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways and experimental models used to study myofibroblasts.

Main Results:

  • Myofibroblasts originate from various precursors and are activated through complex signaling cascades.
  • Their interaction with the extracellular matrix and other cells is critical in fibrotic processes.
  • Current therapeutic strategies and challenges in targeting myofibroblasts for anti-fibrotic treatments are outlined.

Conclusions:

  • Myofibroblasts are key players in both tissue repair and the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases.
  • A deeper understanding of myofibroblast biology is essential for developing effective anti-fibrotic therapies.
  • Targeting myofibroblasts presents a promising avenue for treating a wide range of fibrotic conditions.