Articles tagged with Fibroblasts
Researchers have successfully identified reprogrammed cells in mice without using genetic markers, simplifying the process and potentially yielding a bountiful supply of custom human embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough brings human stem cell therapies closer to reality and eliminates one major hurdle to reprogramming human cells.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discovered the source of cardiac fibrosis, a stiffening of the heart muscle leading to various cardiac diseases. They found that a bone morphogenic molecule, rhBMP7, can reverse the process, offering a new therapeutic target for patients with heart disease.
A study published in The Lancet found that injecting autologous myoblasts and fibroblasts into the urethra improved continence rates for women with stress urinary incontinence. After 12 months, 38 out of 42 women treated with autologous cells were completely continent, compared to only two out of 21 women treated with collagen.
A new study suggests that green tea compound epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibits production of molecules that cause destruction of cartilage and bone in people with rheumatoid arthritis. EGCG also suppresses inflammatory products in connective tissue.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a novel target for developing drugs to treat human obesity and diabetes. A relative of the anti-aging gene Klotho, known as beta-Klotho, helps activate a hormone that can lower blood glucose levels in fat cells of mice.
A commonly used anti-aging compound has been found to cause a pathological reaction in skin cells, slowing down cell division and inducing the death of fibroblasts. Researchers are now urging caution and calling for more research into the compound's pharmacological and toxicological effects.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that Restylane works by stretching fibroblasts, causing them to create new collagen. This natural collagen then contributes to reducing wrinkle appearance. The study also found that Restylane inhibits the breakdown of existing collagen.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that immune system cells recruited from the body can cause muscle dysfunction leading to certain forms of heart failure. Treatment with serum amyloid P prevented the production of these fibroblasts and resulting fibrosis.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have successfully created a biological pacemaker using connective tissue cells from lungs and heart muscle cells, paving the way for an alternative to implanted electronic pacemakers. The biopacemaker uses tiny electroactive 'pacing cells' that can fire on their own and regulate the heart's rhythmi...
Scientists have developed a novel method to measure circadian cycles in human cells, finding large differences between individuals' rhythms. The study used skin samples infected with a fluorescent virus to track circadian gene expression, confirming the human circadian cycle length of 24.5 hours.
A new promoter map has been created to understand how genes are controlled in fibroblasts, providing a framework for analysis of genetic control in other human cell types. The researchers discovered multiple promoters controlling single genes in parallel and found new DNA sequences not previously recognized as genes.
A new study by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has found that muscle-derived stem cell cultures can improve leak point pressure and regenerate deficient urethral muscle, even when contaminated with fibroblasts. The research paves the way for a more efficient and effective treatment for urinary incontinence.
A new study suggests that resveratrol in red wine can prevent the excessive production of collagen in heart cells, leading to a stiffening of the heart muscle and reduced blood pumping efficiency. Drinking moderate amounts of red wine may offer protective effects against hypertension and heart failure.
UC Riverside researchers found that cigarette smoke delays the formation of healing tissue and sets the stage for increased scarring. The study, led by Professor Manuela Martins-Green, used doses equivalent to 'first-hand' and 'second-hand' exposure in humans and mice, revealing the negative effects on fibroblasts' structure and function.
Researchers found that individual fibroblasts in rat and mouse tissues exhibit robust, persistent circadian rhythms of clock gene expression for at least 1-2 weeks in culture. This discovery confirms that peripheral tissue clocks are indeed independent and self-sustaining.
Researchers have identified a link between the fibroblast growth factor system and major depressive disorder, with those treated with SSRIs showing smaller changes. The study's findings offer new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying mood disorders and potential avenues for targeted therapeutics.
Researchers found that adding texture to implant surfaces increased compatibility with fibroblasts, reducing the risk of dead tissue build-up and infections. The study suggests that textured surfaces could lead to fewer implant replacements and improved patient outcomes.
Research finds that passive smoking hinders healing by changing the arrangement of fibroblast cells' cytoskeleton, making them less mobile and more prone to abnormal scarring. This can lead to slower wound closure rates in smokers compared to non-smokers.
A team of scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center discovered that tumors can develop in normal epithelial cells due to changes in signals from nearby fibroblasts. The study, published in Science, shows that eliminating a specific cell signaling pathway in fibroblasts leads to precancerous lesions and invasive cancers in mice.
Scientists found certain fibroblasts can transform into myofibroblasts, leading to fibrosis, and lipofibroblasts, developing into fat cells that cause thyroid eye disease. This research may lead to new diagnostic tools and treatments for diseases like fibrosis and fatty tissue buildup.
Researchers found that oxygen-sensitive genes in cardiac fibroblasts transform into myofibroblasts, critical for wound healing after a heart attack. The newly formed myofibroblasts help replace damaged tissue.
Syndecan-4 is essential for wound repair, as its knockout leads to marked defects in angiogenesis and tissue healing. In contrast, fibroblasts from syndecan-4-deficient mice display normal focal adhesion assembly and response to FGF-2.
Researchers identified a new role of fibroblasts in cancer development, showing that epithelial cells engage in a molecular dialogue with surrounding fibroblasts to progress towards cancer. This finding could lead to new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.