Fibroblasts: Origins, Definitions, and Functions in Health and Disease

Overview

Journal Cell

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2021 Jul 23

PMID 34297930

Citations 318

Authors

Maksim V Plikus

Xiaojie Wang

Sarthak Sinha

Elvira Forte

Sean M Thompson

Erica L Herzog

Ryan R Driskell

Nadia Rosenthal

Jeff Biernaskie

Valerie Horsley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Fibroblasts are diverse mesenchymal cells that participate in tissue homeostasis and disease by producing complex extracellular matrix and creating signaling niches through biophysical and biochemical cues. Transcriptionally and functionally heterogeneous across and within organs, fibroblasts encode regional positional information and maintain distinct cellular progeny. We summarize their development, lineages, functions, and contributions to fibrosis in four fibroblast-rich organs: skin, lung, skeletal muscle, and heart. We propose that fibroblasts are uniquely poised for tissue repair by easily reentering the cell cycle and exhibiting a reversible plasticity in phenotype and cell fate. These properties, when activated aberrantly, drive fibrotic disorders in humans.

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