¹Laboratory of Cell Biophysics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland

Correspondence: Dr Boris Hinz, Laboratory of Cell Biophysics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Bâtiment SG – AA-B 143, Station 15, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. E-mail: boris.hinz@epfl.ch

Received 29 May 2006; Revised 6 July 2006; Accepted 17 July 2006.

Abstract

It is generally accepted that fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation represents a key event during wound healing and tissue repair. The high contractile force generated by myofibroblasts is beneficial for physiological tissue remodeling but detrimental for tissue function when it becomes excessive such as in hypertrophic scars, in virtually all fibrotic diseases and during stroma reaction to tumors. Specific molecular features as well as factors that control myofibroblast differentiation are potential targets to counteract its development, function, and survival. Such targets include -smooth muscle actin and more recently discovered markers of the myofibroblast cytoskeleton, membrane surface proteins, and the extracellular matrix. Moreover, intervening with myofibroblast stress perception and transmission offers novel strategies to reduce tissue contracture; stress release leads to the instant loss of contraction and promotes apoptosis.