Cellular re- and de-programming by microenvironmental memory: why short TGF-beta1 pulses can have long effects

Conclusions: We demonstrated that short TGF-beta1 pulses can exert long-lasting effects on fibroblasts by changing their microenvironment, thus leaving an imprint and creating a reciprocal feed-back loop. Therefore, the ECM might act as mid-term memory for pathobiochemical events. We would expect this microenvironmental memory to be dependent on matrix turnover and, as such, to be erasable. Our findings contribute to the current understanding of fibroblast induction and maintenance, and have bearing on the development of antifibrotic drugs.
Source: Fibrogenesis and Tissue Repair - Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Source Type: research