Specialists from diverse disciplines discuss the important topics of Tissue Repair and Fibrosis. The Role of Myofibroblast. The Myofibroblast is implicated in many processes, such as tissue repair,fibrosis, and stromal reaction to tumors. This book seeks to provide an overview of the knowledge accumulated since this cell was first describes 25 years ago. Discussions focusses on three main topics: - Cellular and molecular biology of fibroblast and myofibroblasts - Wound healing: experimental models, and - Human fibrocontracted diseases.

Some Historical and Philosophical Reflections on the Myofibroblast Concept

Transcriptional Regulation of the Desmin and SM22 Genes in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Modulation of Myofibroblast and Smooth-Muscle Phenotypes in the Lung
Role of Platelet-Derived Growth Factors in Angiogenesis and Alveogenesis
Transforming Growth Factor-? Gene Transfer to the Lung Induces Myofibroblast Presence and Pulmonary Fibrosis
Transforming Growth Factor-? Induction of ?-Smooth Muscle Actin is Dependent on the Deformability of the Collagen Matrix
Signal Transduction Pathways Activated During Fibroblast Contraction of Collagen Matrices
Extracellular Matrix, Integrins and Focal Adhesions
What Is New in Mechanical Properties of Tissue-Engineered Organs
Fibroblast - Cytokine - Extracellular Matrix Interactions in Wound Repair
Myofibroblastic Differentiation and Extracellular Matrix Deposition in Early Stages of Cholestatic Fibrosis in Rat Liver
Gene Therapy of Wounds with Growth Factors
What's New in Human Wound-Healing Myofibroblasts?
The Myofibroblast in Neoplasia
The Concept of Organizing Pneumonia
Endothelial Repair in Atherogenesis
Glomerulosclerosis: The Role of Interstitial Myofibroblasts in its Progression
The Myofibroblast as an Inflammatory Cell in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix Interactions During Breast Cancer Progression
Hepatocyte Growth Factor Secreted by Human Liver Myofibroblasts Increases Invasiveness of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Interplay of Matrix and Myofibroblasts During Hepatic Fibrogenesis.