title: Myofibroblast-Mediated Contraction.
abstract: Myofibroblast-mediated contraction is viewed as a cycle of four steps. The first step is stimulation of myofibroblasts by lysophospholipids leading to the activation of G proteins and ending with contraction of the actin-myosin complex. The next step is the transmission of the intracellular contractile force at the focal adhesions of myofibroblasts; a step that involves talin, vinculin, paxillin, Hic-5, and the integrin receptors. In the third step, fibronectin will act as the extracellular link between the integrin receptors and the extracellular collagen. Finally, "sensing" tension and the maintenance of myofibroblast activity represent the fourth step. The clinical relevance of each step is then discussed in the form of modalities to prevent excessive scarring/fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Wae M Al
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kattan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Seham F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Alarfaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bayan M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Alnooh
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hadeel F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Alsaif
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hayfa S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Alabdul Karim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Noha M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al-Qattan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Qattan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Amel A F
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016596:Vinculin / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; C488955:VCL protein, human; D016596:Vinculin