Fibroblasts have plasticity and potential utility for cell therapy

Abstract

Fibroblasts exist in the interstices of various organs as a component of connective tissue and are one of several types of somatic cells that have been well established in culture. They have been reported to undergo myogenic conversion and to induce the expression of genes associated with pluripotency. However, their own plasticity with regard to direct differentiation has scarcely been described. Here, we show that human fibroblasts are able to differentiate directly to all three germ layer derivatives. The results indicate that human dermal fibroblasts have more plasticity than has been generally thought and that fibroblasts have potential utility as a source for cell therapy.

Characterization of a programmed necrosis process in 3‐dimensional cultures of dental pulp fibroblasts

“…, Osonoi et al . ). In this study, the purpose was to highlight the nemosis process in dental pulp and lung fibroblasts spheroids to compare this type of cell death in these two cell populations.…”

“…Fibroblasts are heterogeneous cells able to activate and to be involved in inflammation and immune reactions (Silzle et al 2004, Staquet et al 2008. These cells are known to have great plasticity and to be the predominant cell type in the dental pulp (Goldberg & Smith 2004, Goldberg et al 2008, Nakanishi et al 2011, Osonoi et al 2011. In this study, the purpose was to highlight the nemosis process in dental pulp and lung fibroblasts spheroids to compare this type of cell death in these two cell populations.…”

Are Mesenchymal Cells Indeed Pluripotent Stem Cells or Just Stromal Cells? OCT-4 and VSELs Biology Has Led to Better Understanding

“…However, this remains highly controversial especially because the functional properties of MSCs transdifferentiated into ectoderm and endoderm are not as expected. Similarly Osonoi et al [17] reported that human dermal fibroblasts are able to differentiate directly to all 3 germ layer derivatives that is, neurons (ectodermal), skeletal myocytes (mesodermal), and insulin-producing cells (endodermal). They exhibit nestin, desmin, and insulin when exposed to specific cocktail of growth factors.…”

Polysome Profiling Shows the Identity of Human Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells in Detail and Clearly Distinguishes Them from Dermal Fibroblasts

“…MSCs self-renew and retain a multipotent differentiation capacity, whereas fibroblasts seem to display only limited, or no such, multipotent differentiation [2], although there is controversy in the literature over this issue. Indeed, it has been suggested that fibroblasts are able to differentiate [1,[3][4][5][6][7] and could be used in cell therapy [8]. Recently, Blasi et al [3] reported that fibroblasts may differentiate but lack anti-inflammatory and angiogenic capacity.…”