Mesenchymal stem cells reversibly de-differentiate myofibroblasts to fibroblast-like cells by inhibiting the TGF-β-SMAD2/3 pathway.
Ruohao XuMiao WuYawen WangChao LiLingji ZengYulian WangMaozhi XiaoXiaomei ChenSuxia GengPeilong LaiXin DuJian-Yu WengPublished in: Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.) (2023)
Our findings highlighted the reversibility of MSC-mediated de-differentiation of MFB through TGF-β-SMAD2/3 signaling, which may explain MSC's inconsistent clinical efficacies in treating BO and other fibrotic diseases. These de-differentiated FB-like cells are still sensitive to TGF-β1 and may further deteriorate MFB phenotypes unless the pro-fibrotic microenvironment is corrected.