Myofibroblasts are a differentiated cell type essential for wound healing, participating in
tissue remodeling following insult. Myofibroblasts are typically activated fibroblasts, although
they can also be derived from other cell types, including epithelial cells, endothelial cells,
and mononuclear cells. In most organ systems, cell signals initiated following tissue-specific
insult or during the metastatic process lead to differentiation of fibroblasts or other precursor
cells to the myofibroblast phenotype. In addition to their beneficial and necessary role in …