%0 Journal Article
%T Dynamic Interplay of Smooth Muscle ¦Á-Actin Gene-Regulatory Proteins Reflects the Biological Complexity of Myofibroblast Differentiation
%A Arthur Roger Strauch
%A Seethalakshmi Hariharan
%J Biology
%D 2013
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/biology2020555
%X Myofibroblasts (MFBs) are smooth muscle-like cells that provide contractile force required for tissue repair during wound healing. The leading agonist for MFB differentiation is transforming growth factor ¦Â1 (TGF¦Â1) that induces transcription of genes encoding smooth muscle ¦Á-actin (SM¦ÁA) and interstitial collagen that are markers for MFB differentiation. TGF¦Â1 augments activation of Smad transcription factors, pro-survival Akt kinase, and p38 MAP kinase as well as Wingless/int (Wnt) developmental signaling. These actions conspire to activate ¦Â-catenin needed for expression of cyclin D, laminin, fibronectin, and metalloproteinases that aid in repairing epithelial cells and their associated basement membranes. Importantly, ¦Â-catenin also provides a feed-forward stimulus that amplifies local TGF¦Â1 autocrine/paracrine signaling causing transition of mesenchymal stromal cells, pericytes, and epithelial cells into contractile MFBs. Complex, mutually interactive mechanisms have evolved that permit several mammalian cell types to activate the SM¦ÁA promoter and undergo MFB differentiation. These molecular controls will be reviewed with an emphasis on the dynamic interplay between serum response factor, TGF¦Â1-activated Smads, Wnt-activated ¦Â-catenin, p38/calcium-activated NFAT protein, and the RNA-binding proteins, Pur¦Á, Pur¦Â, and YB-1, in governing transcriptional and translational control of the SM¦ÁA gene in injury-activated MFBs.
%K Myofibroblast
%K gene transcription
%K smooth muscle actin
%K wound healing
%K fibrosis
%U http://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/2/2/555