Myofibroblast development is characterized by specific cell-cell adherens junctions

Myofibroblasts of wound granulation tissue, in contrast to dermal fibroblasts, join stress fibers at sites of cadherin-type intercellular adherens junctions (AJs). However, the function of myofibroblast AJs, their molecular composition, and the mechanisms of their formation are largely unknown. We d...

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Published inMolecular biology of the cell Vol. 15; no. 9; pp. 4310 - 4320
Main Authors Hinz, B, Pittet, P, Smith-Clerc, J, Chaponnier, C, Meister, J-J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.09.2004
Subjects
Actins - metabolism
Adherens Junctions - metabolism
Animals
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cadherins - metabolism
Cell Differentiation
Cells, Cultured
Collagen
Female
Fibroblasts - cytology
Fibroblasts - metabolism
Gels
Models, Biological
Myoblasts - cytology
Myoblasts - metabolism
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Skin - cytology
Skin - injuries
Skin - metabolism
Wound Healing - physiology
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Summary:Myofibroblasts of wound granulation tissue, in contrast to dermal fibroblasts, join stress fibers at sites of cadherin-type intercellular adherens junctions (AJs). However, the function of myofibroblast AJs, their molecular composition, and the mechanisms of their formation are largely unknown. We demonstrate that fibroblasts change cadherin expression from N-cadherin in early wounds to OB-cadherin in contractile wounds, populated with alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA)-positive myofibroblasts. A similar shift occurs during myofibroblast differentiation in culture and seems to be responsible for the homotypic segregation of alpha-SMA-positive and -negative fibroblasts in suspension. AJs of plated myofibroblasts are reinforced by alpha-SMA-mediated contractile activity, resulting in high mechanical resistance as demonstrated by subjecting cell pairs to hydrodynamic forces in a flow chamber. A peptide that inhibits alpha-SMA-mediated contractile force causes the reorganization of large stripe-like AJs to belt-like contacts as shown for enhanced green fluorescent protein-alpha-catenin-transfected cells and is associated with a reduced mechanical resistance. Anti-OB-cadherin but not anti-N-cadherin peptides reduce the contraction of myofibroblast-populated collagen gels, suggesting that AJs are instrumental for myofibroblast contractile activity.
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ISSN:1059-1524
1939-4586
DOI:10.1091/mbc.E04-05-0386