Regeneration of Fat Cells from Myofibroblasts During Wound Healing

January 2017 in “ Science ”

Maksim V. Plikus, Christian F. Guerrero‐Juarez, Mayumi Ito, Yun R. Li, Priya H. Dedhia, Ying Zheng, Mengle Shao, Raúl Ramos, Tsai‐Ching Hsi, Ji Won Oh, Xiaojie Wang, Armando P. Ramirez, Sara E. Konopelski, Arijh Elzein, Anne Wang, Rarinthip June Supapannachart, Hye Lim Lee, Churlzu Lim, Arben Nace, Amy Guo, Elsa Treffeisen, Thomas Andl, Ricardo N. Ramírez, Rabi Murad, Stefan Offermanns, Daniel Metzger, Pierre Chambon, Alan D. Widgerow, Tai‐Lan Tuan, A Mortazavi, Rana K. Gupta, Bruce A. Hamilton, Sarah E. Millar, Patrick Seale, Warren S. Pear, Mitchell A. Lazar, George Cotsarelis

myofibroblasts adipocytes hair follicles Ppary BMP signaling Zfp423 BMP4 BMP2

TLDR Some wound-healing cells can turn into fat cells around new hair growth in mice.

The study from 2017 found that myofibroblasts, a type of cell involved in wound healing, can transform into adipocytes (fat cells) around new hair follicles in mice. This process is regulated by the gene Ppary and involves BMP signaling and the transcription factor Zfp423. Interfering with BMP signaling or deleting Ppary or Zfp423 prevented the formation of new adipocytes, despite normal hair follicle growth. The study also demonstrated that human myofibroblasts could be reprogrammed into adipocytes using BMP4 or BMP2, suggesting a potential treatment for scars. The study involved various experiments with mice, including groups of 9, 8, 12, 4, 7, and 6 mice for different genetic modifications.

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