The TGF-β regulatory system plays crucial roles in the preservation of organismal integrity.
TGF-β signaling controls metazoan embryo development, tissue homeostasis, and injury …

The term 'fibroblast'often serves as a catch-all for a diverse array of mesenchymal cells,
including perivascular cells, stromal progenitor cells and bona fide fibroblasts. Although …

Cellular mechanotransduction, a critical regulator of numerous biological processes, is the
conversion from mechanical signals to biochemical signals regarding cell activities and …

Cardiac fibrosis is mediated by the activation of resident cardiac fibroblasts, which
differentiate into myofibroblasts in response to injury or stress. Although myofibroblast …

Metastatic breast cancer cells disseminate to organs with a soft microenvironment. Whether
and how the mechanical properties of the local tissue influence their response to treatment …

Organ fibrosis is a lethal outcome of autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as systemic
sclerosis. Myofibroblasts are scar-forming cells that are ultimately responsible for the …

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease characterized by
progressive lung scarring and the histological picture of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). It …

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a prototype of chronic, progressive, and fibrotic lung disease.
Healthy tissue is replaced by altered extracellular matrix and alveolar architecture is …

The cell microenvironment has emerged as a key determinant of cell behavior and function
in development, physiology, and pathophysiology. The extracellular matrix (ECM) within the …

Disease progression is usually accompanied by changes in the biochemical composition of
cells and tissues and their biophysical properties. For instance, hallmarks of cancer include …