Hematopoietic origin of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts: its pathophysiologic implications

Tissue fibroblasts/myofibroblasts play a key role in growth factor secretion, matrix deposition, and matrix degradation, and therefore are important in many pathologic processes. Regarding the origin of tissue fibroblasts/myofibroblasts, a number of recent in vivo transplantation studies have suggested the bone marrow as the source of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts in liver, intestine, skin, and lung. Because bone marrow cells are thought to contain 2 types of stem cells (ie, hematopoletic stem cells [HSCs] and mesenchymal stem cells), it is important to determine which type of stem cells is the source of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts. To address this issue, we have carried out a series of studies of tissue reconstitution by single HSCs. By transplanting clones derived from single HSCs expressing transgenic enhanced green fluorescent protein, we found that fibroblasts/myofibroblasts in many organs and tissues are derived from HScs. This brief note summarizes these findings and discusses clinical and experimental perspectives generated by this newly identified differentiation pathway of HSCs.