Dermal Fibroblasts: Histological Perspectives, Characterization & Role in Disease

Dermal fibroblasts are the most numerous cells within the dermal layer of skin. The main function of fibroblasts is to preserve the structural integrity of skin through constantly secreting extracellular matrix. Various factors diversely affect the secretion activities of fibroblasts and may lead to varying disease processes (eg:: solar damage and wrinkles). This book gathers important cutting-edge research in the field of fibroblasts covering characterisation of fibroblasts and their roles in multiple disease processes such as hypertrophic scarring, ageing/photoaging, diabetic wound healing, cancer, and pachydermoperiostosis. In addition, the chapters also deal with the stem cell-like properties of fibroblasts, which sheds new light on the commonly used definition of fibroblasts and provides novel insights into many past studies performed with fibroblast preparations, since the reported effects might be greatly attributable to stem cell content within these fibroblasts. Additionally, this book features an introduction of the reprogramming of dermal fibroblasts into patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can be converted into varying terminally differentiated cells. Application of iPSCs is a rapidly developing research field because reprogrammed iPSCs from dermal fibroblasts provides a great tool for studying molecular mechanisms of disease, development, and tissue regeneration. This book is certain to have broad appeal and should provide a useful resource for researchers, students, teachers, and physicians interested in the field.