ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the new view of the biology and functions of dermal fibroblasts. It reviews the effects of cytokines and growth factors on the interaction of fibroblasts with the immune system, as well as their effects on fibroblast functions such as adherence, proliferation, chemotaxis, and synthesis of matrix components and matrix degrading enzymes. The chapter shows that fibroblasts could migrate in vitro and in vivo led us to develop an in vitro chemotaxis assay capable of measuring the directed migration of fibroblasts. The term “fibroblast” is used to describe cells including connective tissue stem cells, matrix and protein synthesizing cells, contractile cells, and occasionally tissue phagocytic cells that have similar morphology but different roles. The reader is referred to several reviews that deal in depth with the matrix components. Fibroblast hyaluronic acid synthesis is stimulated by the cytokines. The matrix metalloproteinases are interstitial collagenase, type IV collagenase, and stromelysins.
