Dear all, I am trying to differentiate human pulmonary fibroblast into myofibroblast using human recombinant TGFB1 (10ng/ml) with 48 hrs incubation.
For my experiments so far, I could not see a noticeable change in cell morphology between my control and treated cells. I also could not find any papers that publish phase contrast or brightfield microscopic image of fibroblast and myofibroblast.
Im just wondering if it is possible to see an obvious change in morphology between human pulmonary fibroblast and the myofibroblast which have been differentiated ?
Hello Nicholas,
Fibroblasts are flat elongated (spindle shaped) cells possessing processes extending out from the ends of the cell body.
On the other hand, myofibroblasts are much larger and irregular fusiform cells either star or web-shaped with undulating membrane and multiple processes.
In case you find it difficult to distinguish between myofibroblasts and fibrobroblasts, you may make use of molecular marker. To identify myofibroblasts you may use myofibroblast marker such as alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha SMA) in stress fibres.
For more information, you may want to refer to the paper attached below.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1382-5_3
Best.
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