Fibroblasts are cells that produce connective tissue and can differentiate into cells that produce different types of connective tissue. They help maintain the body’s structural integrity, play a role in tissue repair, and can be observed at various levels of activity depending on age and physical condition. Disorders that inhibit fibroblast production or function can lead to muscle weakness and other symptoms.
A fibroblast is a type of cell responsible for the production of connective tissue. Fibroblasts play a vital role in making up the vast majority of most of an organism and can be found in large numbers throughout the body. These cells can differentiate into cells responsible for producing different types of connective tissue, including chondroblasts, which are responsible for collagen production, and osteoblasts, which form bone.
Fibroblasts have two different stages. When the cell is actively dividing and producing connective tissue, it is known as a fibroblast. When it hibernates, it becomes a fibrocyte. Fibrocytes change shape, becoming more cylindrical over time, making them easy to identify, and can be seen along the margins of many types of connective tissue.
These cells are derived from mesenchymal stem cells, stem cells that are able to differentiate into different cell types when needed. These cells are present in the body from birth and can be observed at various levels of activity depending on age, physical condition and other factors. The body is constantly developing more fibroblasts in response to emerging conditions and various problems, ranging from growth spurts to broken bones.
Fibroblasts help maintain the body’s structural integrity by constantly reinforcing connective tissues so that their density and condition are maintained. As cells die and are absorbed, fibroblasts produce more to deal with the change. Fibroblasts are also involved in the production of the ground substance, a noncellular component of the extracellular matrix that comprises a variety of proteins and other compounds.
A fibroblast can also play a role in tissue repair. When someone is cut, for example, fibroblasts are part of the body’s response team, which act to repair the wound while other cells prevent infection. One might think of fibroblasts as a construction crew designed to be highly skilled and very flexible so that they can respond quickly to emerging problems. The body can also make more fibroblasts if needed.
When someone develops a disorder that inhibits fibroblast production or function, it can become quite problematic. Connective tissue is critically important and can degrade or be lost over time, leading to muscle weakness and a variety of other symptoms. Doctors can sometimes identify such disorders by looking at a fibroblast under a microscope or by growing a sample of fibroblasts from a patient to look for abnormalities.
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