Fibroblast cell proliferation

Fibroblast cell proliferation is a fundamental cellular process involving the replication and expansion of fibroblasts, the primary cells responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of connective tissues (Rockey et al., 2015). This process is central to physiological wound healing and tissue repair; however, when chronically or excessively activated, it leads to the development of pathological fibrosis in organs such as the lungs, liver, and kidneys (Kalluri, 2016). In the oncology field, the proliferation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor stroma is known to promote tumor growth, facilitate metastasis, and contribute to therapeutic resistance (Kalluri, 2016). While fibroblast cell proliferation is a biological process rather than a single molecular target, it is therapeutically modulated by inhibiting upstream signaling pathways, most notably the PDGF, FGF, and TGF-beta pathways. For instance, nintedanib is a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor that reduces fibroblast proliferation to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by targeting receptors like PDGFR and FGFR (Richeldi et al., 2014). Similarly, pirfenidone is utilized to attenuate TGF-beta-mediated fibroproliferation and collagen synthesis (King et al., 2014).

Other names

Fibroblast growthFibroblast hyperplasiaFibroblast expansionFibroblast mitogenesis

Inhibition of growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (PDGFR, FGFR, VEGFR), downregulation of TGF-beta signaling, or induction of cell cycle arrest.