Bio-Mechanical Stimulation of Skin Fibroblasts

The fibroblast is the most common cell of connective tissue. Fibroblast synthesizes the extracellular matrix and has a crucial role in wound healing. Fibroblast has different morphological characteristics according to their anatomical location and according to their metabolic activities. Although this unremarkable from their shape, when implanted ectopically these cells keep their original tissue characteristics at least over a few generations. Fibroblasts synthesize GAG (glycosaminglycan), different types of collagen, glycoprotein and other fibrous proteins. Additionally they secrete various growth factors, including thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Fibroblasts generate the extracellular fibrous matrix as part of their metabolic secretion activity as part of the repair process following tissue damage.

This chapter is divided into two sections i.e. the biomechanical, histomorphological and structural properties of the skin and its behaviour following biomechanical stimulation and the discussion on the cellular mechanotransduction, mechanosensores and mechanosignaling pathways in the fibroblast.

Keywords: Fibroblast, molecular signaling, skin, strain/stress curve.