Myobroblasts in Oral Health and Disease

Myobroblasts (MFs) are the cells that are not only essential for the integrity of the human body by virtue of its role in physiological tissue repair (wound-healing), but can also threaten it by its ability to promote tumour development. Under physiological conditions, after wound healing, MFs disappear by apoptosis, but when there is continued insult, these myobroblasts persist in the tissue and result in dysfunctional repair mechanisms causing excessive secretion of extracellular matrix with resultant brosis and scarring. Myobroblasts are phenotypically altered broblasts and are a unique group of smooth-muscle like broblasts that have a similar appearance and function regardless of their tissue of residence. Myobroblasts originate from different precursor cells, the major contribution being from local recruitment of connective tissue broblasts. However, local mesenchymal stem cells, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and cells derived from an epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, may represent alternative sources of myobroblasts when local broblasts are not able to satisfy the requirement for these cells during repair.

Apart from pathological remodelling of tissues, they play an important role in organogenesis and oncogenesis, inammation, repair, and brosis. Because of their ubiquitous presence in all tissues, MFs play important roles in various organ diseases and perhaps in multisystem diseases as well. In the light of such severe consequences of MF appearance and dysfunction, the necessity of more profoundly understanding the molecular mechanisms of MF formation and function is essential. This paper highlights the overview of myobroblasts, and their role in health and disease particularly in relation to diseases of oral cavity.

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