Details for: CL0000186

Cell ID: CL0000186

Cell Name: myofibroblast cell

Description: Myofibroblasts are alpha-SMA-positive, CD34-negative, CD45-negative. They are reportedly capable of secreting IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha.

Synonyms: MFB

Selected Context(s): Overall

Gene Significance Landscape

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Score:
Display
Genes

Contexts:

Cell Significance Index (CSI) is uniquely calculated to reveal cell-specific gene markers. More info here

Significant Genes List

Genes with the highest and lowest Percentile Rank Scores (PRS) for myofibroblast cell within the selected context(s).

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for myofibroblast cell. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
(Previously described as "Fold Change", but now represents Cliff's Delta × –log10(p).)

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for myofibroblast cell. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
Average CSI: csi sum / gene count
Cell network configuration

This network visualizes key genes for myofibroblast cell. It primarily includes:
1. Top genes highly significant for this cell (Num. Top Cell Genes - based on the 'Min. CSI' setting).
2. Any additional specific 'Context Genes' you add below.
The final network is a combined view. Choose an Interaction Source (pathways or protein interactions) and optionally compare CSI scores with a Baseline Cell Type.

Maximum number of selected genes.
Select a context for the baseline cell.
Select a context for the target cell.
Target Cell for CSI:  myofibroblast cell (CL0000186)

 Legend
Nodes (Genes):
 Query Gene
Node size also reflects Target Cell CSI magnitude.
Node Color (Target Cell CSI in specific network):
 Very High
 High
 Medium
 Low
 Very Low
 N/A or Not Sig.
Edges (Interactions):
 STRING (Protein-Protein)
 ONTOLOGY (Shared Pathway)
 Colors vary by pathway category; default arrow applies.

Loading network (please wait)...

## Summary The [myofibroblast cell](/details-cell/CL0000186), formally described as an alpha-SMA-positive, CD34-negative, and CD45-negative cell capable of cytokine secretion, emerges from this analysis as a highly metabolically active and biosynthetically potent cell. The high expression specificity of genes involved in contractility ([MYL6](/details-gene/4637)), energy production (e.g., [COX1](/details-gene/4512)), and protein synthesis (e.g., [TPT1](/details-gene/7178)) defines its core identity as a key driver of tissue remodeling. Furthermore, the striking specificity of iron-handling genes ([FTH1](/details-gene/2495), [FTL](/details-gene/2512)) suggests a specialized role in local iron homeostasis, likely crucial for both managing oxidative stress and supporting its extensive extracellular matrix production. ## Key Characteristics and Function **Overall**, the gene significance profile of the [myofibroblast cell](/details-cell/CL0000186) highlights several interconnected functional modules that define its role in tissue dynamics. * **Contractility and Cytoskeletal Organization:** A defining feature of myofibroblasts is their contractile capacity, which is underscored by the high specificity of [MYL6](/details-gene/4637), a myosin alkali light chain involved in microfilament motor activity. This is complemented by [CFL1](/details-gene/1072), an actin-binding protein that regulates actin filament dynamics. Together, these genes provide the molecular basis for the cell's ability to generate mechanical force, which is critical for wound contraction and the pathological tissue stiffening seen in fibrosis. * **High Metabolic and Biosynthetic Activity:** The cell appears to be in a state of high metabolic and synthetic demand. This is strongly suggested by the significant expression specificity of multiple mitochondrially-encoded genes essential for oxidative phosphorylation, including [COX1](/details-gene/4512), [CYTB](/details-gene/4519), and [COX7C](/details-gene/1350), as well as the nuclear-encoded ADP/ATP translocase [SLC25A6](/details-gene/293). This high energy output likely fuels an extensive protein synthesis program, evidenced by the top marker [TPT1](/details-gene/7178) (translationally controlled tumor protein) and other key translation and protein-handling components like [PABPC1](/details-gene/26986), [EEF1B2](/details-gene/1933), [SRP14](/details-gene/6727), and ubiquitin genes ([UBC](/details-gene/7316), [UBB](/details-gene/7314)). This powerful machinery enables the large-scale production and secretion of extracellular matrix proteins. * **Iron Homeostasis and Stress Response:** A particularly notable characteristic is the highly specific expression of the ferritin heavy and light chain genes, [FTH1](/details-gene/2495) and [FTL](/details-gene/2512). This points to a specialized function in iron sequestration and management. This role may be twofold: mitigating iron-catalyzed oxidative damage in the context of inflammation and tissue injury, and providing a necessary cofactor pool for enzymes involved in collagen maturation. The high specificity of [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950), a glutathione S-transferase, further supports a role in detoxifying reactive oxygen species. * **Immune and Inflammatory Signaling:** Although considered non-hematopoietic, myofibroblasts display markers suggesting active participation in immune processes. The high specificity of [B2M](/details-gene/567), the light chain of MHC class I molecules, indicates a capacity for presenting endogenous antigens to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Additionally, the specific expression of [HMGB1](/details-gene/3146), a well-known damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP), and [S100A6](/details-gene/6277), a calcium-binding protein involved in inflammatory responses, positions the myofibroblast as a significant modulator of the tissue immune microenvironment. * **Anti-Markers:** The low expression specificity for numerous developmental transcription factors, such as those from the *HOX* family ([HOXC10](/details-gene/3226), [HOXC6](/details-gene/3223), [HOXA4](/details-gene/3201)), reinforces the identity of the myofibroblast as a differentiated cell type rather than a developmental precursor. Similarly, the low specificity for neuropeptide precursors like [PENK](/details-gene/5179) and [TAC1](/details-gene/6863) distinguishes it from neuro-endocrine lineages. ## Clinical Significance and Contextual Roles The gene profile of the [myofibroblast cell](/details-cell/CL0000186) places it at the center of both physiological tissue repair and pathological fibrosis. Its combined functions of contractility, extracellular matrix synthesis, and immune modulation are essential for normal wound healing. However, the persistent activation of these cells is a hallmark of fibrotic diseases affecting virtually every organ, including the liver, lungs, heart, and kidneys. In the context of cancer, myofibroblasts are a major component of the tumor stroma, where they are often referred to as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Their secretory and matrix-remodeling activities can create a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment that promotes cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. The specific expression of genes like [TPT1](/details-gene/7178) and [HMGB1](/details-gene/3146), both of which are implicated in tumor biology, highlights their potential contribution to malignancy. The cell's capacity for iron handling ([FTH1](/details-gene/2495), [FTL](/details-gene/2512)) may also be relevant in the tumor microenvironment, where iron metabolism is often dysregulated and can influence cancer progression. ## Potential Mechanisms and Research Directions 1. **Hypothesis: Myofibroblasts act as central hubs for iron homeostasis during tissue remodeling, a role essential for both managing oxidative stress and fueling collagen synthesis.** * **Surprising Findings:** While the contractile and synthetic nature of myofibroblasts is well-established, the exceptional specificity of ferritin complex genes ([FTH1](/details-gene/2495) and [FTL](/details-gene/2512)) is unexpected. This suggests that the regulation of local iron metabolism may be a defining and indispensable function of this cell type, on par with its mechanical roles. * **Testable Questions:** In a mouse model of liver fibrosis, does myofibroblast-specific knockout of [FTH1](/details-gene/2495) lead to increased markers of oxidative stress and a concurrent reduction in mature collagen deposition, thereby uncoupling the inflammatory and fibrotic responses? 2. **Hypothesis: Beyond their structural functions, myofibroblasts serve as non-professional antigen-presenting cells that actively shape the local adaptive immune response in tissues.** * **Surprising Findings:** The high CSI value for [B2M](/details-gene/567) is a notable finding for a mesenchymal cell type. This challenges the conventional view of myofibroblasts as purely structural cells and suggests they are equipped to directly communicate with the adaptive immune system, particularly [CD8-positive, alpha-beta T cells](/details-cell/CL0000625), via MHC class I presentation. * **Testable Questions:** Can virus-infected or transformed [myofibroblast cells](/details-cell/CL0000186) process and present viral or tumor-associated antigens on their surface MHC-I complexes, and does this presentation lead to their specific targeting and elimination by cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro?