Wound contraction and fibrocontractive disorders.

A most important contribution to the understanding of wound healing has been the identification of the myofibroblast. These cells contract like smooth muscle cells and have been identified in a variety of chronic and open wounds. The myofibroblasts have been reported as the causative factor resulting in the wound contraction. This report demonstrates the presence of the myofibroblasts in breast capsule contraction, as well as in Peyronie's disease. The presence of the myofibroblast in Peyronie's disease and Dupuytren's contracture suggests that the myofibroblast may be the causal factor behind the association of these two disorders. The evidence suggests that a spectrum of fibrocontractive disorders exists that has the myofibroblast as the common denominator. Some evidence is presented that permits the speculation that the myofibroblast may be a transformation of the local fibroblast to a smooth muscle cell in response to forces applied to the tissue.