This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Fibroblasts are responsible for producing and assembling the extracellular matrix (ECM), the scaffolding material that gives tissues their structure, which is critical in shaping the form and function of muscle throughout the body. Fibroblast function is aided by the shuttling of extracellular vesicles (EVs) – tiny sacs of cellular material that facilitate communication between cells. EV research has focused largely on their role in cancer, but a new study has examined their function in human muscle. Proteomics experiments revealed three distinct profiles for EVs released from tendon fibroblasts, muscle fibroblasts, and differentiating myoblasts. Fibroblast-derived EVs were more similar to one another than to EVs from myoblasts. However, while EVs from tendon fibroblasts showed an abundance of proteins supporting ECM synthesis. EVs from muscle fibroblasts were enriched in proteins that support myofiber function and components of the skeletal muscle matrix..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Cancer-related mortality, a leading cause of death in the US, is driven by tumor invasion and metastasis. Implicated in these processes is epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, or EMT. EMT drives invasion through a dramatic reorganization of a cell's cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. Because EMT is a rare event, undergone by a few abnormal cells, it is difficult to view directly in a patient. But new research methods are providing a lens into this critical process. Culturing cells on planar surfaces is revealing how their EMT behavior is coordinated and driven by leader cells. Research on the protein vimentin highlights its role in enabling cells to contort during migration or proliferation. Other studies examine how topographically patterning culture surfaces changes the behaviors of cells as they slip into and out of EMT. And 3D matrices are being used to examine the dissemination and disorganization of multicellular clusters..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"A new study reports that treating certain liver cells with a metabolite of vitamin A could lead to better disease management, particularly for conditions linked to liver fibrosis. The cells in question are hepatic stellate cells, which play a key role in liver function. In healthy tissue, the cells are mostly inactive. But when the liver is injured, they kick into gear to help repair the damage. The problem is that unabated activation of the cells can lead to the development of conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a global public health concern. The cells can even become permanently activated, triggering more serious conditions like fibrosis or cirrhosis. Liver function often becomes impaired once fibrosis sets in, and the scarring can also provide a fertile environment for tumor growth. For example, hepatocellular carcinoma occurs more frequently in patients with liver cirrhosis than those without it..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.