The Secret Life of Myofibroblasts: Dr. Boris Hinz reveals all!
Boris Hinz, PhD, University of Toronto, Ontario, CA, presents “Fundamental aspects of myofibroblast contraction.” and explains how the process is simple and complex. How do these little cells do such big things? More importantly, what steps in the process go wrong to result in Dupuytren’s, and what can be done to safely correct this? Watch […]
Stretching, Myofibroblasts and Dupuytren’s
How, and why, does Dupuytren’s disease actually contract? What is the physical mechanism? What provokes it? There is a genetic risk, but genes don’t provide the entire script, otherwise Dupuytren’s contractures should be symmetric, the same problem developing at the same time in the same way in both hands, but that’s not what happens: usually, […]
Metalloproteinases and Dupuytren’s
A better understanding of the biology of metalloproteinases may lead to new treatment options for Dupuytren’s. Metalloproteinases (MMPS) are a group of enzymes in our bodies which break down certain proteins, including collagen. MMPS are blocked by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPS). MMPS and TIMPS balance each other: imbalances have been implicated in conditions of […]
Dupuytren’s and other fibroses
Dupuytren’s is a fibrotic disease, a fibrosis – one of many. Fibrosis, as a word, sounds exotic, but it is really just the medical name for scar. Although injuries come in many forms and can involve any structure, our bodies have a limited repertoire for reacting to injuries. The universal poultice our body’s healing process […]
