Trans-Resveratrol and the Liver: Deactivation of Liver Myofibroblasts and Inhibition of Tumor Cell Invasion

In several situations, mesenchymal fibroblasts acquire a myofibroblastic phenotype and express characteristic cytoskeletal proteins, such as smooth muscle α-actin (α—SMA). Myofibroblasts are present for a limited time in normal wound healing, but persist when tissue repair is abnormal, i.e., during tissue fibrosis and in the stromal reaction to tumors1. Myofibroblasts are believed to be essential actors of tissue fibrosis. They are involved in tissue contraction, synthesis of extracellular matrix and synthesise cytokines. In the context of cancer, there are less data, but strong evidence point to a role of infiltrating myofibroblasts in invasion2.