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Fibroblasts have long been derided as generic, monomorphic cells of unclear function. Rinkevich and colleagues have identified a specific population of dermal fibroblasts that are specifically involved in multiple fibrogenic processes.
The gene Engrailed is a major driver of fibroblast development. Using genetic engineering and fluorescent tagging, the authors were able to trace the source of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposited by Engrailed-positive fibroblasts (EPFs) and Engrailed-negative fibroblasts (ENFs). EPFs represented only 1% of fibroblasts but elaborated the vast majority of collagen in the papillary dermis at midgestation and in the reticular dermis by late gestation, including stroma around follicles, rete ridges, and dermal pap…