Dietary flavonoid apigenin inhibits endothelin-1-induced contraction of collagen gel

Excerpt

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by vasculopathy, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs [1]. Although the precise etiology of SSc is still unknown, it is generally accepted that many types of cells are involved in the development and progression of SSc. Myofibroblasts, specialized contractile cells differentiated from fibroblasts, are believed to be the major cells with great importance in all forms of fibrotic diseases including SSc [2]. They have the morphological features intermediate between those of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells and characteristically express alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) [3]. …