Figure 8
Illustrative concept of myofibroblast (MF) modulation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). TNF-α inhibits extracellular matrix (ECM) contraction by the downregulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type I expression in MFs presumably by promoting prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis. Both infliximab (IFX) by blocking TNF-α and diclofenac by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) might enhance ECM contraction. NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa-B.