The fasciacytes: A new cell devoted to fascial gliding regulation

Abstract

Hyaluronan occurs between deep fascia and muscle, facilitating gliding between these two structures, and also within the loose connective tissue of the fascia, guaranteeing the smooth sliding of adjacent fibrous fascial layers. It also promotes the functions of the deep fascia. In this study a new class of cells in fasciae is identified, which we have termed fasciacytes, devoted to producing the hyaluronan-rich extracellular matrix. Synthesis of the hyaluronan-rich matrix by these new cells was demonstrated by Alcian Blue staining, anti-HABP (hyaluronic acid binding protein) immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. Expression of HAS2 (hyaluronan synthase 2) mRNA by these cells was detected and quantified using real time RT-PCR. This new cell type has some features similar to fibroblasts: they are positive for the fibroblast marker vimentin and negative for CD68, a marker for the monocyte-macrophage lineage. However, they have morphological features distinct from classical fibroblasts and they express the marker for chondroid metaplasia, S-100A4. The authors suggest that these cells represent a new cell type devoted to the production of hyaluronan. Since hyaluronan is essential for fascial gliding, regulation of these cells could affect the functions of fasciae so they could be implicated in myofascial pain. Clin. Anat. 31:667-676, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Anatomical and functional relationships between external abdominal oblique muscle and posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia

“…Theobald et al () and Schuenke et al () reported that the LR could reduce friction between adjacent fascia under the high tension generated by the abdominal myofascial girdle. Our previous studies showed that the epimysial fasciae of the EO, IO and TrA were separated by a thin layer of loose connective tissue (Stecco et al, ; Stecco et al, ). In addition, Brown and McGill () demonstrated that force generated by abdominal muscles can be passed one to another through connective tissue links.…”

Variations in contents of hyaluronan in the peritumoral micro‐environment of human chondrosarcoma

“…Hyaluronan plays an active role in determining this fibroblast accumulation, as reported by Midgley et al but, vice versa, these fibroblasts can produce more HA under altered stimuli. This recent hypothesis indicates the possibility of regulating the activity of fibroblast‐like cells in HA production, according to the stimuli which these cells undergo. The muscular fasciae have variable HA contents, but they maintain constant values in physiological conditions according to anatomical site, as demonstrated in our previous study .…”

“…For expression analysis, real‐time RT‐PCR was performed in triplicate on three samples, selected from different anatomical district (samples number 4, 8, 12, from hip, foot, and scapula, respectively), according to the findings of our previous work that demonstrates how the muscular fasciae have constant HA values in physiological conditions, but variable according to anatomical site . Although it was not possible to analyze all samples, due to their small size, the most important HA‐synthase was found in fascial tissue and in both peritumoral and intratumoral tissues, although lower in expression than the housekeeping gene RPLP0. The analysis of relative expression showed that, in peritumoral tissue, the gene is hypo‐expressed compared with the healthy one; the same result was also found in intratumoral tissue (Figure ).…”

T1ρ-Mapping for Musculoskeletal Pain Diagnosis: Case Series of Variation of Water Bound Glycosaminoglycans Quantification before and after Fascial Manipulation® in Subjects with Elbow Pain

“…Intervention with the aim of reducing the imbalance between self-aggregate HA/GAG (unbounded) and water aggregate HA/GAG (bounded) represents a potential therapeutic target. FM applied over CCs and CFs seems to hydrolyze the excess amount of self-aggregate GAG/HA reducing the viscoelasticity of the ECM in the affected regions and allowing the fasciacyte [29] to produce the correct quantity and quality of HA that will bound water for generating an appropriate lubricant solution required within the fascial layers.…”