How is Tempostatin relevant to fibrosis?
Fibrosis is the end result of an uncontrolled activation of the tissue repair system. This system has two components, stromal cells and the protein scaffold – the extra-cellular matrix. Fibrosis occurs when tissue cells are over-stimulated, and rather than replace the normal components of a tissue, they instead generate a thickened and structurally simplified patch which is composed of excessive layers of collagen. The excessive amount of disorganized collagen, recognized as a scar, distorts and changes the tissue’s structure. As organ function is exquisitely sensitive to tissue structure, tissue fibrosis is seen in almost all forms of organ failure, including liver, kidney and heart. Through its inhibitory effect on stromal cells and extra-cellular matrix protein synthesis, Tempostatin can exert its control on the tissue response, favoring repair.
