Heparin induces alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in cultured fibroblasts and in granulation tissue myofibroblasts.

Abstract

These results show that heparin and its nonanticoagulant derivatives influence the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in fibroblastic cells both in vitro and in vivo and that this effect is probably related to the selection of a particular cell subpopulation. They suggest a possible role for heparin during the formation and evolution of granulation tissue.