The key difference between fibroblast and fibrocyte is that fibroblast is an active cell involved in the secretion of the extracellular matrix, collagen and other extracellular molecules of the connective tissue while fibrocyte is an inactive form of small fibroblast.
Fibroblast and fibrocyte are two different states of the same cell, mainly associated with the production of various types of extracellular matrix components in connective tissue. However, there is a difference between fibroblast and fibrocyte based on their activeness and roles played in the biological system.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Fibroblast
3. What is Fibrocyte
4. Similarities Between Fibroblast and Fibrocyte
5. Side by Side Comparison – Fibroblast vs Fibrocyte in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Fibroblast?
Fibroblasts are irregular-shaped flat cells with minute processes protruding out of the cell body. These cells have an ellipsoidal, flattened, large nucleus with finely distributed chromatin and also contain 1-2 nucleoli. When fibroblasts are active, cellular organelles like Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum become more prominent. Fibroblasts originate from mesenchymal stem cells or from fibrocytes (inactive form of fibroblasts).
Figure 01: Fibroblast
The main role of fibroblasts is to produce various extracellular matrix including proteoglycans, collagens, proteolytic enzymes, growth factors, and certain signalling molecules like cytokines. In the human heart, these cells help in cellular interaction with other fibroblasts, myocytes and endothelial cells. In addition, these cells contribute to chemical, mechanical and electrical signalling in the heart.
What is Fibrocyte?
Fibrocytes cells, also called bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells, basically act as the precursor cells of fibroblasts. The interest in fibrocytes has been rapidly increased over the last decade due to their important roles in the biological system. These cells mainly contribute to wound repair and fibrosis due to their ability of differentiation into their active form -fibroblasts.
Additionally, fibrocytes also play a role in certain immune responses as well as the deposition of collagen fibres. Compared to active fibroblasts, fibrocytes are small cells. They contain a small elongated nucleus and a small amount of rER and Golgi bodies. Furthermore, these cells are spindle-shaped.
What are the Similarities Between Fibroblast and Fibrocyte?
- Fibrocyte is an inactive form of fibroblast.
- Fibroblast and fibrocytes are present in the connective tissue.
- Moreover, they are involved in tissue repair and wound healing.
What is the Difference Between Fibroblast and Fibrocyte?
Fibroblast is an active cell that secretes extracellular matrix, collagen and other extracellular macromolecules of the connective tissue. Fibrocyte is a precursor cell of fibroblast. This is the key difference between fibroblast and fibrocyte. Fibroblast is a large cell while fibrocyte is a small cell. Moreover, another difference between fibroblast and fibrocyte is that fibroblasts mainly produce extracellular components such as proteoglycans, collagens, proteolytic enzymes, growth factors and certain signalling molecules like cytokines, while fibrocytes help in certain immune response, deposition of collagen, and wound repair.
Summary – Fibroblast vs Fibrocyte
Fibroblast and fibrocyte are two types of cells present in the connective tissues. In summarizing the difference between fibroblast and fibrocyte, fibroblasts are mainly active cells while fibrocytes are inactive cells. In fact, fibrocytes are an inactive form of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are larger than fibrocytes. Moreover, they contain a large ovoid nucleus while fibrocyte contains a small elongated nucleus.
Reference:
1. “Fibroblast.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 May 2019, Available here.
2. Herzog, Erica L, and Richard Bucala. “Fibrocytes in Health and Disease.” Experimental Hematology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2010, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Fibroblast-2” By Fibroblast.jpg: SubtleGuestderivative work: Mfigueiredo (talk) – Fibroblast.jpg (CC BY 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “408 Connective Tissue” By OpenStax College – Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site. http://cnx.org/content/col11496/1.6/, Jun 19, 2013. (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia