Myofibroblasts are modified fibroblasts. Myofibroblasts were first described in 1971 by Gabbiani and coworkers in rat granulation tissue as cells that exhibit morphological characteristics of "conventional tissue fibroblasts" and contractile smooth muscle cells in that they are "capable of active spasm" (hence the name, although "spasmoblast" has also been discussed) (Gabbiani et al. 1971).
Myofibroblasts combine the properties of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells and have a significantly higher contractile capacity than normal fibroblasts. In contrast to smooth muscle cells, myofibroblasts are not surrounded by a basal lamina. Myofibroblasts are able to produce endogenous collagen.