Cyclic mechanical stretch reduces myofibroblast differentiation of primary lung fibroblasts

► Cyclic mechanical stretch was applied in a Flexercell apparatus to lung fibroblasts. ► Cyclic mechanical stretch reduces expression of αSMA and matrix proteins. ► Possible mechanism: endogenous expression of TGFβ is reduced after stretch. ► Reduced stretch in stiff fibrotic lungs could induce further myofibroblast differentiation.