Occurrence of different types of contractile cells in some lung fibrosis.
Two different morphologic patterns of pulmonary fibrosis have been identified by means of anti-actin antisera and electron microscopy. The first type, observed in chronic passive congestion and also in radiation-induced fibrosis, is characterized by hyaline alveolar walls, with scarce cells, mostly normal fibroblasts. The second type, on the contrary, shows a high cellularity of the alveolar walls with actin-rich cell proliferation, i.e. contractile interstitial cells in usual interstitial pneumonia and shock lung, myofibroblasts in organizing pneumonia, and smooth muscle cells in honeycomb lungs.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000473:pathology