Cellular basis of radiation-induced fibrosis.
Fibrosis is a common sequela of both cancer treatment by radiotherapy and accidental irradiation and has been described in many tissues including skin, lung, heart and liver. The underlying mechanisms of the radiation-induced fibrosis still remain to be resolved. In the present review we tried to illustrate the basic cellular mechanisms of radiation-induced fibrosis based on the newest findings arising from molecular radiobiology and cell biology. Based on these findings the cellular mechanism of radiation-induced fibrosis can be seen as a multicellular process involving various interacting cell systems in the target organ resulting in the fibrotic phenotype of the fibroblast/fibrocyte cell system.
Rodemann
H P
HP
Department of Radiotherapy, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany.
Bamberg
M
M
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects
D016207:Cytokines