title: BALF-derived fibroblasts differ from biopsy-derived fibroblasts in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Growth of fibroblasts from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) has previously been described. The purpose of the present study was to characterise fibroblasts from BALF and bronchial biopsies from SSc patients with alveolitis and from controls, to analyse fibroblast proliferation, migration, stress fibres and proteoglycan production. BALF and bronchial biopsies were collected from 10 patients with SSc and alveolitis and from 15 controls. Outgrowth of fibroblasts was observed from the BALF of four patients, particularly in those with a markedly increased percentage of eosinophils in BALF, but not in any member of the control group. Increased levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, correlating with the percentage of eosinophils in BALF, were found in patients when compared with controls. Fibroblasts from BALF showed an elongated, mobile phenotype and increased proteoglycan production compared to the corresponding biopsy fibroblasts. In conclusion, outgrowth of fibroblasts with an altered phenotype is reported from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in systemic sclerosis patients with alveolitis and an increased percentage of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These findings indicate a possible role for eosinophil-fibroblast interaction in pulmonary fibrosis in systemic sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Rheumatology, Lund University Hospital, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden. Agneta.Scheja@med.lu.se
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scheja
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Todorova
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tufvesson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wildt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akesson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Westergren Thorsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000473:pathology*; D022502:Stress Fibers / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D011509:Proteoglycans; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor