title: The role of circulating mesenchymal progenitor cells, fibrocytes, in promoting pulmonary fibrosis.
abstract: The resident fibroblast has been traditionally viewed as the primary cell involved in promoting pulmonary fibrosis. However, contemporary findings now support the concept of a circulating cell (fibrocyte) that also contributes to pulmonary fibrosis. Fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells that express a variety of cell surface markers related to leukocytes, hematopoietic progenitor cells and fibroblasts. Fibrocytes are unique in that they are capable of differentiating into fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, as well as adipocytes. In this review, we present data supporting the critical role these cells play in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Critical Care, Box 800466, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0466, USA. Strieter@Virginia.edu
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Strieter
authors.forename: Ellen C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Keeley
authors.forename: Marie D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Burdick
authors.forename: Borna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mehrad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4