Paracrine functions of fibrocytes to promote lung fibrosis.
Fibrocytes are derived from the bone marrow and are found in the circulation. They can be recruited to sites of injury and contribute to repair/remodeling. In vitro evidence suggests that fibrocytes may differentiate into fibroblasts to promote lung fibrosis. However, in vivo evidence for this is sparse. This review summarizes recent literature which may suggest that fibrocytes function to promote fibrosis via paracrine actions. In this way, secretion of growth factors, proteases and matricellular proteins may strongly influence the actions of resident epithelial and mesenchymal cells to promote repair and resolution or to tip the scale toward pathologic remodeling.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0642, USA.
Kathryn R
KR
Kleaveland
Bethany B
BB
Moore
Kevin K
KK
Kim
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction