title: The Role of the Fibroblast in Inflammatory Upper Airway Conditions.
abstract: Upper airway inflammation is one of the most frequent health care presentations. This is perhaps not surprising with our exposure to a myriad of environmental microbes, pollutants, and allergens. The precise pathophysiological mechanisms that cause persistent, exaggerated, upper airway inflammation rather than acute resolving illness remain unclear. Analysis of upper airway specimens identifies specific inflammatory cells, cytokine signatures, and fibrotic airway remodeling. Recent research has highlighted the role of stromal cells in the generation and persistence of chronic inflammation. Rather than simply being scaffolding or extracellular matrix-secreting cells on which organ systems are built, stromal cells including fibroblasts and osteocytes have their own independent immunologic functions. Here, we review the emerging inflammatory roles of upper airway fibroblasts, the majority of which appear to influence immune cell chemotaxis and amplify the inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Electronic address: s.l.ball@ncl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines