Premium
Fibrocytes in lung disease
Author(s) -
Gomperts Brigitte N.,
Strieter Robert M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.0906587
Subject(s) - fibrocyte , biology , chemokine receptor , fibroblast , wound healing , fibrosis , lung , fibronectin , pulmonary fibrosis , population , pathology , mesenchymal stem cell , immunology , chemokine , bone marrow , microbiology and biotechnology , inflammation , extracellular matrix , medicine , anatomy , biochemistry , environmental health , in vitro
Fibrocytes were first described over a decade ago as a population of cells in circulation with fibroblast‐like properties, which were involved in tissue repair. Since that time, we have learned a significant amount about these bone marrow‐derived cells, which contribute to wound healing and fibrosis. Fibrocytes express leukocyte markers such as CD34, CD45, and CD13 and also express mesenchymal markers such as pro‐collagens I and III, vimentin, and fibronectin. In addition, they have been shown to express the chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR7, which appear to be important in cellular trafficking from the vascular to the extravascular compartment. Fibrocytes have been shown to contribute to a number of fibrotic disorders, and here, we review their involvement in lung diseases including pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, and vascular remodeling.