Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Chiang HY
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5624629 | biostudies-literature | 2017
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
PloS one 20171002 10
Circulating fibrocytes play a key role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived leukocytes, which enter the lungs in response to their chemoattractant CXCL12 and differentiate into fibroblasts or myofibroblasts, leading to excess deposition of the collagen-rich extracellular matrix. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-2, secreted by fibrocytes, degrade the subendothelial basement membrane and promote fibrocyte influx into the lungs. Here, we demonstrate ...[more]