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Fibrogenesis & Tissue Repair
Published in: Fibrogenesis & Tissue Repair 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Review

The role of fibrocytes in fibrotic diseases of the lungs and heart

Authors: Ellen C Keeley, Borna Mehrad, Robert M Strieter

Published in: Fibrogenesis & Tissue Repair | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Fibrosis is the end result of a complex series of events that follow tissue injury and inflammation. Pathophysiologic fibrosis results in permanent scar formation, and can impair organ function. Fibrocytes are circulating, bone-marrow-derived progenitor cells that traffic from the bone marrow to the injured organ via the bloodstream, where they differentiate into fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, and play a pivotal role in both physiologic and aberrant fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the contribution of fibrocytes to fibrotic diseases of the lungs and the heart, including interstitial lung diseases, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerosis and ischemic cardiomyopathy.
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Metadata
Title
The role of fibrocytes in fibrotic diseases of the lungs and heart
Authors
Ellen C Keeley
Borna Mehrad
Robert M Strieter
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Fibrogenesis & Tissue Repair / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1755-1536
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1755-1536-4-2

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