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Peripheral blood fibrocytes: Mesenchymal precursor cells and the pathogenesis of fibrosis

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Abstract

Peripheral blood fibrocytes are a novel population of cells that rapidly enter sites of tissue injury and contribute to connective scar formation. Fibrocytes display a distinct cell surface phenotype (CD34+/CD45+/collagen I+), and are an abundant source of cytokines and growth factors that function to attract and activate inflammatory and connective tissue cells. Fibrocytes also are specialized to activate naïve T cells against foreign antigen, and may play a critical role in the initiation of cognate immunity during the earliest phases of tissue injury. Recently, immunohistochemical studies of fibrotic tissues have shown that fibrocytes co-localize to areas of connective tissue matrix deposition. Peripheral blood fibrocytes thus may participate in the generation of excessive fibroses associated with various autoimmune disorders involving a persistent T-cell activation, as occurs in scleroderma.

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  1. Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, The Picower Institute for Medical Research, 11030, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Jason Chesney MD, PhD & Richard Bucala MD, PhD

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  1. Jason Chesney MD, PhD
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  2. Richard Bucala MD, PhD
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Chesney, J., Bucala, R. Peripheral blood fibrocytes: Mesenchymal precursor cells and the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2, 501–505 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-000-0027-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-000-0027-5

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