Macrophages Are Critical Inducers of Bleomycin-Induced Fibrosis in a Systemic Scleroderma Model.

ABSTRACT: Macrophages are critical regulators of inflammation with an essential role in maintaining and re-establishing homeostasis after inflammatory insults. However, excessive macrophage activation could promote fibrosis, highlighting their potential as a therapeutic target in chronic inflammatory diseases. Two preclinical models of systemic sclerosis, bleomycin-induced systemic scleroderma and sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease, were used to analyze the role of macrophages in the establishment of fibrosis. In both models, macrophage numbers increase in the skin and lungs, in association with elevated collagen content and correlating with fibrosis development. These macrophages had a Ly6c^lowCD206⁺MerTk⁺ phenotype, suggesting a profibrotic role during diseas

SUBMITTER: Baffert B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12871870 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature