Distinct types of fibrocyte can differentiate from mononuclear cells in the presence and absence of serum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fibrocytes are bone-marrow derived cells, expressing both haematopoietic and stromal cell markers, which contribute to tissue repair as well as pathological fibrosis. The differentiation of fibrocytes remains poorly characterised and this has limited understanding of their biology and function. In particular two methods are used to generate fibrocytes in vitro that differ fundamentally by the presence or absence of serum.

Methodology/principal findings

We show here that fibrocytes grown in the absence of serum (SF) differentiate more efficiently from peripheral blood mononuclear cells than CD14(+) monocytes, and respond to serum by losing their spindle-shaped fibrocyte morphology. Although fibrocytes generated in the presence of serum (SC) express the same range o

SUBMITTER: Curnow SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2841180 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature