Genomic differences distinguish the myofibroblast phenotype of distal lung fibroblasts from airway fibroblasts.

ABSTRACT: Primary human distal lung/parenchymal fibroblasts (DLFs) exhibit a different phenotype from airway fibroblasts (AFs), including the expression of high levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). The scope of the differences between these anatomically differentiated fibroblasts, or the mechanisms driving them, has remained unknown. To determine whether the different characteristics of regional fibroblasts are predicted by distinct genomic differences in AFs versus DLFs, matched human fibroblast pairs were isolated from proximal and distal lung tissue and evaluated. Microarray analysis was performed on 12 matched fibroblast pairs (four normal and eight asthmatic samples) and validated by quantitative real-time PCR. The potential functional implications of these differences were analyzed using c

SUBMITTER: Zhou X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3262668 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature