Activated alveolar epithelial cells initiate fibrosis through secretion of mesenchymal proteins.

ABSTRACT: Fibrosis is characterized by accumulation of activated fibroblasts and pathological deposition of fibrillar collagens. Activated fibroblasts overexpress matrix proteins and release factors that promote further recruitment of activated fibroblasts, leading to progressive fibrosis. The contribution of epithelial cells to this process remains unknown. Epithelium-directed injury may lead to activation of epithelial cells with phenotypes and functions similar to activated fibroblasts. Prior reports that used a reporter gene fate-mapping strategy are limited in their ability to investigate the functional significance of epithelial cell-derived mesenchymal proteins during fibrogenesis. We found that lung epithelial cell-derived collagen I activates fibroblast collagen receptor discoidin domain re

SUBMITTER: Yang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3814683 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature