Defective efferocytosis by alveolar macrophages in IPF patients.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia. The pathogenicity of IPF has been widely investigated but still remains to be clarified. Efferocytosis, the specialized recognition and ingestion of apoptotic cells by phagocytes, is essential for the resolution of inflammation in the lungs and repair of injured tissues. Impaired efferocytosis contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and cystic fibrosis. We hypothesized that efferocytosis would also be reduced in alveolar macrophages isolated from subjects with IPF.

Methods

Efferocytosis, was evaluated using Wright-Giemsa stained cell preparations isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of patients with IPF (n = 5), nonspeci

SUBMITTER: Morimoto K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4030720 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature