Number, activation, and differentiation of circulating fibrocytes correlate with asthma severity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A biomarker that predicts poor asthma control would be clinically useful. Fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived circulating progenitor cells that have been implicated in tissue fibrosis and T(H)2 responses in asthmatic patients.

Objective

We sought to test the hypothesis that the concentration and activation state of peripheral blood fibrocytes correlates with asthma severity.

Methods

By using fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, fibrocytes (CD45(+) and collagen 1 [Col1](+)) were enumerated and characterized in the buffy coats of fresh peripheral blood samples from 15 control subjects and 40 asthmatic patients.

Results

Concentrations of peripheral blood total (CD45(+)Col1(+)), activated (the TGF-β transducing protein phosphorylated SMAD2/3 [p-S

SUBMITTER: Shipe R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4836439 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature