Profibrotic Activation of Human Macrophages in Systemic Sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Genome-wide gene expression studies implicate macrophages as mediators of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc), but little is known about how these cells contribute to fibrotic activation in SSc. We undertook this study to characterize the activation profile of SSc monocyte-derived macrophages and assessed their interaction with SSc fibroblasts.

Methods

Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from whole blood from SSc patients (n = 24) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 12). Monocytes were cultured with autologous or allogeneic plasma to differentiate cells into macrophages. For reciprocal activation studies, macrophages were cocultured with fibroblasts using Transwell plates.

Results

The gene expression signature asso

SUBMITTER: Bhandari R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7329566 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature