Profibrotic monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages as a biomarker and therapeutic target in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease
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ABSTRACT: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is present in over 60% of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and is the leading cause of SSc-related deaths. Profibrotic monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages (MoAM) play a causal role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis in animal models where their persistence in the niche requires signaling through the Colony Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor (CSF1R). We hypothesized that the presence and proportion of MoAM in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from patients with SSc-ILD may be a biomarker of ILD severity. We performed spatial transcriptomics to localize profibrotic MoAM to the alveolar space and identified expansion of interstitial macrophages spilling into the alveolar space. Our findings suggest that the proportion of profibrotic MoAM and interstitial macrophages in BAL fluid may serve as a biomarker of SSc-ILD and credential them as possible targets for therapy.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE303048 | GEO | 2025/07/23
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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