RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 BALF-derived fibroblasts differ from biopsy-derived fibroblasts in systemic sclerosis
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 446
OP 452
DO 10.1183/09031936.00135205
VO 29
IS 3
A1 A. Scheja
A1 K. Larsen
A1 L. Todorova
A1 E. Tufvesson
A1 M. Wildt
A1 A. Åkesson
A1 L. Hansson
A1 S. Ellis
A1 G. Westergren Thorsson
YR 2007
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/29/3/446.abstract
AB Growth of fibroblasts from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) has previously been described. The purpose of the present study was to characterise fibroblasts from BALF and bronchial biopsies from SSc patients with alveolitis and from controls, to analyse fibroblast proliferation, migration, stress fibres and proteoglycan production. BALF and bronchial biopsies were collected from 10 patients with SSc and alveolitis and from 15 controls. Outgrowth of fibroblasts was observed from the BALF of four patients, particularly in those with a markedly increased percentage of eosinophils in BALF, but not in any member of the control group. Increased levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, correlating with the percentage of eosinophils in BALF, were found in patients when compared with controls. Fibroblasts from BALF showed an elongated, mobile phenotype and increased proteoglycan production compared to the corresponding biopsy fibroblasts. In conclusion, outgrowth of fibroblasts with an altered phenotype is reported from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in systemic sclerosis patients with alveolitis and an increased percentage of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These findings indicate a possible role for eosinophil–fibroblast interaction in pulmonary fibrosis in systemic sclerosis.