Abstract
Fibrocytes, a group of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells, were first described in 1994 as fibroblast-like, peripheral blood cells that migrate to regions of tissue injury. These cells are unique in their expression of extracellular matrix proteins concomitantly with markers of hematopoietic and monocyte lineage. The involvement of fibrocytes and the specific role they play in the process of wound repair has been a focus of study since their initial description. Fibrocytes contribute to the healing repertoire via several mechanisms; they produce a combination of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors to create a milieu favorable for repair to occur; they serve as antigen presenting cells (APCs); they contribute to wound closure; and, they promote angiogenesis. Furthermore, regulatory pathways involving serum amyloid P, leukocyte-specific protein 1, and adenosine A2A receptors have emphasized the significant role that fibrocytes have in wound healing and fibrosis. The therapeutic targeting of fibrocytes holds promise for the augmentation of wound repair and the treatment of different fibrosing disorders.
Highlights
Fibrocytes, a group of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells, were first described in 1994 as fibroblast-like, peripheral blood cells that migrate to regions of tissue injury
The first study of fibrocytes was performed in a murine model of wound repair, which relied on surgical implantation of wound chambers in subcutaneous tissues
Subsequent examination of peripheral blood cells within two days of wound chamber implantation revealed a fibroblast-like circulating CD34+ and Col I+ cell that was in the exudate fluid–adherent and spindle-shaped–and termed a fibrocyte [1]
Summary
Fibrocytes, a group of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells, were first described in 1994 as fibroblast-like, peripheral blood cells that migrate to regions of tissue injury. Fibrocytes comprise approximately 0.5% of nonerythrocytic cells in the peripheral blood, and they differentiate from CD14+ cells in culture into a phenotype with wound healing potential. It is hypothesized that CD34 expression reflects the inflammatory state of the wound, which is down regulated as fibrocytes differentiate into a more mature connective tissue cell [5].
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