Fibrotic Signaling Pathways of Skin Fibroblasts in Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis

Abstract

The focus of this article is to describe the etiology, clinical presentation, treatment, and molecular signaling mechanisms involved in the dermatological manifestations of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). The pathogenesis of NSF involves the recruitment of fibrocytes to tissue where they differentiate into the pro-fibrotic myofibroblast phenotype involved in collagen deposition. This review focuses on the different pro-fibrotic molecular signaling pathways of fibroblasts that mediate skin fibrosis in NSF. This article provides an overview of the clinical presentation and treatment of NSF, with an in depth review of the signaling pathways of fibroblasts associated with the development of skin fibrosis in NSF.