CCL2 mediates anti-fibrotic effects in human fibroblasts independently of CCR2

• CCL2 is known for its major role as a chemoattractant of monocytes for immunological surveillance and to site of inflammation. CCL2 acts mainly through the G-protein-coupled receptor CCR2 but has also been described to mediate its effects independently of this receptor in vitro and in vivo. Emerging pieces of evidence indicate that the CCL2/CCR2 axis is involved in fibrotic diseases, such as increased plasma levels of CCL2 and the presence of CCL2-hyperresponsive fibroblasts explanted from patients with systemic sclerosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. One of the profibrotic key mediators is the myofibroblast characterized by overexpression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and collagen I. However, the correlation between the CCL2/CCR2 axis and the activation of fibroblasts is not yet fully understood. We have screened human fibroblasts of various origins, human pulmonary fibroblasts (HPF), human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) and primary preadipocytes (SPF-1) in regard to CCL2 stimulated fibrotic responses. Surprisingly we found that CCL2 mediates anti-fibrotic effects independently of CCR2 in human fibroblasts of different origins.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Immunologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Immunology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

CCL2

CCR2

Fibroblast

Preadipocyte

Fibrosis

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)