Leukocyte Development | Muscle & Connective Tissue | Immune & Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases (incl. Arthritis) | Urticaria, Vasculitis & Connective Tissue Disease
Role of ET-1 and GM-CSF in the differentiation potential of monocytes in systemic sclerosis
Nadine Binai, Thomas Hügle, Jacob M van Laar*
*Corresponding author: Jacob M van Laar
Musculoskeletal Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
F1000Posters 2011, 2: 170 (poster) [ENGLISH]
Poster [1.60 MB]
Presented at
31st European Workshop for Rheumatology Research 2011,
3 - 6 Mar 2011, 03.20
Monocytes are highly plastic cells with the potential to differentiate into various different cell types. Their differentiation into dendritic cells and macrophages is dependent on the cytokine environment the monocytes are cultured in.
Here, we study the differentiation potential of circulating monocytes into myofibroblasts.
We are interested in the differentiation of monocytes into myofibroblast-like cells as this cell type contributes to the skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). SSc is a connective tissue disorder characterized by vasculopathy, autoimmunity and fibrosis of skin and inner organs. Accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins like type I collagen is the key feature of fibrosis, and fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are the main producers of ECM proteins. These cells are characterized by the expression of a-smooth muscle actin (SMA). Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is found to be upregulated in SSc patients and involved in triggering fibrosis.
Understanding the role of monocytes in fibrosis may contribute to the development of novel therapies; for example systemic sclerosis.
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No relevant conflicts of interest declared.
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