Fibroblast autophagy in fibrotic disorders. (29th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Principe, Domenico Del; Lista, Pasquale; Malorni, Walter; Giammarioli, Anna Maria
• Is Part Of: Journal of pathology. Volume 229:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 208
• Page End: 220
• Publication Date: 2012-11-29
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; 616.07
• DOI: 10.1002/path.4115
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3417

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Fibrotic disorders are multistage progressive processes that often arise from different causes and are commonly associated with chronic inflammation. Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix is the hallmark of many fibrotic diseases. This may be due to an excess of fibroblast recruitment and activation, as well as to their differentiation in myofibroblasts. These events may be triggered by cytokines, chemokines and growth factors released by lymphocytes or macrophages. The excessive production of extracellular matrix is apparently due to alterations of metabolic pathways in activated fibroblasts. It has been suggested that a defective autophagy, an important subcellular pathway with multiple homeostatic roles, also recognized as a key component of both innate and acquired immunity, could play a role. In this review we illustrate recent insights in the field, suggesting the possible implication of the immune system in orchestrating the fibrotic response via the modulation of autophagic pathways.</bold> </p> </abstract>