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Emergence of Fibrocytes Showing Morphological Changes in the Inflamed Colonic Mucosa

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Abstract

Fibrocytes contribute to wound healing and are uniquely defined by coexpression of hematopoietic and mesenchymal cell markers. In this study, trafficking of fibrocytes was determined in a murine model of colitis induced by administering 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) for seven days. Colonic tissues were immunostained for CD45, collagen type I (Col I), and α-SMA. On day 0, there were no CD45+Col I+ cells in colonic tissues. However, on day 7 when inflammatory cells showed remarkable accumulation, oval-shaped CD45+Col I+ fibrocytes were obvious in the submucosal layer. On day 14 when colonic tissues were in the healing phase, numerous spindle-shaped CD45+Col I+ fibrocytes were observed. Emergence of CD45+Col I+ fibrocytes preceded the appearance of α-SMA+ myofibroblasts. Oval-shaped fibrocytes recruited as early as the inflammatory phase of colitis are likely to differentiate into spindle-shaped fibrocytes in the healing phase, suggesting that fibrocytes may promote wound healing in inflamed colonic tissues.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Fumie Saegusa for excellent technical assistance.

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Correspondence to Tatsuro Katsuno.

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Uehara, H., Nakagawa, T., Katsuno, T. et al. Emergence of Fibrocytes Showing Morphological Changes in the Inflamed Colonic Mucosa. Dig Dis Sci 55, 253–260 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-0730-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-0730-7

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