Activated fibroblasts accumulated in fibrotic lesions through the migration without an overall increase in number during pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, activated fibroblasts up-regulated gene expression of molecules associated with extracellular matrix, cell cycle and cell migration. Especially activated fibroblasts highly up-regulated osteopontin, which might be a novel activation marker for activated fibroblasts.
Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms for fibroblast activation, maintenance and cell migration would provide a clue for the development of novel diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for pulmonary fibrosis.
Researcher Information
JST CREST Research Area "Creation of basic medical technologies to clarify and control the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation"
Research Theme "Molecular and cellular bases of chronic inflammation associated-organ fibrosis"
Journal Information
Qualitative rather than quantitative changes are hallmarks of fibroblasts in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis
Tatsuya Tsukui, Satoshi Ueha, Jun Abe, Shin-ichi Hashimoto, Shigeyuki Shichino, Takeshi Shimaoka, Francis H.W. Shand, Yasuka Arakawa, Kenshiro Oshima, Masahira Hattori, Yutaka Inagaki, Michio Tomura, Kouji Matsushima.
The American Journal of Pathology in press
doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.06.005
Contact
[About Research]
Kouji Matsushima Ph.D., 
Professor, Department of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
[About Program]
Life Innovation Group
Department of Innovation Research
Japan Science and Technology Agency
Takafumi Kawaguchi 
URL: http://www.jst.go.jp/kisoken/crest/en/index.html