Work

Pathogenic expansion: fibroblast proliferation fuels fibrosis

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Pulmonary fibrosis, an unrelenting disease of lung scarring, has been associated with the expansion of a profibrotic fibroblast population and extensive extracellular matrix deposition. In this issue, Molina and colleagues provide foundational mechanistic evidence that fibroblast proliferation itself is a critical driver of fibrosis. Using lineage tracing in preclinical fibrosis models, the authors showed that naive Scube2+ alveolar fibroblasts underwent a profibrotic phenotypic switch prior to proliferating within areas of fibrotic remodeling. Induction of apoptosis via Esco2 deletion or directly preventing proliferation via Ect2 deletion in these fibroblasts attenuated fibrosis. Complementary analyses on explanted human lung tissue confirmed translational relevance, collectively providing compelling evidence for the importance of fibroblast proliferation in fibrotic disease.

Source: Journal of Clinical Investigation

DOI: 10.1172/jci199180

Authors: Cody A. Schott, Elizabeth F. Redente

Institutions: University of Colorado Anschutz, National Jewish Health

Language: English

Topic: Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,200