Systemic Fibrocyte Levels and Keloid Expression of the Chemoattractant CXCL12 Are Upregulated Compared With Patients With Normal Scar.

Background: Fibrocytes are bone marrow mesenchymal precursors with a surface phenotype compatible with leukocytes, fibroblasts, and hematopoietic progenitors that have been shown to traffic to wound healing sites in response to described chemokine pathways. Keloids are focal fibrotic responses to cutaneous trauma characterized by disordered collagen, which may be associated with elevated systemic fibrocyte levels and/or wound bed chemokine expression.

Methods: Blood specimens from patients with longstanding keloids and those who form grossly normal scars were assayed by fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis for fibrocytes (CD45+, Col I+).

Safety and efficacy of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator potentiator icenticaftor (QBW251).

Background: This is the first-in-human study of icenticaftor, an oral potentiator of the cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel. Restoration of CFTR activity has shown significant clinical benefits, but more studies are needed to address all CFTR mutations.

Methods: Safety, pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics of icenticaftor were evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers.

Increased type 2 inflammation post rhinovirus infection in patients with moderate asthma.

Rhinovirus (RV) infections are a major cause of exacerbations in patients with asthma. Experimental RV challenges can provide insight into the pathophysiology of viral exacerbations. Previous reports, investigating mild or moderate asthma patients, have shown an upregulation in type 2 inflammation post RV infection, however, studies specifically involving asthma patients taking inhaled corticosteroids have concentrated on symptoms and lung function, rather than the inflammatory response.

Circulating fibrocytes as biomarkers of impaired lung function in adults with sickle cell disease.

Lung injury and fibrosis are common in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Fibrocytes, a population of circulating, bone marrow-derived cells, have been linked to development and progression of tissue fibrogenesis and have been implicated in the development of lung fibrosis in preclinical models of SCD. We tested the hypothesis that the levels and activation state of circulating fibrocytes during steady state are associated with abnormal pulmonary function in adults with SCD.

Circulating fibrocytes as predictors of adverse events in unstable angina.

Half of the patients who present with unstable angina (UA) develop recurrent symptoms over the subsequent year. Identification of patients destined to develop such adverse events would be clinically valuable, but current tools do not allow for this discrimination. Fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived progenitor cells that co-express markers of leukocytes and fibroblasts and are released into the circulation in the context of tissue injury.