Why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter?
Fibroblasts are known for their ability to make and modify the extracellular matrix. However, there is more to them than meets the eye. It is now clear that they help define tissue microenvironments and support immune responses in organs. As technology advances, we have started to uncover the secret...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-02-01
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| Series: | PLoS Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001954 |
| _version_ | 1797861028310024192 |
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| author | Zhi Yi Wong Eloise Nee Mark Coles Christopher D Buckley |
| author_facet | Zhi Yi Wong Eloise Nee Mark Coles Christopher D Buckley |
| author_sort | Zhi Yi Wong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fibroblasts are known for their ability to make and modify the extracellular matrix. However, there is more to them than meets the eye. It is now clear that they help define tissue microenvironments and support immune responses in organs. As technology advances, we have started to uncover the secrets of fibroblasts. In this Essay, we present fibroblasts as not only the builders and renovators of tissue environments but also the rheostat cells for immune circuits. Although they perform location-specific functions, they do not have badges of fixed identity. Instead, they display a spectrum of functional states and can swing between these states depending on the needs of the organ. As fibroblasts participate in a range of activities both in health and disease, finding the key factors that alter their development and functional states will be an important goal to restore homeostasis in maladapted tissues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:56:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e6de70f7aae4f8a8a58d8c8a79277a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1544-9173 1545-7885 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:56:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e6de70f7aae4f8a8a58d8c8a79277a72023-03-24T05:31:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Biology1544-91731545-78852023-02-01212e300195410.1371/journal.pbio.3001954Why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter?Zhi Yi WongEloise NeeMark ColesChristopher D BuckleyFibroblasts are known for their ability to make and modify the extracellular matrix. However, there is more to them than meets the eye. It is now clear that they help define tissue microenvironments and support immune responses in organs. As technology advances, we have started to uncover the secrets of fibroblasts. In this Essay, we present fibroblasts as not only the builders and renovators of tissue environments but also the rheostat cells for immune circuits. Although they perform location-specific functions, they do not have badges of fixed identity. Instead, they display a spectrum of functional states and can swing between these states depending on the needs of the organ. As fibroblasts participate in a range of activities both in health and disease, finding the key factors that alter their development and functional states will be an important goal to restore homeostasis in maladapted tissues.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001954 |
| spellingShingle | Zhi Yi Wong Eloise Nee Mark Coles Christopher D Buckley Why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter? PLoS Biology |
| title | Why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter? |
| title_full | Why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter? |
| title_fullStr | Why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter? |
| title_short | Why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter? |
| title_sort | why does understanding the biology of fibroblasts in immunity really matter |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001954 |
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