Fibrocytes in chronic lung disease – Facts and controversies

Fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cell precursors, defined primarily by their ability to co-express markers of both haematopoietic (e.g. CD45 or CXCR4) and stromal (e.g. collagen) lineages. Fibrocytes in culture also have ultrastructural cell surface features that distinguish them from other leukocytes. Extensive efforts have helped to characterise fibrocytes phenotypically and functionally, but it is still unclear exactly how …