Circulating progenitor cells and scleroderma. Academic Article

abstract

• Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) is a disease of unknown origins that involves tissue ischemia and fibrosis in the skin and internal organs such as the lungs. The tissue ischemia is due to a lack of functional blood vessels and an inability to form new blood vessels. Bone marrow--derived circulating endothelial progenitor cells play a key role in blood vessel repair and neovascularization. Scleroderma patients appear to have defects in the number and function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells. Scleroderma patients also develop fibrotic lesions, possibly as the result of tissue ischemia. Fibroblast-like cells called fibrocytes that differentiate from a different pool of bone marrow-derived circulating progenitor cells seem to be involved in this process. Manipulating the production, function, and differentiation of circulating progenitor cells represents an exciting new possibility for treating scleroderma.

authors

• Gomer, Richard

published proceedings

• Curr Rheumatol Rep

author list (cited authors)

• Gomer, R. H.

citation count

• 15

complete list of authors

• Gomer, Richard H

publication date

• January 2008

publisher

• Springer Nature  Publisher

published in

• Current Rheumatology Reports  Journal

keywords

• Cyclophosphamide
• Endothelium, Vascular
• Fibroblasts
• Hematopoietic Stem Cells
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Scleroderma, Systemic
• Stem Cell Transplantation
• Stem Cells

PubMed Central ID

• 18638425

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1007/s11926-008-0031-8

start page

• 183

end page

• 188

volume

• 10

issue

• 3

URL

• http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1007%2Fs11926-008-0031-8