PERIPHERAL BLOOD FIBROCYTES DIFFERENTIATION PATHWAY AND MIGRATION TO WOUND SITES

摘要

Disclosed are the identification of a differentiation pathway of cultured fibrocytes, characterization of the signals for fibrocyte migration to wound site in vivo , and the potential role of fibrocytes in wound contracture. The invention relates to a method for producing fibrocytes comprising contacting a population of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC comprising predominantly CD14+ cells with autologous T cells or a form of TGFss, preferably TGFss1, thereby inducing differentiation of fibrocytes from precursors in the PBMC population. These fibrocytes are useful for treating a wound in a mammalian subject by administering fibrocytes to the subject, preferably in combination with TGF1. Also disclosed are methods for attracting or targeting fibrocytes to a wound by administering SLC or another agonist of the CCR7 chemokine receptor, at or near the site of the wound, and methods of decreasing undesired wound fibrosis by inhibiting fibrocyte activity.