Involvement of fibrocytes in asthma and clinical implications

Bloodborne fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived cells that participate in immune responses and exhibit pro-inflammatory and matrix remodelling properties. In patients with asthma receiving an adequate treatment, the blood fibrocyte count is very low and comparable to that obtained in healthy individuals. In these patients, a transient increase in fibrocyte numbers in the peripheral blood and in the airways occurs in concomitance with increased bronchial inflammation and reflects disease worsening and the need for more intensive treatment. Persistently elevated numbers of fibrocytes in the peripheral blood and in the bronchial mucosa are observed in chronically undertreated or corticosteroid-resistant asthma and are associated with persistent airway inflammation and ongoing remodelling of the bronchial wall. The asthmatic bronchial epithelium is the main source of fibrocyte chemoattractants in asthma and contributes with T helper type 2 lymphocytes and eosinophils to promote the proliferation and pro-remodelling function of recruited fibrocytes. The presence of elevated numbers of fibrocytes in the bronchial mucosa of allergic patients with undertreated or treatment-resistant asthma may also increase the risk of acute exacerbations because these cells can amplify T helper type 2 lymphocyte-driven inflammation on every exposure to the clinically relevant allergen and can promote further inflammation on rhinovirus infections by allowing viral replication and releasing additional pro-inflammatory factors. Improved methods for the isolation and functional analysis of pure populations of viable circulating fibrocytes have allowed a better understanding of the effector role of these cells. A reliable and clinically applicable assay has been developed to measure blood fibrocyte counts as outcome measure in future clinical trials. New therapeutic agents are needed to block both persistent inflammation and fibrocytosis in corticosteroid-resistant asthma.