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Mesothelial Cells in Fibrosis: Focus on Intercellular Crosstalk
Nadezhda Bakalenko1, Evdokiya Kuznetsova1, Konstantin Dergilev2
1Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Biomolecules
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Mesothelial cells, crucial for tissue repair, can drive fibrosis when repair fails. Understanding their communication with other cells offers new therapeutic targets for fibrotic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Tissue Repair
- Fibrosis Pathogenesis
Background:
- Mesothelial cells maintain serosal homeostasis and possess plasticity for tissue repair.
- Dysfunctional repair can lead to mesothelial cells adopting a profibrotic phenotype, driving fibrosis.
- Fibrosis involves complex intercellular communication within the serosal microenvironment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of mesothelial cells in fibrosis development.
- To investigate the bidirectional crosstalk between mesothelial cells and other serosal cells.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for antifibrotic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on mesothelial cell plasticity and fibrosis.
- Analysis of intercellular communication pathways in the serosal microenvironment.
- Exploration of signaling mechanisms in mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT).
Main Results:
- Mesothelial cells contribute to inflammation, ECM remodeling, and myofibroblast differentiation in fibrosis.
- Bidirectional crosstalk occurs via direct contact, paracrine signaling, and extracellular vesicles.
- Interactions involve fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells, modulating fibrotic processes.
Conclusions:
- Mesothelial cells are central players in fibrosis pathogenesis through active participation and intercellular communication.
- Understanding these interactions reveals novel targets for antifibrotic therapies.
- Targeting mesothelial cell crosstalk may offer new avenues for treating fibrotic diseases.
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