We are now in the process of obtaining the complete amino acid sequence for the proteins that they encode. Pulmonary lymphocytes in lung fibrosis. This project addresses the controversial issue of the contribution of the immune system, and essentially of lymphocytes, to the evolution of lung fibrosis. We are investigating several experimentally defined conditions in which subpopulations of resident pulmonary lymphocytes are allowed to be activated in vivo, and asking whether their functional activities could result in either the induction or in the attenuation of the fibrotic process. Results obtained showed the ability of gd T to induce fibrosis when they function in the absence of a normal ab T cell and B cell compartment.
T cells can prevent the rapid evolution of lung fibrosis.
This apparent paradox is not unique in the regulation of the immune system, where various cellular components can exhibit a bimodal function in distinct sets of cellular interactions. Its elucidation is expected in the next phase of this project. Research and Faculty Weekly Education Bulletin Make a Donation to Research Scientific Report Tucker Medical Library Laboratory Services Dedicated to care and discovery.