Go to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Transfers
  • Advertising/recruitment
  • Contact
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • By specialty
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Immunology
    • Metabolism
    • Nephrology
    • Oncology
    • Pulmonology
    • All ...
  • Videos
  • Collections
    • Recently published
    • Technical Advances
    • Clinical Medicine
    • Reviews
    • Editorials
    • Perspectives
    • Top read articles
  • JCI This Month
    • Current issue
    • Past issues

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Specialties
  • Recently published
  • In-Press Preview
  • Concise Communication
  • Editorials
  • Viewpoint
  • Top read articles
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Transfers
  • Advertising/recruitment
  • Contact
Three-dimensional characterization of fibroblast foci in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Mark G. Jones, … , Kevin K. Brown, Luca Richeldi
Mark G. Jones, … , Kevin K. Brown, Luca Richeldi
Published April 21, 2016
Citation Information: JCI Insight. 2016;1(5):e86375. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.86375.
View: Text | PDF
Research Article Pulmonology

Three-dimensional characterization of fibroblast foci in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

  • Text
  • PDF
Abstract

In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the fibroblast focus is a key histological feature representing active fibroproliferation. On standard 2D pathologic examination, fibroblast foci are considered small, distinct lesions, although they have been proposed to form a highly interconnected reticulum as the leading edge of a “wave” of fibrosis. Here, we characterized fibroblast focus morphology and interrelationships in 3D using an integrated micro-CT and histological methodology. In 3D, fibroblast foci were morphologically complex structures, with large variations in shape and volume (range, 1.3 × 104 to 9.9 × 107 μm3). Within each tissue sample numerous multiform foci were present, ranging from a minimum of 0.9 per mm3 of lung tissue to a maximum of 11.1 per mm3 of lung tissue. Each focus was an independent structure, and no interconnections were observed. Together, our data indicate that in 3D fibroblast foci form a constellation of heterogeneous structures with large variations in shape and volume, suggesting previously unrecognized plasticity. No evidence of interconnectivity was identified, consistent with the concept that foci represent discrete sites of lung injury and repair.

Authors

Mark G. Jones, Aurélie Fabre, Philipp Schneider, Francesco Cinetto, Giacomo Sgalla, Mark Mavrogordato, Sanjay Jogai, Aiman Alzetani, Ben G. Marshall, Katherine M.A. O’Reilly, Jane A. Warner, Peter M. Lackie, Donna E. Davies, David M. Hansell, Andrew G. Nicholson, Ian Sinclair, Kevin K. Brown, Luca Richeldi

×

Figure 1

3D volume renderings of normal and usual interstitial pneumonia/idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lung tissue imaged by micro-CT.

Options: View larger image (or click on image) Download as PowerPoint
3D volume renderings of normal and usual interstitial pneumonia/idiopath...
Cubes (2 mm per side) of (A) normal lung tissue and (B) usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)/idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) lung tissue were digitally extracted from the reconstructed micro-CT lung tissue volumes following removal of paraffin by absolute thresholding. For reference on the superior surface, a coregistered histological section stained with Movat’s Pentachrome is displayed. Morphological differences in 3D are apparent with UIP/IPF tissue, demonstrating loss of alveolar structures and increased parenchymal thickness, with an impression of “fullness” within the UIP/IPF tissue.
Follow JCI Insight:
Copyright © 2021 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN 2379-3708

Sign up for email alerts