Table 2 Characteristics of myofibroblast subtypes
Interstitial myofibroblast | Intra-alveolar myofibroblast | |
|---|---|---|
Localisation | Interstitial | Intra-alveolar |
NO-GC | Positive | Negative |
Precursor | Pericytes | Not determined |
Shape | Pericyte-like | Multipolar; spread over several alveoli |
PDGFRβ expression | Constitutive | de novo after fibrotic insult |
αSMA expression | de novo | de novo |
Collagen type 1 synthesis | de novo | Not determined |
Possible functions | - Angiogenesis - Blood flow regulation - Generation of collagen and tensile force - Mechanotransduction - Immune modulation | - Alveolar spaceholder - Generation of extracellular matrix and tensile force - Re-epithelialization |