Transdifferentiation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts from rat lung

During the development of pulmonary fibrosis in rat, interstitial fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts, localized in close proximity to areas of progressive fibrosis. These cells contain high levels of pro-collagen. Culture of isolated rat lung fibroblasts on plastic surfaces support the differentiation into myofibroblasts whereas culture on Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm matrix (EHS) promotes the fibroblastic status of the cells. We transferred cells between these two culture systems and investigated the regulation of the synthesis of collagen and of the α- and β-subunits of prolyl-4-hydroxylase (P4H) an enzyme…