Fibrocytes

Since the discovery of the circulating fibrocyte in 1994 as a collagen-producing cell of the peripheral blood, the physiologic and pathologic role of this unique cell populaton has grown steadily. This book provides the first comprehensive review of the role of fibrocytes in wound repair, granuloma formation, antigen presentation, scar formation, and various fibrosing disorders such as interstitial lung disease and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. It also includes discussions of the recent studies on the molecular signals that influence fibrocyte migration, proliferation, and function in the context of normal physiology and pathology. The chapters are contributed by leading researchers in the field.