Figure 1
From: B cells tell scleroderma fibroblasts to produce collagen
Involvement of B cells in fibrosis. B cells may be crucially involved in fibrosis in several ways: B cells may produce autoantibodies (autoAb) that can directly stimulate fibroblasts; B cells can produce profibrotic cytokines such as IL-6 or transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ); and, finally, B cells could directly stimulate fibroblasts by a contact-dependent mechanism. PDGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptor.