Emergence of Fibrocytes Showing Morphological Changes in the Inflamed Colonic Mucosa

Fibrocytes contribute to wound healing and are uniquely defined by coexpression of hematopoietic and mesenchymal cell markers. In this study, trafficking of fibrocytes was determined in a murine model of colitis induced by administering 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) for seven days. Colonic tissues were immunostained for CD45, collagen type I (Col I), and alpha-SMA. On day 0, there were no CD45(+) Col I+ cells in colonic tissues. However, on day 7 when inflammatory cells showed remarkable accumulation, oval-shaped CD45(+) Col I+ fibrocytes were obvious in the submucosal layer. On day 14 when colonic tissues were in the healing phase, numerous spindle-shaped CD45(+) Col I+ fibrocytes were observed. Emergence of CD45(+) Col I+ fibrocytes preceded the appearance of alpha-SMA(+) myofibroblasts. Oval-shaped fibrocytes recruited as early as the inflammatory phase of colitis are likely to differentiate into spindle-shaped fibrocytes in the healing phase, suggesting that fibrocytes may promote wound healing in inflamed colonic tissues.