Fig. 8: Proposed mechanism of rTEM neutrophils in pulmonary fibrosis. | Nature Communications

Fig. 8: Proposed mechanism of rTEM neutrophils in pulmonary fibrosis.

From: Extracellular matrix anchored neutrophils drive pulmonary fibrosis in mice

Fig. 8: Proposed mechanism of rTEM neutrophils in pulmonary fibrosis.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Fibrotic insults induce reverse transendothelial migration (rTEM) of neutrophils①. ICAM1high CXCR1low rTEM neutrophils adhere to and are retained by lung ECM via integrins②. Macrophage‑derived CTSC accumulates in the ECM③ and cleaves neutrophil ICAM1 to generate sICAM1④, which activates fibroblasts and drives collagen deposition⑤. This CTSC–ICAM1 axis links ECM retention of rTEM neutrophils to fibroblast activation in pulmonary fibrosis. Schematic illustration created with Figdraw.com (license ID: SIUUY789f7).

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