Pathologic Fibroblasts in Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis Amplify Local Inflammatory Signals

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the phenotype and function of fibroblasts derived from airway scar in idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) and to explore scar fibroblast response to interleukin 17A (IL-17A). Study Design: Basic science. Setting: Laboratory. Subjects and Methods: Primary fibroblast cell lines from iSGS subjects, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis subjects, and normal control airways were utilized for analysis. Protein, molecular, and flow cytometric techniques were applied in vitro to assess the phenotype and functional response of disease fibroblasts to IL-17A. Results: Mechanistically, IL-17A drives iSGS scar fibroblast proliferation (P