Isolation and characterization of mouse fibroblasts

Abstract

The lung parenchyma is comprised of many cells including the structurally important stromal fibroblasts. Fibroblasts function to produce extracellular matrix and are important in the maintenance of alveolar epithelial cells. To understand the role of fibroblasts both in homeostasis and disease, we isolate fibroblasts and grow them in culture. Two methods are presented here for the isolation and maintenance of mouse primary lung fibroblasts.