Citrullinated and malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde-modified fibrinogen activates macrophages and promotes profibrotic responses in human lung fibroblasts

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

This report demonstrates that fibrinogen simultaneously harboring two common posttranslational modifications activates macrophages to secrete platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Resulting cross talk between activated macrophages and human lung fibroblasts leads to marked increases in extracellular matrix deposition. These protein modifications are abundant and colocalize in lung tissues from patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), and the results suggest that agents targeting citrullination and/or malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) adduct formation could represent novel therapeutic strategies.