Fibroblasts: The Unknown Sentinels Eliciting Immune Responses Against Microorganisms

Bautista-Hernández, Luis Antonio; Gómez-Olivares, José Luis; Buentello-Volante, Beatriz; Bautista-de Lucio, Victor Manuel

The sentinel concept is defi ned in this way: "A subject who watches something and occupies a place and asks for entry passwords." Given this defi nition, we think that fi broblasts have an immune repertoire in responding to different microbial agents. In this review, we will cover the immunologic components of fi broblasts that are expressed in an infection process. There is evidence that fi broblasts can synthesize toll-like receptors (TLRs), antimicrobial peptides, proinfl ammatory cytokines and chemokines, and growth factors, which are important molecules involved in an innate immune response against microorganisms. Their role is very important in expanding immune response and solving microbial infections. Previously, their role was believed to be related to functions connected to fi brosis and the repair of damage. However, other studies suggest that fi broblasts should be considered sentinels, and we concur with this and further believe that their role is as sentinels against microbial pathogens.