Fig. 5From: Myofibroblasts and lung fibrosis induced by carbon nanotube exposureMediators of CNT-induced myofibroblast differentiation in the lungs. CNTs stimulate multiple mechanisms and mediators capable of promoting myofibroblast formation and function, including a pro-fibrotic growth factors TGF-β1 and PDGF, b Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13, c ROS, d pro-fibrotic cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1α and IL-1β, e TIMP1, and f tissue stiffness. Activation of these signaling cascades may induce myofibroblast differentiation and activation directly or by boosting fibroblast proliferation to increase the myofibroblast precursor pool, leading to fibrosis in the lungsBack to article page