T and B lymphocytes in fibrosis and systemic sclerosis

To summarize recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune fibrotic diseases. These diseases include IgG4-related disease, systemic sclerosis and lupus nephritis.Recent studies indicate that a poorly studied subset of helper T cells, cytotoxic CD4+ T cells and sub-populations of disease-specific activated B cells infiltrate inflamed tissues and collaborate to induce tissue fibrosis in autoimmune fibrotic diseases. Cycles...