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Rationale: Bone marrow (BM)-derived cells have been implicated in pulmonary fibrosis. However, their precise role in pathogenesis is incompletely understood.

Objectives: To elucidate roles of BM-derived cells in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, and clarify their potential relationship to lung hematopoietic progenitor cells (LHPCs).

Methods: GFP BM-chimera mice treated with or without bleomycin were used to assess the BM-derived cells.

Measurements and Main Results: GFP⁺ cells in the chimera lung were found to be comprised of two distinct phenotypes: GFP^hi and GFP^low cells. The GFP^hi, but not GFP^low, population was significantly increased after bleomycin treatment. Flow-cytometric analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that GFP^hi cells exhibited phenotypic characteristics of CD11c⁺ dendritic cells and macrophages. GFP^hi cell conditioned media were chemotactic for …