The ASIC3-M-CSF-M2 Macrophage-Positive Feedback Loop Modulates Fibroblast-to-Myofibroblast Differentiation in Skin Fibrosis Pathogenesis

The polarization of M2 macrophages transduced by the acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3)-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) signal promoted the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts through transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), thereby producing an ASIC3-M-CSF-TGF-β1 positive feedback loop.