MFAP5 regulates skin scar formation and fibroblast activation

A subset of human skin fibroblasts are phagocytic. To investigate the gene expression changes between phagocytosing and non-phagocytosing fibroblasts, fibroblasts were incubated with apoptotic human dermal microvascular endothelial cells expressing green fluorescent protein or no treatment. Treated fibroblasts were then collected after 8 hours and sorted by FACS to identify phagocytic and non-phagocytic fibroblasts. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of these three groups of cells. Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for human skin fibroblasts with or without engulfed apoptotic human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and untreated control fibroblasts, three groups and three replicates per group.