WNT5A induces profibrotic activation of human macrophages via pSTAT3

Collectively, these results indicate that WNT5A mediates profibrotic macrophage activation through a pSTAT3-dependent mechanism. As SSc fibroblasts secrete elevated levels of WNT5A, our experiments suggest that, in addition to autocrine functions, paracrine WNT5A may also contribute to pathological macrophage activation in SSc.