Final answer:
In chronic inflammatory fibrosis, fibroblasts deposit excessive collagen, type 1 pneumocytes may be damaged, and type 2 pneumocytes may proliferate.
Step-by-step explanation:
In chronic inflammatory fibrosis, fibroblasts, type 1 pneumocytes, and type 2 pneumocytes undergo specific changes.
Fibroblasts, which are the most abundant cell type in connective tissue, play a key role in producing extracellular matrix components. In chronic inflammatory fibrosis, activated fibroblasts deposit excessive amounts of collagen, leading to the formation of scar tissue.
Type 1 pneumocytes, which are thin, flat cells responsible for gas exchange in the lungs, can be damaged or destroyed in chronic inflammatory fibrosis. This can impair gas exchange and contribute to breathing difficulties.
Type 2 pneumocytes, on the other hand, can proliferate in response to injury and play a role in repairing damaged lung tissue. In chronic inflammatory fibrosis, there may be an increased number of type 2 pneumocytes as a compensatory mechanism.