Inflammation and dysregulated fibroblast proliferation--new mechanisms?

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating, age-related lung disease of unknown cause that has few treatment options. Once thought to be a chronic inflammatory process, current evidence indicates that the fibrotic response may primarily be driven by abnormally activated alveolar epithelial cells and the underlying mesenchyme. The mediators produced and present in this microenvironment induce the formation of fibroblast foci through …