Endothelial cells in pulmonary fibrosis: more than a bystander

Pulmonary fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is a debilitating and often fatal lung disorder characterised by the abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to fibrotic scarring and lung stiffening [1]. Although the exact mechanism is yet to be fully understood, aberrant tissue remodelling with excess ECM is a critical factor in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis [1, 2]. Myofibroblasts are specialised …