A new molecular target that slows or stops the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, finds a new study.
Highlights:
A gene called FOXF1 inhibits the
progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) which includes extensive
scarring in lung tissues, hyper-production of harmful cells called
myofibroblasts and excessive lung inflammation, shows new study. The study was
conducted by a research team from the Cincinnati
Children's Hospital Medical Center and published in the
journalCell Reports.
Scientists may have found a
therapy to stop the deadly and mostly untreatable lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis(IPF), according to the preclinical data of the new study. - A novel anti-fibrotic drug target that inhibits pulmonary fibrosis was identified by a new study
- A gene called FOXF1 inhibits the progression of pulmonary fibrosis which includes excessive scarring of lung tissue and inflammation.
- Therapeutic tools to boost FOXF1 levels in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients could be an effective therapy to treat the disease.
Pulmonary Fibrosis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis
Do you find yourself out of breath and coughing a lot lately? Do you work in dust prone places? Well, then you might have pulmonary fibrosis.
Do you find yourself out of breath and coughing a lot lately? Do you work in dust prone places? Well, then you might have pulmonary fibrosis.
‘New molecular target identified for treating deadly lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.’
"The exact cause of IPF is unknown and
effective treatments are needed. This study identifies a novel anti-fibrotic
drug target that inhibits pulmonary fibrosis in our preclinical models,"
said lead investigator Tanya Kalin,
MD, PhD, Division of Pulmonary Biology. "We are developing
different therapeutic approaches and conducting preclinical tests to increase
FOXF1 expression in the cells of lung connective tissues." Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition where the lung tissue gets scarred making it difficult for the patient to breathe. The cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis remains unknown but genetic predisposition, smoking and other potential environmental factors are suspected. The most common symptoms of the disease include shortness of breath and a persistent dry, hacking cough. It usually affects people between the ages of 50 and 70, but it can strike younger adults and children, according to the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Around 100,000 people are affected in the United States, with an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 new cases diagnosed annually.Study findings
- A gene called FOXF1 inhibits the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Human lungs from IPF patients and mouse models of IPF lack FOXF1 in myofibroblasts.
- Cells lacking FOXF1 exhibited overexpression of a related gene called FOXM1, which drives lung scarring and inflammation.
The team is working on therapeutic tools to boost FOXF1 levels in IPF patients and is currently testing a novel small-molecule compound that stabilizes FOXF1 and inhibits myofibroblasts.
Reference:
- Study Identifies New Molecular Target for Treating Deadly Lung Disease IPF - (https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/news/release/2018/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis)
Source-Medindia
Quiz on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects millions of people worldwide and is responsible for numerous deaths due to complications. Here is a quiz on the various aspects of COPD.
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Drug-induced Pulmonary Diseases - Types, Symptoms and Treatment
Some drugs or therapeutic agents cause undesirable reactions in lungs, known as drug-induced pulmonary disease, which could be serious enough to cause death. It is important to identify the drugs causing these reactions and avoid using them.
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