BACKGROUND Fibrotic lung diseases occur predominantly in males, and reports describe better survival in affected females. Male mice are more sensitive to silica-induced lung fibrosis than silica-treated female mice. Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1, also known as osteopontin) increases in pulmonary fibrosis, and Spp1 transcription may be regulated by estrogen or estrogen receptor-related recepto...

Objective(s): The role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as an anti-oxidant in attenuating bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis has been reported. However, its effect on parenchymal remodeling via regulating the protease-antiprotease balance is not fully defined. Therefore, the present study was designed to explore the possible role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), tissue i...

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by distorted lung architecture and loss of respiratory function. Enhanced (myo)fibroblast activation, ECM deposition, and alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cell dysfunction contribute to IPF pathogenesis. However, the molecular pathways linking ATII cell dysfunction with the development of fibrosis are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate...

Tissue fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a terminal illness characterized by unremitting matrix deposition in the lung. The mechanisms that control progressive fibrosis are unknown. Myofibroblasts accumulate at sites of tissue remodeling and produce extracellular matrix components such as collagen and hyaluronan (HA) that ultimately compromise or...

Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease that is related to coal dust exposure. Macrophages and fibroblasts become activated and focal lung fibrosis occurs. If left untreated, patients can progress to massive lung fibrosis which carries high mortality. History taking and chest x-rays are the mainstay diagnostic tests to confirm and stage pneumoconiosis. Current treatment of pneumoconiosis...

Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease that is related to coal dust exposure. Macrophages and fibroblasts become activated and focal lung fibrosis occurs. If left untreated, patients can progress to massive lung fibrosis which carries high mortality. History taking and chest x-rays are the mainstay diagnostic tests to confirm and stage pneumoconiosis. Current treatment of pneumoconiosis...

Although the activity of nitric oxide (NO) synthases are increased in lung tissue of patients with cystic fibrosis, the concentrations of nasal and exhaled NO have recently been found to be decreased in cystic fibrosis. This could either be due to reduced NO formation or metabolism of NO within airway fluids. In this study, the stable NO metabolites, nitrate and nitrite, were determined in the ...

BACKGROUND Hard metal lung disease has various pathological patterns including giant cell interstitial pneumonia (GIP) and usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Although the UIP pattern is considered the prominent feature in advanced disease, it is unknown whether GIP finally progresses to the UIP pattern. OBJECTIVES To clarify clinical, pathological and elemental differences between the GIP an...

Pulmonary fibrosis in humans can occur as a result of a large number of conditions. In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary function becomes progressively compromised resulting in a high mortality rate. Currently there are no proven effective treatments for IPF. We have recently reported that IL-6 and TGF-beta(1) plays an important role in proliferation and differentiation of lung fib...

Lung fibrosis can be observed in systemic sclerosis and in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, two disorders where lung involvement carries a poor prognosis. Although much has been learned about the pathogenesis of these conditions, interventions capable of reversing or, at the very least, halting disease progression are not available. Recent studies point to the potential role of micro messenger RN...