Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0034069 (pulmonary fibrosis)
 7,050 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The human body possesses highly specialized cellular defense mechanisms that, when activated pathologically, can induce a number of immunologic disorders. For a normal cellular immune response, the following conditions must be fulfilled: (1) accumulation of white blood cells, (2) their diapedesis through the vessel walls of the inflammatory area affected by an injurious agent, and (3) normal cellular effector functions in the tissue. This cascade of inflammatory processes has recently been shown to be regulated by a group of molecules that are termed adhesion molecules and consist of three subfamilies: selectins, the immunoglobulin supergene family, and integrins. The cellular functions influenced by adhesion molecules include, among others, cytotoxic T-cell responses, CD4-dependent activation of B lymphocytes by T lymphocytes, activation of granulocytes and macrophages, phagocytosis of opsonized particles by monocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes, antigen-presenting function of macrophages, their antibody-dependent cytotoxicity, initiation of a respiratory burst by white blood cells, and activation of fibroblasts. Studies performed in recent years have shown that pathogenetically relevant changes in the expression and function of adhesion molecules are involved in a variety of pulmonary diseases. These changes include the accumulation and activation of alveolar macrophages in smokers, experimentally induced bronchial hyperreactivity in bronchial asthma, accumulation of eosinophils in allergic rhinitis, bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, binding of viruses and bacteria to respiratory mucosa, and various mechanisms of acute damage to pulmonary parenchyma. Though their role in tumor development is still unclear, adhesion molecules are obviously involved in determining the route and organotropism of metastases. Further studies of the function of adhesion molecules in pulmonary diseases will contribute to our understanding of the pathomechanisms of these diseases and, through the development of specific antibodies, may provide attractive new therapeutic approaches to problems for which treatment is not yet available.
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PMID:Adhesion molecules in lung diseases. 802 88

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) are conditions classified under the general heading of antinuclear cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Lung lesion is a very common and important clinical feature in AAV. In MPA, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and pulmonary fibrosis (PF) are the most frequent manifestations. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest findings associated with MPA in PF patients demonstrate a high frequency of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), fibrotic-nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (F-NSIP), and combined PF and emphysema (CPFE) pattern with honeycombing, traction bronchiectasis, ground-glass opacity, and emphysema. In most of these cases, the histologic pattern of PF has been classified as UIP and/or fibrotic NSIP. In addition, a high incidence of histological findings, such as extensive interstitial fibrosis, lymphoid hyperplasia, and bronchiolitis, are characteristics observed in PF associated with collagen vascular diseases and which are not observed in idiopathic PF (IPF). In some cases, PF precedes the development of MPA. Indeed, there are some cases of pulmonary-limited MPA in this group. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of MPA as an underlying feature of PF in order to avoid overlooking and misdiagnosing this condition as IPF. The median survival time (MST) in UIP pattern/MPA is comparable with that of IPF. In GPA, almost all patients have either upper airway or lower respiratory tract lesions. Solitary or multiple nodules (frequently cavitated) and masses are the most common findings on chest images. Asthma is a cardinal symptom of Churg-Straus syndrome, often preceded by allergic rhinitis. To induce remission, a severity-based regimen was given to patients according to the appropriate protocol of the Japanese patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA-associated vasculitis (JMAAV) study group: low-dose corticosteroid and, if necessary, cyclophosphamide or azathioprine in patients with mild form; high-dose corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide in those with severe form; severe-form regimen plus plasmapheresis in those with the most severe form.
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PMID:Pulmonary involvement in ANCA-associated vasculitis from the view of the pulmonologist. 2318 94

Persistent inflammation within the respiratory tract underlies the pathogenesis of numerous chronic pulmonary diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. Chronic inflammation in the lung may arise from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental influences, including exposure to microbes, particles from the atmosphere, irritants, pollutants, allergens, and toxic molecules. To this end, an immediate, strong, and highly regulated inflammatory defense mechanism is needed for the successful maintenance of homeostasis within the respiratory system. Macroautophagy/autophagy plays an essential role in the inflammatory response of the lung to infection and stress. At baseline, autophagy may be critical for inhibiting spontaneous pulmonary inflammation and fundamental for the response of pulmonary leukocytes to infection; however, when not regulated, persistent or inefficient autophagy may be detrimental to lung epithelial cells, promoting lung injury. This perspective will discuss the role of autophagy in driving and regulating inflammatory responses of the lung in chronic lung diseases with a focus on potential avenues for therapeutic targeting. Abbreviations AR allergic rhinitis AM alveolar macrophage ATG autophagy-related CF cystic fibrosis CFTR cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CS cigarette smoke CSE cigarette smoke extract DC dendritic cell IH intermittent hypoxia IPF idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ILD interstitial lung disease MAP1LC3B microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta MTB Mycobacterium tuberculosis MTOR mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase NET neutrophil extracellular traps OSA obstructive sleep apnea PAH pulmonary arterial hypertension PH pulmonary hypertension ROS reactive oxygen species TGFB1 transforming growth factor beta 1 TNF tumor necrosis factor.
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PMID:Autophagy and inflammation in chronic respiratory disease. 2913 Mar 66