Wound healing in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

The pathophysiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, is not yet fully understood.
2016, infill communications
In healthy lungs, fibroblasts play a central role in maintaining normal tissue structure and function, and mediate the wound healing response. In the
process, these cells normally undergo apoptosis once wound contraction is complete. There is evidence that repetitive alveolar injury causes
dysregulated wound healing in susceptible individuals. Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix in the interstitium creates fibrotic scar tissue. As a result, the lung tissue stiffens and the gas exchange is impaired.