![\"\"](\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_-Uzu0xg5lh0\/R63ShYEzWlI\/AAAAAAAAAJk\/uI7UhoW3HMo\/s1600-h\/ILD.jpg\")
<\/a>Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) (click to enlarge the image).<\/p>
Alveolar epithelial cells (AECs)<\/b> produce mediators that induce the formation of fibroblast and myofibroblast foci through:<\/p>
- proliferation of mesenchymal cells
- attraction of circulating fibrocytes
- stimulation of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition<\/p>
The fibroblast and myofibroblast foci secrete excessive amounts of extracellular matrix (collagen), resulting in scarring and destruction of the lung architecture. <\/p>
References:<\/p> Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis<\/a>. The Lancet, Volume 378, Issue 9807, Pages 1949 - 1961, 3 December 2011.<\/p> Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD)<\/a><\/p> Posted at Clinical Cases and Images<\/a>. Stay updated and subscribe<\/a>, follow us on Twitter<\/a> and connect on Facebook<\/a>. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating, age-related lung disease of unknown cause that has few treatment options. IPF was once thought to be a chronic inflammatory process, but current evidence indicates that the fibrotic response is driven by abnormally … Continue reading <\/a>
Mechanisms of IPF (click to enlarge the image). Image source: PLoS Medicine<\/a>, Creative Commons license.<\/p>
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