Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating, progressive disease with poor survival rates and limited treatment options. Upregulation of αvβ6 integrins within the alveolar epithelial cells is a characteristic feature of IPF and correlates with poor patient survival. The pro-fibrotic cytokine TGFβ1 can upregulate αvβ6 integrin expression but the molecular mechanisms driving this effect have not previously been elucidated.

Researcher: Dr Amanda Tatler

This research was published in PLoS One in August 2016:

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0158047

#LabResearch