title: [Immunopathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].
abstract: The paper presents the state of the art in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Both, etiology and pathogenesis of IPF are unclear. The key elements in the pathogenesis of the disease are epithelial destruction and dysregulation of the phenotype of lung fibroblasts. Currently accepted hypothesis claims that IPF is not related to underlying inflammatory state but it is rather a result of pathological interaction between pulmonary epithelium and mesenchyme followed by disturbed healing of damaged alveolar epithelial cells. The function of lung progenitor cells residing in distant lung structures is also impaired. Some scientists claim that genetic defect causes fast shortening of telomeres reducing lung properties of regeneration. According to the current knowledge, IFP is a multifactorial disease resulting from a repeated cycle of injuries followed by pathological regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Diagnostyki Laboratoryjnej i Immunologii Klinicznej Warszawskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego. urszula.demkow@litewska.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Demkow
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000276:immunology