title: Genetic susceptibility and pulmonary fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent genetic findings have identified new targets of investigation in the field of pulmonary fibrosis and have the potential to change clinical care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These findings implicate alterations in host defense, cell-to-cell adhesion, and aging and senescence in the pathophysiology of pulmonary fibrosis. At least one common genetic variant strongly associated with pulmonary fibrosis appears to have prognostic implications for patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inherited risk for pulmonary fibrosis is substantial, and recent data suggest that genetic risk for familial and sporadic forms of the disease are similar. Further characterizing this genetic risk will influence clinical practice in terms of categorization, diagnosis, and screening of individuals for this disease.
authors.affiliation: aUniversity of Colorado Denver, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Aurora bNational Jewish Health, Denver cUniversity of Colorado Denver, Medical Scientist Training Program, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mathai
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Warg
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics*