Tissue is an issue in the search for biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Biological markers, i.e., biomarkers, in lung tissue may make it possible to connect cell biological phenomena to the pathogenetic mechanisms in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This review focuses on the lung tissue biomarkers, which have been compared with relevant clinical endpoints or with the most common differential diagnostic lung diseases. In addition, studies conducted on lung tissue samples and investigated by transcriptomic or proteomic methodologies have been included. Several studies have observed changes in alveolar epithelium and extracellular matrix supporting the current hypotheses of the pathogenesis of IPF. In many studies, however, alterations in inflammatory cells have been revealed, a phenomenon not currently incorporated into pathogenetic theories. Combining lung tissue material with other non-solid organs with clinically meaningful endpoints may prove to be the most beneficial approach in the search for non-invasive biomarkers.
Respiratory Research Unit, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland ; Respiratory Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland ; Unit of Medicine and Clinical Research, Pulmonary Division, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland ; Center for Medicine and Clinical Research, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Riitta
R
Kaarteenaho
Department of Pathology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland ; Department of Pathology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Elisa
E
Lappi-Blanco
Immunohistochemistry; Microarray; Proteomic; Transcriptomic; UIP; Usual interstitial pneumonia