title: [Fibrosing disorders: insights into pathogenesis and new treatment options].
abstract: Fibrosis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. This disorder is characterised by an abnormal and increased rate of fibroblast proliferation and by an excessive deposition of connective tissue. The key player in fibrosis is the myofibroblast. Fibrosis leads to loss of organ structure and, eventually, to decrease in organ function. To date, there are hardly any effective therapies for the treatment of patients with fibrosis. Pirfenidone targets the myofibroblast and is effective in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are effective for the treatment of patients with some forms of systemic sclerosis. Here we describe various novel therapeutic targets, such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), interleukin-13 (IL-13), lysyloxidase-2 and macrophage-fibroblast interactions. These new therapies are currently under investigation in pre-clinical and clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC, Rotterdam.
authors.forename: Virgil  A S H
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dalm
authors.forename: Willem A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Dik
authors.forename: Hok B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Thio
authors.forename: Bernt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van den Blink
authors.forename: P Martin
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: van Hagen
authors.forename: Paul L A
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: van Daele
mesh_terms: D005347:Fibroblasts; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta