Integrative molecular and anatomical characterization of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Rationale: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, debilitating disease which is characterized by excessive collagen deposition and destruction of lung architecture leading to respiratory insufficiency. Lung transplantation still remains the only definite therapeutic option, since the etiology of IPF is poorly understood and no adequate medical treatment is currently available. In IPF there appears to be a correlation between the spatial localization of fibrotic changes and disease progression. The present study characterizes histopathological changes seen in IPF lungs with molecular changes and anatom…