Lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is a key regulator of fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition in pulmonary fibrosis

Lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is involved in many cell-related processes that are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis such as extracellular and/or cell-associated proteolysis, cell adhesion, cell migration and proliferation. To reveal a potential role for LRP1 in lung fibrosis, we investigated the expression of this receptor in bleomycin-challenged mice and in lungs of patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Decreased pulmonary expression of LRP1 in whole lung tissue was detected in bleomycin-treated mice and IPF-patients as assessed by qRT-PCR and Western…