Biological role of the proapoptotic transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Introduction: We have recently identified severe and pro-apoptotic Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress as major pathomechanism for alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). In line with this, the pro-apoptotic transcription factor CHOP, which functions as a crucial mediator of ER stress-induced apoptosis, was strongly induced in AECII from patients with IPF. We therefore aimed to fully disclose the transcriptional regulation and biological role of epithelial CHOP expression in AECII-like cells in vitro, and in pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. Methods: We performed promotor analysis o…