The role of ER stress mediators XBP1, ATF6 and ATF4 in AEC II apoptosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal lung disease that more frequently affects older adults, with an estimated prevalence of 1.6 to 1.7 per 10,000 persons, and a median survival of 2 – 5 years. Although the pathogenesis of IPF is not clearly understood, it is considered that cronic injury of the alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) is the key event in IPF development. As AECII are responsible for alveolar epithelium regeneration and a vast number of different molecules production the problems in the endoplasmic reticulum work in these cells can have dramatic consequences. Our group previously showed icreas…