Bindvävsomlagring och bakomliggande regenerativa mekanismer vid lungfibros och Covid19 i en större patientkohort, med målet att tidigare kunna säkerställa en diagnos och behandling

In pulmonary fibrosis, the delicate architecture of alveoli becomes thickened and remodeled, hampering efficient oxygen exchange. These structural alterations create a negative feedback loop steering surrounding cells in the tissue to endorse fibrotic responses. We hypothesize that small changes in distal lung tissue promote a local profibrotic niche that contributes to the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and to the persistent lung changes observed in some COVID-19 patients. As a continuation of the project approved in 2021, we further envision to determine and evaluate important tissue mediators that drive the expansion of fibrotic tissue in IPF and COVID-19 patients as well as driving forces for its resolution.