Research on CXCL12/CXCR4 biological axis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis / 中国药理学通报

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF), with unknown pathogeny, is an interstitial lung disease.The pathological features are diffuse epithelial-cell lesion, fibroblast proliferation, myofibroblast differentiation and excessive extracellular matrix deposition.CXCR4 is the predominant chemokine receptor on fibrocytes;CXCL12 is the only ligand of CXCR4.A large number of studies have shown that CXCL12/CXCR4 biological axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.Under the regulation of hypoxia, HIF-1α and PI3K-Akt-mTOR path, CXCL12/CXCR4 biological axis promotes lung fibroblast proliferation, myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix deposition, resulting in development and progression of IPF.