ABSTRACT
IPF is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology and poor prognosis, and despite receive treatment, most patients consideration are likely to progress or worsen. Integrins are heterodimer cell surface proteins that are promising therapeutic targets for intervention in pulmonary fibrosis. Alphav integrins are central to the development of fibrosis because they activate latent TGF-β, a known pro-fibrosis cytokine. The alphav subunit may form heterodimers with the β1, β3, β5, β6, or β8 subunits, one or more of which are essential for the development of pulmonary fibrosis, but their relative importance is unclear. This review summarizes the knowledge of the association of pulmonary fibrosis with alpha-val-integrins, as well as emerging preclinical studies and clinical trials of alpha-fibrosis inhibitors.
