A Greek-led international research team has identified a key immune system receptor that could pave the way for new treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare and life-threatening lung disease with limited treatment options. The study, led by Greek pulmonologist Dr Stavros Garantziotis, was published in Science Translational Medicine and reveals how the lung microbiome may contribute to the development of the disease while identifying the immune receptor TLR5 as a promising therapeutic target. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis causes progressive scarring of the lungs, leading to irreversible loss of lung function and, ultimately, respiratory failure.
Current medications can only slow the disease’s progression. Dr Garantziotis, a researcher at the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), said he turned his attention to the disease because of its poor prognosis. “When, as a doctor, you realise there is very little you can do for your patients, you want to understand the mechanisms behind the disease,” he said.
“Medicine is no longer purely empirical. If we understand what causes the disease in each individual, we can develop treatments that target the root of the problem with much greater precision.” Although the exact cause of IPF remains unknown, smoking and environmental pollution are recognised risk factors. The researchers identified another critical factor: the lung microbiome.
For many years, scientists believed healthy lungs were sterile. Modern research has overturned that assumption, showing the lungs constantly interact with the outside environment and host diverse microbial communities. The team found that environmental damage, including cigarette smoke, may disrupt the balance of bacteria in the lungs, triggering chronic inflammation that eventually leads to the scarring characteristic of pulmonary fibrosis.
TLR5 plays a protective role The research focused on TLR5, an immune receptor responsible for recognising certain bacteria and activating protective immune responses. Researchers analysed genetic data from more than 1,100 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and approximately 2,500 healthy individuals. They found a clear association between IPF and reduced TLR5 function.Advertising1 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The team then confirmed the finding in la…
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