Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Fibroblasts More Agresssive With USP13 Loss
In a recent study entitled “Down-regulation of USP13 mediates phenotype transformation of fibroblasts in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,” a team of researchers investigated the differences in gene expression in fibroblast foci in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). They found that the expression of a particular gene, USP13, was significantly decreased and associated with lower levels of a key tumor suppressor called PTEN. The team suggests that loss of PTEN enhances fibroblast aggressive behavior, contributing to IPF pathogenesis. The study was published in the journal Respiratory Research.
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