Pulmonary Disease Treatment

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Applications: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is marked by aberrant scarring of the lung tissue. IPF has multiple causes, including exposure to irritants such as asbestos and silica particles.  In such cases a cytokines such as TGF-beta are known to induce fibrosis.  The current invention identifies events resulting from TGF-beta signaling that act as molecular markers of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, as well as a mechanism to inhibit progression of the disease. This invention provides diagnostic markers as well as therapeutic targets for IPF.  Advantages: This technology provides both ways to detect and monitor the progression of IPF as well as a potential mechanism to reverse the progression of the disease.  The molecular diagnostics in this case involve simple techniques such as western blot, ELISA, or real time PCR.  Levels of protein or mRNA markers can be compared to both non affected healthy controls, and known IPF sufferers to identify not only patients positive for the disease, but those that may be in very early stages. This type of diagnosis up until this point has been impossible and is extremely desirable considering that patients who are diagnosed with IPF using current techniques die on average 5 years later.  Finally, because there is no cure or treatment currently, a possible mechanism to reduce or reverse scar tissue production is highly desirable. Patent Information: United States  9,107,942        8/18/2015