Posted on 04/27/2025 7:43:34 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Researchers have identified a potential new way to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a deadly and currently incurable lung disease.
IPF is rapidly progressive and causes scarring in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Approximately 50% of patients die within three years of diagnosis.
In a study, scientists found that an FDA-approved cancer drug may help the immune system clear out the damaged cells that cause the lung scarring, potentially restoring lung function in patients with the disease.
In healthy lungs, specialized cells called fibroblasts help repair lung tissue. But in people with IPF, some fibroblasts and nearby epithelial cells stop functioning properly. These so-called "senescent" cells no longer divide or die as they should. Instead, they build up and contribute to stiff, scarred lungs.
Researchers discovered that these senescent cells appear to accumulate when the immune system's natural ability to remove them is blocked. The culprit: a protein called CTLA4, which acts as an emergency brake on immune system activity.
By using ipilimumab—an immunotherapy drug currently used to treat various cancers—the researchers were able to block CTLA4 in mice. This released the "brakes" on certain immune cells called T cells, reactivating their ability to clear out the senescent fibroblasts. As a result, the mice showed significantly improved lung tissue regeneration and reduced scarring.
Mice that received ipilimumab showed significantly improved lung repair ability and recovered faster than mice that did not receive the drug.
IPF is a disease of aging and is rarely seen before age 50. These findings also offer hope that this approach could work for other similar aging-related diseases.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
My hubby had it 8 years ago and had to get a double lung transplant. I thank God for this promising news and for giving my hubby 8 years with us........
Pxs-5505 is also promising for cleaning up fibrosis
I’m sorry, but this can’t be done. If we learned NOTHING from the COVID epidemic we learned that drugs cannot be used off label.
/s
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