In December, 2019, reports emerged from Wuhan, China, of a severe acute respiratory
disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). By the …

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, lethal fibrotic lung disease that occurs
primarily in middle-aged and elderly adults. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality …

Myofibroblasts are the construction workers of wound healing and repair damaged tissues
by producing and organizing collagen/extracellular matrix (ECM) into scar tissue. Scar tissue …

Abstract 'Jack of all trades, master of everything'is a fair label for transforming growth factor
β1 (TGF-β)–a cytokine that controls our life at many levels. In the adult organism, TGF-β1 is …

Activation of TGF-β1 initiates a program of temporary collagen accumulation important to
wound repair in many organs. However, the outcome of temporary extracellular matrix …

The pulmonary extracellular matrix (ECM) determines the tissue architecture of the lung, and
provides mechanical stability and elastic recoil, which are essential for physiological lung …

Fibrotic diseases are characterized by net accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in
affected organs leading to their dysfunction and ultimate failure. Myofibroblasts have been …

Proteases are signaling molecules that specifically control cellular functions by cleaving
protease-activated receptors (PARs). The four known PARs are members of the large family …

The minimal structural unit of a solid tumor is a single cell or a cellular compartment such as
the nucleus. A closer look inside the cells reveals that there are functional compartments or …

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fibrosing interstitial lung disease associated with
aging that is characterized by the histopathological pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia …