Identifying Peripheral Blood Biomarkers for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

University Of Pittsburgh At Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a chronic, lethal lung disease without etiology. Currently, there is no medical therapy except lung transplantation which is more effective than any medical therapy available. Previous studies suggest Biological Markers (Biomarkers), protein or genes in human bodies may serve as predictors of diseases severity and mortality. The reported predictors of poor prognosis in the peripheral blood of patients with IPF include serum CCL-18, serum surfactant protein-A, and circulating fibrocytes. In our previous work, we discovered peripheral blood signatures in the peripheral blood of IPF patients that included MMP1 and MMP7 and distinguished IPF from controls and from COPD and Sarcoidosis. More recently we found an outcome predictive signature that included MMP7, IL8, S100A12 among others. The overall objective of this proposal is to transform the clinical management of patients with IPF by identifying and validating peripheral protein biomarkers in the accessible peripheral blood that are highly specific and reproducible, and relevant to disease mechanisms. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: IPF is a chronic, progressive and lethal lung disease. Currently there are no validated and accessible biomarkers for the disease. Identifying peripheral blood protein markers that are specific to the disease and are predictive of outcome will allow better patient management, improve access to transplant and facilitate clinical research and drug discovery and validation.