Jennifer Lynn Larson-Casey, PhD

Pulmonary fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is a progressive lung disease with a median survival of three years. Many people with IPF experience sudden worsening of their disease that is associated with breathing problems and can be deadly. People with respiratory diseases can become sicker when exposed to air pollutants. One type of air pollutant, fine particulate matter, is known to contribute to lung injury and increases illness and death in people with pulmonary fibrosis. Monocytes, a type of immune cell in the lung, play a role in fibrosis progression by increasing scar formation. Our studies indicate that inflammatory monocytes promote scar formation in mice after exposure to fine particulate matter. We will determine the ways in which air pollution accelerates the progression of pulmonary fibrosis and identify a potential therapeutic target to slow or stop the progression of IPF.

Hastings Innovation Award for Interstitial Lung Disease

Update: Pulmonary fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is a progressive lung disease with a median survival of only three years. Many people with IPF experience sudden flare-ups in which breathing is much more difficult; these episodes can be life-threatening. Increased exposure to air pollutants contributes to the acute worsening of existing respiratory diseases, including IPF. We determined that fine particulate matter pollutants lead to increased scarring. These tiny particles can speed up lung scarring by attracting inflammatory immune cells called monocytes. Once in the lung, these monocytes become highly active, producing harmful molecules that can damage lung tissue and promote more scarring. We have discovered that these cells change the way they produce energy, making them even more likely to drive inflammation. Our findings suggest that treatments that prevent inflammatory monocytes from entering the lungs could slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis and reduce sudden flare-ups, potentially improving the health and survival of people living with this disease.