Table 1.
The various types of pulmonary fibrosis and proposed pathogenesis
| Type of pulmonary fibrosis | Stimuli | Proposed pathogenic factors |
|---|---|---|
| Idiopathic | Unknown | Aberrant wound healing [9,10]; Profibrotic proteins, i.e., TGF-β [11–14]; oxidative stress [15–17]; initial inflammation [18–20]; |
| Environmental/occupational | Asbestos; silica; paraquat | Particle transition metals, i.e., free iron, and oxidative stress [21,22]; inflammation [23–25]; profibrotic proteins, i.e., TGF-β [22,26]; |
| Pharmacologic agents | Bleomycin amiodarone | Agent-induced alterations in oxidants/antioxidants [27–29]; |
| Radiation-induced | Radiation therapy to the chest | oxidative stress [30]; Loss of antioxidants [31]; profibrotic proteins, i.e., TGF-β [32,33]; inflammation [34]; |
| Hereditary familial IPF | Genetic mutations | Surfactant protein C and A1 [35], TERT and TERC genes [36] |
| Collagen vascular diseases | Collagen abnormality | Autoimmune tissue injury and aberrant matrix deposition [37,38]. |