Pathophysiology of fibrotic ILDs

While ILDs differ, common pathogenic pathways to fibrogenesis are shared1–5

ILD patients with the HRCT scans in their hands.

Pathogenic pathways of fibrogenesis1-5

Pathogenic pathways of fibrogenesis

Irrespective of the trigger for the lung injury, progressive fibrosing ILDs show commonalities not only in disease behavior but also in the pathogenic mechanisms that drive the fibrotic process.3,6

These pathogenic mechanisms culminate in irreversible loss of epithelial or endothelial barrier integrity, destruction of the lung architecture and loss of lung function.3,6

THE DESTRUCTIVE SELF-SUSTAINING EFFECTS OF PROGRESSIVE FIBROSING ILDs 

Excessive secretion of extracellular matrix can lead to a self-sustaining process of progressive fibrosis, where subsequent tissue stiffness and release of profibrotic cytokines further activates fibroblasts.7

Mechanisms contributing to self-sustaining progressive fibrosis in progressive fibrosing ILD, irrespective of the originating disease or trigger8

Mechanisms of self-sustaining progressive fibrosis

PROGRESSION CAN BE SELF-SUSTAINED EVEN AFTER THE REMOVAL OF INCITING AGENTS9,10

Patients with chronic HP can develop a progressive fibrosing disease despite the absence of continued exposure to the inciting antigen.9

In exposure-related ILDs (e.g. silicosis), progression of symptoms and the severity of disease may occur even after termination of exposure to exogenous agents.10

SHARED MECHANISMS OF PROGRESSIVE PULMONARY FIBROSIS

Learn about the common pathophysiological mechanisms behind fibrogenesis and how it explains self-sustaining disease behavior in fibrotic ILDs

Interstitial lung disease, or ILD, encompasses a wide variety of chronic lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, idiopathic nonspecific pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, ILD associated with connective tissue diseases, such as systemic sclerosis-ILD, inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and ILD associated with exposure to occupational or environmental irritants.  A proportion of patients with ILD develop a progressive fibrosing phenotype independent from their ILD classification, with a disease course similar to IPF  Many of these patients show a restrictive pattern on pulmonary function testing.   Their pulmonary fibrosis is driven by an abnormal wound healing response following repeated injury, regardless of the cause of that injury. Mediators released in response to alveolar epithelial and/or vascular endothelial injury include chemokines, endothelin 1, thrombin and numerous growth factors.  The abnormal healing response is believed to be due to an imbalance of such mediators, which creates a pro-fibrotic environment.  The pro-fibrotic environment drives recruitment, proliferation, activation, and trans-differentiation of resident interstitial fibroblasts into contractile myofibroblasts.    Myofibroblasts may also be derived from the trans-differentiation of other cell types, including pericytes, circulating fibrocytes, endothelial and epithelial cells.  These myofibroblasts produce excessive extracellular matrix components. The accumulation of these components, combined with collagen cross-linking and contraction, distort the tissue architecture and alter gas exchange.  This fibrotic scarring can also lead to occlusion of the local microvasculature, contributing to hypoxia.  Once initiated, pulmonary fibrosis can become self-sustaining independent of the original trigger.   This happens through multiple feed-forward amplification loops as a result of increased matrix stiffness, tissue pressure, and hypoxia.  Pulmonary fibrosis is irreversible, and its progression leads to impaired gas exchange, increasing shortness of breath, a continually reduced quality of life, and ultimately to respiratory failure.  Early recognition of pulmonary fibrosis is vital, given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with progressive fibrosing ILD. 

How can you identify the progressive phenotype in patients with fibrotic ILDs?

Footnotes
  • HP, hypersensitivity pneumonitis; HRCT, high-resolution computed tomography; ILD, interstitial lung disease.

  1. Cottin V, Hirani N, Hotchkin D, et al. Presentation, diagnosis and clinical course of the spectrum of progressive-fibrosing interstitial lung diseases. Eur Respir Rev. 2018;27(150):180076. 

  2. Selman M, King TE, Pardo A, et al. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: prevailing and evolving hypotheses about its pathogenesis and implications for therapy. Ann Intern Med. 2001;134(2):136–151. 

  3. Wuyts WA, Agostini C, Antoniou KM, et al. The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis: a moving target. Eur Respir J. 2013;41(5):1207–1218.
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  9. Fernández Pérez ER, Swigris JJ, Forssén AV, et al. Identifying an inciting antigen is associated with improved survival in patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Chest. 2013;144(5):1644–1651.
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  11. Brauner M, et al. Imagerie des pneumopathies infiltrantes diffuses. Press Med. 2010;39:73–84.
  12. Flaherty KR, Brown KK, Wells AU, et al. Design of the PF-ILD trial: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase III trial of nintedanib in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease. BMJ Open Resp Res. 2017;4(1):e000212. 
  13. Theodore AC, Tseng C-H, Li N, Elashoff RM, Tashkin DP. Correlation of cough with disease activity and treatment with cyclophosphamide in scleroderma interstitial lung disease: findings from the Scleroderma Lung Study. Chest. 2012;142(3):614–621.
  14. Hoffmann-Vold AM, Fretheim H, Halse AK, et al. Tracking impact of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis in a complete nationwide cohort. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;200:1258–1266. 
  15. Hoffmann-Vold AM, Maher TM, Philpot EE, et al. The identification and management of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis: evidence-based European consensus statements. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2020b;2: e71–e83.
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