The pathogenesis of end-stage, chronic lung disease is thought to be characterized by an
initial inflammatory response followed by fibroproliferation and deposition of extracellular
matrix. Many of these chronic lung disorders share a variety of common properties, including
an unknown etiology, undefined mechanisms of initiation and maintenance, and progressive
fibrosis. Unfortunately, efficacious therapeutic options are not readily available for the
treatment of many chronic lung diseases, which may reflect the limited scientific and …