The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. Studies of
associated inflammation have led to the discovery of a number of cytokines and chemokines
that are found to be important either directly or indirectly for the fibrotic process. However,
the importance of inflammation in pulmonary fibrosis is unclear, and at the time of diagnosis
the inflammatory component is variable and usually not responsive to anti-inflammatory
therapeutic agents. Patients usually exhibit evidence of active fibrosis with increased …