Fig. 9

Model for basal cell-fibroblast interaction in IPF. There is a positive feedback relationship in which elevated levels of LPA induce the production of pro-fibrotic factors in basal cells leading to fibrotic changes in fibroblasts including elevated production and secretion of autotaxin, the enzyme that generates LPA. Interruption of the basal cell-fibroblast LPA feedback loop, potentially via inhibition of autotaxin inhibitors, LPAR receptors, CREB-dependent intracellular signaling or any other targets in the LPA signaling pathway, may slow lung fibrosis