This research study was designed to identify the cellular changes that occur in the human lung cells as fibrosis develops. Using a single-cell RNA sequencing technique, the research team created a high-resolution atlas of all the cells in lungs with IPF. 

Evidence of aberrant and ectopic cell populations in the IPF lung was discovered and a catalogue of all the characteristic changes that occur in IPF lung cells was generated. The result is an open source cell atlas that scientists can access globally, enabling more researchers to accelerate the potential development of new therapies. The new research provides insight into the lungs’ cellular landscape, shows how IPF affects lung cells, and provides potential new avenues for treatment. 

The Yale team was led by Naftali Kaminski, MD, who is Professor of Medicine (pulmonary) and section chief of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Ivan O. Rosas, MD, led the Baylor team. Dr. Rosas is Professor of Medicine and Section Chief at Baylor College of Medicine. Results of the study were published in the various scientific literature including:

• American Journal of Physiology. “The Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Cell Atlas” article can be found in the Publications section of the website or by clicking here.

• Circulation. “Integrated Single-Cell Atlas of Endothelial Cells of the Human Lung” article can be found in the Publications section of the website or by clicking here.

The IPF Cell Atlas and the lung endothelial cell atlas can be found at LungEndothelialCellAtlas.com