Fibroblast activation protein and disease severity, progression, and survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by progressive fibrosis in the lungs. Activated fibroblasts play a central role in fibrogenesis and express fibroblast activation protein α. A truncated, soluble form (sFAP) can be measured in blood and is a potential novel biomarker of disease activity.

Immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies in cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A bedside-to-bench approach.

Objective: To assess which immunosuppressive drugs have been investigated and proven efficacious in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) without preexisting immune mediated disorders to validate in vitro and animal model findings on low grade inflammation (bedside-to-bench).

Methods: Clinical trials on immunosuppressive drugs in CVD or T2D were found in PubMed. Studies on patients with preexisting immune mediated inflammatory disease were excluded.