The diabetes therapy vildagliptin reduces lung scarring after bacteria-related lung damage, according to a study in mice.
It does this by preventing endothelial cells that line lung blood vessels from transforming themselves into stem cells — a process lungs use to protect themselves from the bacteria-related attack, known as an endotoxic attack.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a late manifestation of acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. The syndrome is usually a complication of an existing health condition, but can also result from an infection.
