Progress in the relationship between type II alveolar epithelial cells and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic disease of the lower respiratory tract that seriously affects lung ventilation and ventilation. The pathogenesis is still unclear. It is characterized by abnormal interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and destruction of alveolar structure. Type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells, as key cells of maintaining lung structure and function, are extremely important in the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. In pulmonary fibrosis, damage to typeⅡ alveolar epithelial cells and senescence apoptosis caused by various causes may be the initiation factors of pulmonary fibrosis. After that, abnormal typeⅡ alveolar epithelial cells are also involved and in the formation of temporary matrix, fibroblast aggregation, activation and interstitial-epithelial transformation, play an important role. Key words: Type II alveolar epithelial cells; Pulmonary fibrosis; Apoptosis