Research Projects

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses about 300 parenchymal pulmonary disorders caused by inflammation and/or fibrosis in the lung interstitium. Pulmonary fibrosis is a hallmark of various ILDs, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), which is characterized by lung inflammation and immunological reaction when exposed to a particular antigen. Chronic HP can be fibrotic or non-fibrotic, while Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is another aggressive type characterized by progressive lung function decline and early mortality. Diagnosis of fibrotic cHP and IPF is critical, as therapeutic management varies between these two subtypes. Identifying robust and reproducible biomarkers for distinguishing between fibrosing ILDs is essential for accurate diagnosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) provides a detailed snapshot of the lower respiratory tract in various pulmonary disorders. A recent study using NMR metabolomics indicated dysregulated metabolites in serum, exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and BALF of HP compared to controls. This motivated the study to identify metabolites in BALF that can effectively discriminate between cHP and IPF. Identification of unique microbial signatures in cHP and IPF is envisioned. Integration of these platforms will shed light on the relationship between altered metabolites, DEGs, and unique lung microbiota associated with the subtypes. If the combined expression of these signatures significantly differs between the diseases, tailored therapeutic approaches could be directed towards the specific type of ILD.