Mucus-making gene may have role in many diseases

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is when scars form in the lungs. This can make it hard to breathe. The disease can get worse quickly and lead to death within 5 years after it starts. The cause is still unknown. And, right now, there is no cure. Vanderbilt researchers have been studying IPF. They found a gene change linked to the disease. This gene is found in cells that make mucus, like those lining the airways. But cells in other parts of the body also have this gene. And other diseases, like many cancers and inflammatory conditions, involve mucus production. So, the researchers think that this gene change may be involved in other diseases. This project is looking for this gene change in BioVU samples from patients with many different diseases. This includes many types of cancer and diseases like Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease. The results may show that changes in this gene are involved in many different diseases. This could lead to new treatments for many of these diseases, including IPF.