Anti-fibrotic therapies from other organs: What the gut can learn from the liver, skin, lung and heart

Abstract

Fibrosis and dysregulated healing can affect nearly every organ system in the body. Often fibrosis represents a final common pathway to end organ failure, and there is evidence for substantial conservation of the mechanisms of fibrosis across many or all of these organs. Given the significant and pervasive impact of fibrosis there is a clear need for effective anti-fibrotic therapies. The study of these mechanisms and therapies is a robust area of research and allows for exciting collaboration. The conservation of mechanisms effectively posits any therapy that demonstrates efficacy in one organ or model of fibrosis as being a potentially viable option in other organs as well. In this chapter we review the current state of anti-fibrotic therapies in organs other the intestine. There are exciting pipeline agents under investigation in multiple organs including the liver, lungs, kidney, skin, and heart. This chapter focuses on agents that are currently in clinical trials and have demonstrated promise as potentially reaching mainstream use.