One of the sequelae of recovery in patients with COVID-19 is pulmonary fibrosis. The incidence and mortality of pulmonary fibrosis are increasing due to environmental factors as well as the improvement of diagnostic accuracy. The cumulative incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is 0.5% in people over 65 years old, and the average survival time of patients after diagnosis is only 2.5-3.5 years. However, currently there is no effective treatment strategy or medication that can cure or reverse lung fibrosis. The commonly used drugs Pirfenidone and Nidanib have no effects on patients with severe pulmonary function decline, and have significant side effects.

Metabolic disorders are related to pulmonary fibrosis, and endocrine factors play an important role in lung fibrogenesis. For instance, iron promotes pulmonary fibrosis through the activation of fibroblasts. Thyroid hormone, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and atrial natriuretic peptide have been evidenced to regulate pulmonary fibrosis in experimental animal models. Targeting imbalanced endocrine factors other than the downstream molecules of fibrogenesis may serve as an effective strategy. Compared with exogenous medicine, supplementation of endogenous cytokines or metabolites is less prone to cause side effects.

This Research Topic aims to define the endogenous factors that regulate or that are affected by pulmonary fibrosis, and the interaction mechanism or signaling pathway between them, so as to demonstrate a close network between the lung and the system or other organs, thus facilitating the discovery of novel and effective therapeutic strategy for lung fibrosis with fewer side effects.

In this Research Topic, we hope to create a forum for new insights into the interaction between pulmonary fibrosis and endocrine factors. We welcome contributions of Original Research, Review, Clinical Trial, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Perspective, Policy and Practice Reviews, Study Protocol, Systematic Review, Technology and Code in the subtopics of the following, but not limited to:
• Novel cytokines, lipids, metabolites, trace elements and hormones and their molecular mechanism or signaling pathway in the development or inhibition of pulmonary fibrosis;
• Novel mechanisms on how extracellular vesicles (exosomes) regulate pulmonary fibrosis;
• The communication between the lung and different organs, and its regulation of pulmonary fibrosis;
• Novel technologies or methods on exploring the interaction between the lung and other organs;
• New biomarkers on diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical outcomes of pulmonary fibrosis.

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Frontiers in Endocrinology

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