Osteoprotegerin Is Elevated in Pulmonary Fibrosis and Associates with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Progression: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction: Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a decoy receptor for receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), serves as a biomarker for liver fibrosis severity. Our recent findings show OPG production in fibrotic lung tissue, though its specific cellular source and role in pulmonary fibrosis are unknown. We hypothesized that OPG is produced by fibroblasts and serves as a marker for pulmonary fibrosis progression.

Methods

We examined OPG expression in human and mouse control and fibrotic lung tissue and used primary human lung fibroblasts and murine precision-cut lung slices to study OPG production. Serum from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and controls was analyzed to investigate correlations between OPG levels and disease status, as measured by lung function.

Results

SUBMITTER: Habibie H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12503828 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature