[The roles of apoptosis in lung injury and fibrosis].

Apoptosis serves important roles in organ development, cell differentiation, and the maintenance of homeostasis. Lung injury studies have underlined the role of fibroblast and endothelial cell apoptosis during lung repair from acute lung injuries, and demonstrated apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells in association with diffuse alveolar damage. Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by the loss of lung epithelial cells and the proliferation of fibroblasts. It is possible that p53, p21, Fas, Fas ligand, and other apoptosis-regulating proteins play an important role in the pathophysiology of lung injury and fibrosis.