Characterisation of the role of IL-17A and the associated promoter-polymorphism, IL-17A G197A, in the pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal human interstitial lung disease with no specific therapy. Previous studies have suggested that almost 15% of IPF patients develop rapidly progressive disease which results in death within 12 months. Currently there is a significant and unmet clinical need in IPF to identify biomarkers which will facilitate disease stratification in IPF at diagnosis in order to identify patients most at risk of developing rapidly progressive disease, to facilitate their early referral for lung transplant.

In this research project, I will investigate the ability of IL-17A to modulate TLR3 function in IPF patients in order to promote disease progression using pre-clinical: in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models. I will also investigate the association between the IL-17A G197A (rs2275913) promoter-polymorphism in the development and disease progression of IPF and thus, assess the prognostic value of this promoter-polymorphism in IPF.