Do changes in the blood explain why idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses faster in some patients? DZL researchers at the CPC-M site in Munich uncover the role of an age-related phenomenon in the blood-forming system. At the center of the study, published in JCI Insight, is clonal hematopoiesis, an age-related process in the blood-forming system that is increasingly being linked to chronic diseases.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe and currently incurable lung disease characterized by progressive scarring of lung tissue. However, the course of the disease varies considerably among patients. As a result, it is difficult to predict how rapidly the disease will progress and which treatment is best suited for individual patients. Understanding the reasons behind these differing disease trajectories remains one of the greatest challenges in IPF research.
When analyzing samples from IPF patients, the researchers found evidence of clonal hematopoiesis in 38 percent of cases. Patients carrying these mutations were significantly more likely to experience rapid disease progression than those without such mutations. In addition, they showed a substantially greater decline in lung function within a twelve-month period. Lead author Lori Asarian thanked all study participants: “Their contribution was essential in uncovering this new association. It could have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of people living with IPF.”
Clonal hematopoiesis as a blood marker for IPF progression?
The findings provide new insights into how age-related changes in the blood-forming system may influence the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. “This study demonstrates how important it is to look beyond the lungs when investigating pulmonary fibrosis,” says Isis Fernandez, DZL group leader and senior investigator of the study. “Our findings strengthen the link between age-related changes in blood cells and pulmonary fibrosis and may help to characterize patients more precisely in the future.”
The project also highlights the expertise of the DZL in pulmonary fibrosis research. Working closely with clinical partners, the researchers aim to gain a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying this severe disease and to identify new biomarkers. In the future, this could enable physicians to intervene earlier in the disease course and tailor therapies more precisely to individual patients.
Original publication: Asarian L, Jia J, Sirokha D, Paulini L, Dietel D, Stoleriu MG, Frankenberger M, Yildirim AÖ, Götze KS, Behr J, Hunninghake GM, Fernandez IE. Clonal hematopoiesis is associated with progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. JCI Insight. 2026 Aug 24;11(16):e198458. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.198458. PMID: 42635048; PMCID: PMC13502164.
