We hypothesize that hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling is mediated by macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), that remodeling is in fact the reflection of a chronic inflammatory process, and that MIF may be a useful biomarker of the severity and progression of both ILD and PH.~To study this hypothesis, we have two specific aims:~To evaluate plasma MIF concentration as a marker of severity in ILD and PH and~To determine the utility of breathe condensate analysis in the evaluation of ILD and PH. If we are successful in identifying MIF as a biomarker, it may identify MIF as a useful therapeutic target, as we have shown in other inflammatory disorders.
We hypothesize that hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling is mediated by macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), that remodeling is in fact the reflection of a chronic inflammatory process, and that MIF may be a useful biomarker of the severity and progression of both ILD and PH.