MDA5 expression is associated with TGF-β-induced fibrosis: potential mechanism of interstitial lung disease in anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis

Abstract

Anti-MDA5 DM-ILD patients have significantly less lung fibrosis and elevated MDA5 expression. The upregulated expression of MDA5 has relations with the suppression of the pro-fibrotic function of fibroblasts via the TGF-β signalling pathway, which may partially explain the mechanism of the clinical phenomenon.