Transcriptomic profiling reveals the dynamics of fibrotic progression‐related gene expression into post‐coronavirus disease 2019 pulmonary fibrosis.

The article explores the gene expression profile associated with the progression of COVID-19 to pulmonary fibrosis, highlighting shared pathways with fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (f-ILDs). The study identifies potential biomarkers, such as MUC4 and KRT5, for early diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis by analyzing gene expression in patients with COVID-19-related fibrosis. The findings suggest that gene expression levels play a crucial role in fibrotic progression, with genes like MUC5ac and WNT10a implicated in inflammation and fibroblast proliferation. The study emphasizes the importance of longitudinal research and further validation of these biomarkers for clinical application in fibrotic diseases. [Extracted from the article]