Pulmonary

Mouse studies suggest the cucurbitane analog mogroside IIIE and other TLR4 inhibitors could help treat pulmonary fibrosis. In primary lung fibroblasts from a mouse model of the disease, mogroside IIIE decreased fibroblast activation and collagen production compared with vehicle. In the mouse model, mogroside IIIE decreased weight loss and death compared with the generic corticosteroid prednisone and decreased fibrosis score and lung levels of proinflammatory myeloperoxidase (MPO) and IL-1β compared with vehicle. Next steps could include testing TLR4 inhibitors in additional models of pulmonary fibrosis.

Prednisone and other generic corticosteroids are marketed to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)...