Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, debilitating and fatal lung disorder. Despite significant advances in understanding its complex pathogenesis, there is at present no curative treatment for this disease. In the pathogenesis and progression of PF, the imbalance of the human immune system plays a central driving role. From the initial inflammatory response to the sustained release of pro-fibrotic factors, such as TGF-β during the chronic phase, the activity of immune cells, in particular M2 macrophages and Th2 cells, as well as fibroblasts form a vicious cycle, leading to excessive extracellular matrix deposition and tissue remodeling. Recent studies have shown that plant polysaccharides derived from natural products exhibit excellent immunomodulatory activity. They activate immunocompetent cells under immunosuppressed conditions, while suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory factors and promoting regulatory T cell function during immune hyperactivation, thereby restoring immune homeostasis. The present review focusses on the immunomodulatory properties of the polysaccharide components in Jingfang Granule and describes how its capacity to regulate a balanced immune response influences the occurrence and development of pulmonary fibrosis, thereby providing a new perspective and a potential therapeutic option for its treatment.
Wang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.