Abstract: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic disorder of the interstitial parenchyma that results in the disruption of lung architecture and is seriously harmful to human health. Various cells and molecules were found to participate in the complex process of PF formation, and identified as key factors to induce the incidence of PF. These cells and molecules may be important targets for anti-PF drugs. This article reviews the current research progress in roles of key cells and molecules in pathogenesis of PF, so as to provide a reference for the further research and development of anti-PF drugs.

Key words: pulmonary fibrosis, cellular mechanism, molecular target