Advancements in Pulmonary Fibrosis Research: Exploring Mouse Models and the Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pathogenesis and Therapy (2015-2025)

Abstract

Pulmonary fibrosis, particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is a chronic progressive lung disease with an extremely poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Although two antifibrotic drugs have been clinically approved, they can only slow disease progression and fail to completely halt fibrosis development. In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis and potential treatments of pulmonary fibrosis through animal models, especially murine models. However, existing mouse models still fail to fully replicate the pathological characteristics of human IPF, and many interventions effective in mice have not been successfully translated to clinical practice. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore novel therapeutic approaches. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its multi-component and multi-target characteristics, demonstrates unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. This review summarizes research advances in pulmonary fibrosis mouse models from 2015-2025 and explores the potential of TCM interventions in pulmonary fibrosis treatment based on modern TCM theories. The article focuses on analyzing pathological mechanisms, common murine models, signaling pathways, and the latest TCM intervention research findings, aiming to provide new perspectives and approaches for clinical pulmonary fibrosis treatment.