In contrast, pathogenesis of other chronic lung diseases like ΔF508-cystic fibrosis (CF), α1-anti-trypsin-deficiency (α-1 ATD) and pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is regulated by other proteostatic mechanisms, involving the degradation of misfolded proteins (ΔF508-CFTR/α1-AT- Z variant) or regulating the concentration of signaling proteins (such as TGF-β1) by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS).
Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of alpha-1-antitrypsin were studied in 99 subjects with rheumatoid arthritis alone, 21 subjects with rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary fibrosis, 26 subjects with rheumatoid arthritis and bronchiectasis, and 86 controls.