Serum Rcn3 level is a potential diagnostic biomarker for connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease and reflects the severity of pulmonary function

Abstract

Although reticulocalbin 3 (Rcn3) has a critical role in alveolar epithelial function as well as in pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, no study has yet examined its diagnostic and prognostic values for interstitial lung disease (ILD). This study aimed to evaluate Rcn3 as a potential marker in differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and in reflecting the severity of disease.