Research advances in endoplasmic reticulum stress and related lung diseases

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is identified as dysfunction of endoplasmic reticulum that can be evoked by oxidative stress,hypoxia or toxic substances,and it presents as misfolding protein accumulation,unbalanced calcium homeostasis.Homeostatic activation of the ERS enforces adaptive programs,such as unfolded protein reaction,which can help restore cell homeostasis,whereas maladaptive ERS triggers apoptosis.ERS is a normal physiological process in cells,but also an important pathophysiological mechanism that participates in courses of many diseases.In this article,we review some timely and significant findings relating to the role of ERS in the pathophysiology of related lung diseases,which may be helpful to find new potential therapeutic strategies in clinical practice.