Abstract: Compositions and methods for facilitating tissue repair by enhancing the actions of BIGH3 or at least one of its downstream effector molecules in injured tissue, and for the diagnosis, prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of fibrosis by inhibiting the actions of BIGH3 or at least one of its downstream effector molecules, such as PU.1 transcription factor and MMP14. Other disclosed methods include methods of screening and/or identifying compounds useful for facilitating tissue repair, treating fibrosis, or for altering the accumulation or deposition of collagen, comprising contacting BIGH3 or its downstream effector molecules, such as PU.1 or MMP14, with a substance and subsequently determining the effects of the substance on the activity of BIGH3, PU.1, or MMP14.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating, preventing or preventing the progression of fibrosis comprising inhibiting the actions of pulmonary and activation-regulated chemokine (PARC) or at least one of its downstream effector molecules, such as Sp1 transcription factor and protein kinase C-alpha (PKC?). The present invention also relates to methods of screening and/or identifying compounds useful for the treatment of fibrosis comprising contacting PARC or its downstream effector molecules, such as Sp1 or PKC?, with a substance and subsequently determining the effects of the substance on the activity of PARC or Sp1 or PKC?. The present invention also relates to methods of screening and/or identifying compounds that prevent or inhibit collagen deposition comprising contacting PARC or its downstream effector molecules, such as Sp1 or PKC?, with a substance and subsequently determining the effects of the substance on the activity of PARC or Sp1 or PKC?.