Pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: analysis of data from a large-scale genome-wide association study

• Causal relationships were identified between gut microbiota (Bacteroides faecis, Megasphaera, Pandoraea) and IPF risk. • Immune cells, inflammatory proteins, and metabolites mediate the gut microbiota–IPF axis, with CD4+ T cell subsets playing a central role. • Potential therapeutic targets (KDM4C, CBR3, YWHAG) and candidate drugs (GNF-Pf-2272, 5155877, PpIX) were predicted and validated via molecular docking. • The study provides a multi-omics framework integrating GWAS, eQTL, and colocalization to uncover IPF mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.