Since we also found a significant correlation between BAL fluid CCL22 levels and CCR4-positive lymphocytes in IPF patients, it is possible to speculate that locally overproduced CCL22 contributes to the recruitment of CCR4-positive alveolar macrophages, and to a lesser extent, to the recruitment of CCR4-positive alveolar T-lymphocytes. This evidence concerns the gene CCL22 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.