This view is consistent with observations that the lower respiratory tract of IPF patients shows excessive TNF-α, LT-α and IL-6 expression (Lesur et al, 1994; Pantelidis et al, 2001) and that the fibrotic response correlates with B lymphocyte accrual in lungs from non-specific interstitial pneumonia patients (Keogh & Limper, 2005). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.