These observations are consistent with emerging reports suggesting that STAT3 activation not only occurs within inflammatory cells associated with fibrotic lesions (Lim et al, 2006; Lim et al, 2009; Ogata et al, 2006), but also may play a role in non-epithelial cells to exacerbate the wound-healing responses that are characteristic for IPF lesions. Here, STAT3 is linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.