Specific endogenous lung proteins, such as surfactant proteins A and B (SP-A and SP-B) were first detected in the blood of children with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) by Chida and colleagues[11] Later, Bernard and colleagues reported the presence of Clara cell protein in plasma[12], and since then interest in the field has grown considerably, reflecting the scientific and clinical importance of identifying biomarkers of respiratory pathophysiology[13-15]. The gene discussed is SFTPB; the disease is newborn respiratory distress syndrome.