There was no significant difference in the serum levels of TNF-α between the IPF patients and controls [median 3.3 pg/ml (range 0.00 - 26.90 pg/ml and median 10.6 pg/ml (range 0.00 – 64.07 pg/ml), respectively; p = 0.499]. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.