These genetic studies demonstrated that IPF patients were characterized by a gene expression profile consistent with T cell activation, including enhanced expression of CD28, inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS), lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK), and IL-2-inducible kinase (ITK), which are all T cell co-stimulatory molecules (9). This evidence concerns the gene ICOS and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.