In light of this, it is interesting to note that esomeprazole regulated the gene expression and plasma levels of MMP7 (Figs. 4, 8b) since clinical studies have shown that elevated level of MMP7 (Matrilysin) is associated with increased lung fibrosis and independently predicts survival in IPF [90, 91]. Here, MMP7 is linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.