Actually, the expression of Pten was reported to be regulated by miR-18a in a stiffness-dependent manner39, which could influence and alter its expression levels when using soft 3D matrices, such as collagen I. In IPF, down-regulation of Pten in fibroblastic foci was found to be accompanied by decreased Caveolin 1 (Cav1) levels. This evidence concerns the gene PTEN and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.