They also identified the presence of phospho-β-catenin/phospho-Smad2 complexes in the myofibroblasts of IPF patients, suggesting the involvement of integrin α3β1/phospho-β-catenin/phospho-Smad2 complexes in the pathogenesis of IPF and the importance of EMT in pathologic fibrosis. Here, SMAD2 is linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.