BDNF and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: As the above mentioned proteins BDNF activates pathways leading to fibrosis and is associated with IPF [58, 59], but in addition increased BDNF levels were detected in patients suffering from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) [60] and were correlated with a poorer prognosis in NSCLC (non small cell lung cancer) patients [61].