Analysis of the impact of the CD11b+CD11c+ subset of CFPs on CD8+ T cells showed that co-culture of CD11b+CD11c+ CFPs from animals with silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis resulted in decreased IL-2 production by CD8+ T cells (9.130 pg/ml) versus saline-instilled control animals (11.27 pg/ml, respectively, *p = 0.0223, Fig 6A). This evidence concerns the gene ITGAX and pulmonary fibrosis.