VEGFA and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Apart from its role in stimulating neovascularization, VEGF displays several other functions with direct relevance to the pathogenesis of IPF, such as the stimulation of epithelial proliferation and prevention of epithelial cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo (12, 13) and the attenuation of vascular remodeling via protective effects on endothelial cells (14).