ATG7 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: For instance, lnc-MD1 ‘sponges’ miR-133 and miR-135 to regulate the expression of MAML1 and MEF2C, thereby activating muscle-specific gene expression.5 lnc-APF is identified as the ceRNA that can regulate autophagic cell death by targeting miR-188-3p and ATG7.6 Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying mRNA interaction with miRNA and lncRNA in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains unknown.