Furthermore, the increase of Gal-3 has been documented in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients affected with IPF and this increase appear to be specific for IPF and interstitial pneumonia associated with collagen vascular disease (CVD-IP) because patients with other interstitial lung disease such as the cryptogenic organizing pneumonia/bronchiolitis obliterance organizing pneumonia (COP/BOOP), the acute hypersensitive pneumonia and the Pneumocystis jiroveci infection did not show any significant increase of Gal-3 in the BAL fluid [246]. Here, LGALS3 is linked to interstitial lung disease.