Interleukin-17 (IL-17) can induce TGF-β1 gene and protein expression in IPF animal models and IPF patients through the Smad2/3 and ERK1/2 pathways [59], and blocking TGF-β1 in rat models has been shown to slow disease progression [60]. This evidence concerns the gene MAPK3 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.