In our previous study, we used alveolar epithelial cells (A549) to establish AE‐IPF cell model, and found that HSV1 infection stimulated the ER stress pathways in AEC in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner.11 In the current study, the mice treated with BLM+HSV1 had increased IL‐23 levels in the BALF compared with the mice treated with BLM+Saline. The gene discussed is IL23A; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.