Several serological markers, including Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), Surfactant protein-A (SP-A) and D (SP-D), and matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) have been identified as having potential diagnostic and prognostic value [23–28], while the PROFILE (Prospective Observation of Fibrosis in the Lung Clinical Endpoints) study, an ongoing prospective multicentre study aimed at biomarker discovery, has identified further novel serological protein markers with prognostic potential [29, 30]. The gene discussed is MMP7; the disease is fibrosis.