SERPINE1 and cystic fibrosis: Real time qPCR revealed a threefold increase in ENG mRNA (CF 3.5 ± 1.8 vs. non‐CF: 1.0 ± 0.4, n = 5; P < 0.05; Fig. 2A), a twofold increase in the representative TGF‐β signal PAI‐1 mRNA (CF 2.2 ± 0.3 vs. non‐CF: 1.0 ± 0.2, n = 5; P < 0.01; Fig. 2B) and a 1.5‐fold increase in TGF‐β1 mRNA (CF 1.5 ± 0.3 vs. non‐CF: 1.0 ± 0.3, n = 5; P < 0.05, data not shown) in lung homogenates of CF compared to non‐CF lung indicating that ENG and TGF‐β signaling (PAI‐1) are increased at the transcription level.