DES and pulmonary fibrosis: We further examined the expression of desmin and NG2, which are marker proteins of pericytes, along with the myofibroblast cell markers α-SMA and collagen I. The results showed downregulation of desmin and NG2 plus upregulation of α-SMA and collagen I in fibrotic tissues (Figs. 1d, e), strongly indicating the acceleration of PMT in lung fibrosis.