Interestingly, we observed a time dependent IL-6 release in non-stimulated fibroblasts, which was significantly increased in control (67.1 ± 19.8 pg/ml) versus IPF (3.7 ± 0.9 pg/ml) fibroblasts at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h (Fig. 3A). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.