As PAI-1 prevents lung fibroblasts from undergoing apoptosis induced by plasminogen, ectopic SPARC expression in IPF apparently mediates the progression of interstitial fibrosis by inhibiting apoptosis in lung myofibroblasts via β-catenin activation and PAI-1 expression in collaboration with the TGF-β signal pathway. The gene discussed is SERPINE1; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.